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Jim Kompanek
Uses for Remotely Sensed Data
Remotely sensed data will play an important role in my project. It's primary role will be to improve the spatial accuracy of structure locations which were initially plotted on 7.5 minute USGS topographic quadrangles and later digitized into a statewide GIS database. The precise locations of these structures can be adjusted based on higher resolution data to more accurately represent their locations. Aerial imagery may also be used as a background layer to provide a context for the National Register boundaries. Although, I have been unable to find a source, historic aerial photographs could be very useful to this project.
Freely Available/Contracted Data
Upon researching the subject, it appears that the highest resolution and most recent orthophotos for my area of interest are available from the West Virginia GIS Technical Center, as well as the www.mapwv.gov ArcIMS server. These orthophotos were created by the West Virginia Statewide Addressing and Mapping Board for E-911 implementation based on aerial photography taken in 2003. They are divided into 3.75” quarter quadrangles (or available seamless from the ArcIMS server) at a scale of 1:4,800 with 2' pixel resolution. They are available in State Plane and UTM NAD 83 coordinate systems in tiff and mrsid formats with each quarter quad approximately 360 MB in size (20 MB compressed). All of the tiles are available free of charge from the WVGIS Tech Center FTP site. Additionally, 1:12,000 scale IR DOQQ, based on data obtained between 1996 and 1999, is also available statewide.
With such recently acquired, high resolution data, it seems unnecessary to purchase the data. Most of the available commercial sites simply provide public domain data for a price. I was unable to determine the approximate cost to contract aerial photography services. There were numerous companies which provide this service but did not provide cost estimates without submitting an actual bid. I suspect this information is intentionally kept silent for competitive reasons. The final cost is likely based on the needs of the contract, with resolution, extent, and whether the data is orthorectified all factors for the final price.
Acquired Remotely Sensed Data
Figure 1. SAMB Aerial Image of Huntington, West Virginia.
Figure 2. USGS DOQ of Huntington, West Virginia.
This document is published in fulfillment of an assignment by a student enrolled in an educational offering of The Pennsylvania State University. The student, named above, retains all rights to the document and responsibility for its accuracy and originality.