Aerial views of Northwest Arkansas accessible on Google Earth
Posted on Monday, January 9, 2006
Aerial images of Northwest Arkansas can now be accessed with the click of a mouse.
The Northwest Regional Planning Commission organized a collaborative effort in 2004 by Washington and Benton counties to acquire high resolution aerial imagery. The project was completed in 2005 and is now on Google Earth, an online tool that combines satellite and aerial imagery with mapping abilities to search images around the world in high-quality imaging.
John McLarty, transportation planner for Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, said the aerial mapping project was a collaborative effort between NWACP, and the cities in Washington and Benton counties. The Arkansas Department of Transportation flew the airplanes to get the aerial imagery, he said.
The images were then mosaicked together in one big picture with a 12-inch resolution in true color. Similar to a GPS unit, the maps show latitude and longitude readings with less than six feet accuracy. In other words, McLarty said, if someone were to pick a point on the map on the computer and actually go out to the point, he would be within six feet.
McLarty said the imagery has been helpful to cities and planners with property splits and annexation studies. Benton County used it and found over 30 illegal dump sites, he said.
The imagery is used by 911 offices to update road maps and make sure they are accurate. A 911 operator can direct an ambulance to a specific location, he said. Hunters and hikers use the imagery to map routes, he said.
McLarty said the project was a win/win situation for everyone that participated. "It enabled them to have excellent imagery and was cost-saving for the larger cit- ies," he said. "It was one of the most successful projects we’ve participated in."
Once the project was completed, the University of Arkansas Center for Advanced Spatial Technology (CAST) took the information and put in on a server application called Geostore. In order to get the data, interested people had to download the file and have the software that reads it. "Google Earth is always looking for the latest imagery so they contacted the CAST and asked for permission to put it on their Web site," he said. "Now anyone can access the data from any location."
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