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Using and Georeferencing Historical Vertical Aerial Photography

Related pages: Eelgrass Historical Changes Page

Early Charts of Buzzards Bay

1778 Nautical Map of Buzzards Bay to Chatam, MA
(Des Barres map; opens Library of Congress Website)

1779 update of 1778 above map
(opens Library of Congress Website)

1776 Nautical Map of Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound

(Des Barres map; opens Library of Congress Website)

1775 Nautical Chart, Boston to Rhode Island.

(Charles Blaskowitz map; opens Library of Congress Website)

New Bedford 1846 Chart

Uses of Historical Aerial Photographs

The Buzzards Bay NEP has used archival aerial photographs from various sources to document changes in eelgrass abundance, changes in land use, the filling of wetlands, and evaluation of shoreline changes. Like many others we use digitally georeferenced imagery from MassGIS and other sources, but we have we have also used unpublished or limited availability aerial surveys where we have scanned contact prints and georeferenced the imagery. We have set up this page to help graduate students, planners, and GIS professionals with guidance and links on how to tap into the vast unused historical aerial image resource that exists both in the private sector and at state, local government agencies.

Satellite imagery versus aerial photographs

Many of the low altitude large scale vertical imagery available on websites like Google are actually aerial photographs, despite the fact that they may be mislabeled or misconstrued by the viewer as satellite or "spy-satellite" imagery. Most publicly available or free satellite imagery is at a scale to have limited use to local planners, since pixel sizes are typically 50 feet or more. Some satellite imagery can be used for regional planning evaluations, and some imagery is at a higher resolution.

Sources of Aerial Photographs, and Buzzards bay Survey Dates

Some of the aerial surveys listed in the table below were conducted as part of national efforts (for example, US Geological Survey or US Department of Agriculture aerial assessments). Others were performed for some special state or local assessment. Where available, links are provided to the agencies website.

[under construction]

Our program was established in 1985 after Congress designated Buzzards Bay an "estuary of national significance." We joined the NEP in 1987. Our mission is to protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed through the implementation of the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Click to read more.

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Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program

Using and Georeferencing Historical Vertical Aerial Photography

Early Charts of Buzzards Bay

Uses of Historical Aerial Photographs

Satellite imagery versus aerial photographs

Sources of Aerial Photographs, and Buzzards bay Survey Dates

Links to Historical Aerial Repositories (that cover MA)

Historic Maps

Online Viewers

Georeferencing Vertical Aerial Photography