Locating Aerial Photographs
Definitions
Aerial photographs are defined in the UA Library as those photographs taken by optical cameras generally from fixed-wing aircraft. Satellite images, photograph-like images produced from scanners, detectors or sensors mounted in space satellites, are not included here. The collection of aerial photographs is generally limited geographically to Arizona. Many of the aerial photograph sets will be found in Special Collections. Aerial photos are reserved for building use only.
Print Aerial Photographs
To locate aerial photographs in the Library look in the library catalog -- under the geographic location followed by the phrase "Aerial Photographs"; for example: "Arizona - Aerial Photographs"; or "Tucson Ariz. - Aerial Photographs". You will need the "Call Number" from the library record to locate the photos.
Digital Aerial Photographs
- Arizona Regional Image Archive (ARIA) -- you can preview the image, view the metadata and download the image.
- Google Earth -- view satellite imagery, maps and a search engine to zoom in to an address, search for schools, parks, restaurants etc. and tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings. Need to download free software.
- Google Map -- view satellite imagery, maps or a hybrid
- Terraserver
Books on Aerial Photography
To locate books, atlases or other publications about aerial photographs and their interpretation, look for entries in the library catalog under the following headings:
- Aerial Photogrammetry
- Aerial Photographs
- Aerial Photography in Geology
- Aerial Photography in Geomorphology
- Aerial Photography in Hydrology
- Orthophotography
- Photographic Interpretation
- Photographic Surveying
- Photography, Aerial
- Remote Sensing
Major Sets of Aerial Photographs in the Collection
Tucson and Pima County:
Aerial Photo Industries. Tucson and eastern Pima County, Arizona Aerial Photography (1963-64)
G4334 T8 A3 1964 A3 Spec. Colln.
Phoenix: Aerial Photo, 1963-1964, photos 50 x 50 cm.
Arizona Highway Dept. Tucson and portions of Pima County, Arizona Aerial Photography (1960)
G4334 T8 A3 1960 T8 Spec. Colln.
Phoenix: Arizona Highway Dept., 1960, 23 x 23 cm. Scale 1:24,000.
Cooper Aerial Survey Co. Greater Tucson Area Aerial Photography. (1967) G1514.T8 A3 C6 1967 Spec.Colln. Oversize (elephant)
Tucson: Cooper, 1967, photos 48 x 62 cm. Scale 1:4800. Includes index map.
Cooper Aerial Survey Co. Tucson and eastern Pima County, Arizona Aerial Photographs. (1967)
G4333.P4 A3 1967 C6 Spec.Colln.
Tucson: Cooper, 1967, photos 23 x 23 cm. Scale 1:9600. Includes index map.
Cooper Aerial Survey Co. Tucson and Region Aerial Photographs (1969)
Special Collections Oversize photo file.
Cooper Aerial Survey Co. Tucson Aerial Photo Coverage. (1974)
G4334 T8 A3 1974 C6 Spec. Colln.
Tucson: Cooper Aerial, 1974, 76 x 76 cm. Scale ca. 1:20,400.
Cooper Aerial Survey Co. Tucson Aerial Photo Coverage. (1978)
G4334 T8 A3 1978 C6 Spec. Colln.
Tucson: Cooper Aerial, 1978, 76 x 76 cm. Scale ca. 1:20,000.
Cooper Aerial Survey Co. Aerial Photo Enlargement, University of Arizona G4334.T8:2 U5A3 1979.C6 Map Colln.
Tucson: Cooper, 1979, 2 sections each 55x105 cm. Scale ca. 1:1,200.
Cooper Aerial Survey Co. Tucson Aerial Photos: Inner-Metro Area Set 1979-1980.
G1514.T8 A3 C6 1980 Spec.Colln.
Tucson: Cooper, 1980, 4 vols., photos 26x30 cm. Scale 1:12,000. Includes index map.
Cooper Aerial Survey Company. Tucson Aerial Photo Coverage. (1980)
G4334 T8 A3 1980 C6 Spec. Colln.
Tucson: Cooper Aerial, 1980, 76 x 76 cm. Scale ca. 1:4800.
Cooper Aerial Survey Company. Tucson General Coverage, 1986-1987. G1514.T8A3C6 1987 Spec.Colln.
Tucson: Cooper, 1987, 5 vols., photos 26x30 cm. Scale 1:24,000. Includes index map.
Fairchild Aerial Surveys. Tucson, Arizona. (1948)
G4334.T8A3 1948.F3
Los Angeles: Fairchild, 1948, 1 photo 56x56 cm. Scale 1:7,200.
International Aerial Mapping Company. Photo Atlas: Tucson, Arizona.
G4334.T8A3 1971.I6 Special Colln.
San Antonio, TX: I.A.M.C., 1971, 4 photos 228x163 cm. Scale 1:15,840.
Landiscor Aerial Photos of Arizona. Tucson 1990-1991.
G1514.T8L36 1990 Spec.Colln.
Phoenix: Landiscor, 1990, one atlas. Scale 1:14,400.
Landiscor Aerial Photos of Arizona. Tucson 1993-1994.
G1514.T8L36 1993 Spec.Colln.
Phoenix: Landiscor, 1993, one atlas. Scale 1:14,400.
Landiscor Aerial Information. Tucson 1995.
G1514.T8L36 1995 Spec.Colln.
Phoenix: Landiscor, 1995, one atlas. Scale 1:14,400.
Landiscor Aerial Information. Tucson 1996-1997.
G1514.T8L36 1996 Spec.Colln.
Phoenix: Landiscor, 1997, one atlas. Scale 1:14,400.
Landiscor Aerial Information. Tucson 1999.
G1514.T8L36 1999 Spec.Colln. & Architecture
Phoenix: Landiscor, 1999, one atlas. Scale 1:14,400.
Landiscor Aerial Information. Tucson 2001.
G1514.T8L36 2001 Spec.Colln.
Phoenix: Landiscor, 2001, one atlas. Scale 1:14,400.
Maddock and Associates. City of Tucson and portion of Pima County Aerial Photography. (1961)
G4333 P4 A3 1961 M3 Spec. Colln.
Tucson: Maddock, 1961, photos 23 x 23 cm. Scale 1:21,600. Includes index map.
McLain Harbers Co. Aerial Photo Guide: Tucson & Vicinity.
G1514.T8A337 1986 Spec.Colln. and Music Ref.
Tucson: McLain, 1986, 234 p., photos 31x31 cm. Scale 1:18,100.
U. S. Geological Survey. Gemini Photomap of the Tucson, Arizona Vicinity. G4334.T8A4 1968.U5 Special Colln.
Washington, DC: U.S.G.S., 1965, 1 photo 46x46 cm. Scale 1:150,000.
U.S. Geological Survey. National High Altitude Program: Pima County.
G4333.P4 A3 1983, G4 Special Colln.
Reston, Va. : U.S. Geological Survey, 1983-1984, 2 vols. Scale 1:80,000.
Arizona:
Hunting Survey Corp. Aerial Photographs of the San Carlos Indian Reservation, Arizona.
G4331.A3 1959.H9 Spec.Colln.
Toronto: Hunting, 1959, 804 photos 25x25 cm. Scale 1:20,000. Includes index map.
Pacific Air Industries. Aerial Photographs of the Papago Indian Reservation, Arizona.
G4331.A3 196- .P1 Spec.Colln.
Long Beach, CA: Pacific, 196-?, 13,700 photos 26x23 cm. Scale 1:10,000. Includes index map.
U. S. Geological Survey. 7.5 Minute Series Orthophotoquad; Arizona.
G4331s.A3 24.U5 Map Colln.
Washington, DC: U.S.G.S., 1971- , app. 1,900 photos 58x49 cm. Scale 1:24,000. Includes index map. Each photo has name corresponding to USGS topographic quadrangle.
Purchasing Aerial Photographs
Cooper Aerial Survey Company, 1692 W. Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ 85705; phone 602/884-7580. Aerial photo coverage of the Tucson area and other parts of southern Arizona are available here.
PhotoFinder
Quick way to search and order from two U.S. Geological Survey aerial photography collections -- National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) and the National High Altitude Photography (NHAP). The imagery available is from 1980 to the present.
U. S. Department of Agriculture - FSA, Aerial Photography Field Office, 2222 W 2300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84119-2020; phone 801/975-3500 or order online at http://www.apfo.usda.gov/. Contact prints 10x10 inches and enlargements are available. Indexes, available from APFO, are needed to identify photos. This is the primary source for aerial photo coverage for the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. Photos are from 1955 to the present.
U. S. Geological Survey, Earth Science Information Center (Denver), Box 25286, Building 810, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 8022; Phone: (303) 202-4200, FAX: (303) 202-4188, Email: infoservices@usgs.gov. Contact prints 9x9 in. and enlargements are available.
U. S. Geological Survey, EROS Data Center Customer services, Sioux Falls, SD 57198; Phone: 605-594-6151 or order online at http://edc.usgs.gov/products/aerial.html. Some of the photos date to the 1940's.
U. S. National Archives, Center for Cartographic and Architectural Archives, 8th & Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20408; phone 202/523-3006. Copies of aerial photos taken before 1941 for most government agencies are available here.