In October 2007, the University Map Library launched an archival air photo scanning project, where approximately 2000 historical air photos for the years 1930, 1945-47,1955 and 1963 of Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas were scanned and saved electronically. Upon digitization of these photos, Map Library staff began the second phase of the project: offering the images on the Map Library’s website for public viewing and downloading.
The Map Library’s Digital Historical Air Photo Project website was created for all users – including the public and academic communities. Project documentation and files are also available from this site, including methods and procedures, instructions for using georeferenced images, as well as access to Shapefiles. The original scanned images are also georeferenced and are available to interested users from the Geospatial Centre.
This project has addressed several issues that have been associated with offering archival air photos for public use. It has also exposed the regions history to members of the community who otherwise wouldn’t know the images existed.
Please email any questions, comments or suggestions to :
Eva Dodsworth, Geospatial Data Services Librarian
University Map Library, 2008