What is an aerial photograph?

An aerial photograph is an image captured from an airborne vehicle, such as an airplane, helicopter, or drone. This method of photography provides a unique perspective from above the ground, allowing for detailed views of landscapes, structures, and geographical features. Aerial photographs are incredibly useful in various fields, including land surveying, environmental monitoring, and urban planning, as they can reveal patterns and details that are not easily visible from ground level.

In contrast to photographs taken at ground level, which provide a limited perspective, aerial images can capture large areas and are essential for creating topographic maps and analyzing geographical changes over time. Scanned images of map data refer to digital reproductions of already-existing maps and do not involve capturing images from the air. Similarly, a digital picture taken by a smartphone typically offers a basic, ground-level view without the context or coverage that aerial photography provides.