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Aerial Photography at the ASU Map Collection

Collection Photos

The ASU Libraries' Map Collection contains more than 20,000 contemporary and historical aerial photos related to Arizona and the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Collection's primary aerial photo sets include:

Statewide Holdings

Soil Conservation Service (Fairchild) Aerial Photos:These are photo mosaics created from aerial photos taken by the Fairchild Aerial Company between 1935 and 1937 to assist with the Soil Conservation Service's work in Arizona. The Map Collection holdings cover 65% of the state. The scale for the photos is 1:62,500; each photo covers the same area as a 15' topographic map. See: Soil Conversation Photo Index Map(pdf format - Download Adobe Acrobat) See: AZ City Photo Index

Sample Fairchild photos:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Photos:

Phoenix-Area Holdings

Salt River Project (SRP) Photos:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Photos:

USGS Photos:These photos are 9"x9" black and white aerials flown by the United States Geological Survey in the early 1960s. The USGS photos cover most of the eastern and southern regions of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Photo scales range from 1:24,000 to 1:34,400.
See: AZ City Photo Index

Landiscor Phoenix Photo Atlases:Each year, Landiscor produces aerial photos of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area at a scale of 1:14,400. The ASU Libraries' Map Collection holds Landiscor photo atlases for almost every year since 1969.

Landiscor Phoenix Real Estate Photo Book:Landiscor produces the Real Estate Photo Book four times a year. It contains color aerial photos at a scale of 1:26,400 as well as information on housing, office and industrial developments, and retail centers. The Map Collection has received the Real Estate Photo Book and its predecessor, the black and white Greater Phoenix Housing Study, since 1976.

Maricopa County Tax Assessor's Photos:The Map Collection maintains Maricopa County Tax Assessors photos from 1986 through 1997. These photos are produced at three scales, 1:14,400, 1:7,200 and 1:4,800.
See: Tax Assessor Photo Coverage

Finding Photos

  1. Check Photo Coverages- Links to photo coverages for several of the Collection's primary photo sets are provided with their descriptions above.
  2. AZ City Photo Index- Several of the larger photo sets have been indexed by the Arizona cities, towns and locales they cover. AZ City Photo Index
  3. Search the Map Index- Most of the Map Collection's individual photos and photo sets are included in the Map Index. In the Terms box, enter "aerial photography" and your geographic area of interest. Map Index
  4. Contact the Map Collection- If you need assistance or more information on the aerial photography in the Map Collection, please contact the Collection staff.

Photo Use Policy

The Collection's maps and aerial photographs are available for public use in the library during all regular Map Collection hours. Photocopies of most Collection aerial photos can be requested through the Interlibrary Loan service at your local public or academic library. Please identify the Project ID and Photo Numbers when requesting copies.

Self-serve photocopiers also are available for reproducing non-copyrighted materials. Photos must be signed out at the Map Collection Reference Desk for photocopying. A scanner is available in the Collection for use with non-copyrighted aerial photographs. Zip disks or CDs are recommended for file storage; ASU users also may access their AFS spaces from the Map Collection computers.

Map Collection staff do not scan or copy photographs for users.

Other Photo Sources

Microsoft Terraserver- Provides on-line viewable aerial photography from USGS; commercial imagery also is available for purchase

Arizona Regional Image Archive (ARIA)- Downloadable USGS digital orthophoto quarter quadrangles (DOQQs), most in GeoTiff format, and satellite imagery of Arizona

GeoCommunity and GIS Data Depot- Downloadable DOQQs for some U.S. states, not including Arizona

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

High Resolution Orthoimagery- Recent orthophotography of select urban areas in the United States; some color, most sub-meter resolution; free download for limited file sizes

EROS Data Center- Source for all of USGSs aerial photography products

Photo Finder- Searchs USGS's National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) holdings for available paper print and film photos

Earth Explorer- Comprehensive searchs for USGS satellite images, aerial photography and cartographic materials

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Aerial Photography Field Office- Extensive collection of current and historical photography (back to 1955) of the conterminous United States secured for USDA agencies

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

NARA- The source for much of the earliest aerial photography gathered by U.S. governmental agencies

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