Interpreting Aerial Photographs

Key Steps in Interpreting Aerial Photographs

1. Orientation

• Use identifiable landmarks (e.g., rivers, roads, or large buildings) to orient yourself.
• Refer to the compass points provided or use recognisable patterns to determine directions.

2. Scale and Distance

• The scale of aerial photographs varies.
• Use features like roads or fields of known size to estimate scale and calculate distances.

3. Identifying Features

Aerial photographs depict both physical and human features.

Physical Features

• Relief:
  • Identify hills, valleys, and plateaus based on shading, shadows, and texture.
  • Look for patterns like ridges or escarpments.
• Water Bodies:
  • Rivers, lakes, and coasts are often visible. Observe river patterns (e.g., meandering or dendritic).
• Vegetation:
  • Forests, grasslands, or agricultural fields may appear as patches of colour or texture.

Human Features

• Settlements:
  • Towns and villages often cluster at crossroads, near rivers, or in flat areas.
  • Observe settlement patterns: nucleated, linear, or dispersed.
• Transport Networks:
  • Roads, railways, and bridges are often linear features.
• Land Use:
  • Look for signs of agriculture, industry, or recreation (e.g., golf courses, parks).

4. Shadow Analysis

• Shadows provide clues about the height and shape of objects (e.g., buildings, trees, hills).

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Applications of Aerial Photograph Interpretation

Physical Landscape Analysis

• Use photographs to study landforms such as mountains, valleys, and coasts.
• Analyse natural features and their interaction with human activity.

Settlement and Land Use

• Examine how settlements are distributed and identify their functions (e.g., residential, industrial, agricultural).
• Assess land use patterns to understand urban planning and rural activity.

Transport Networks

• Study connectivity between regions using roads, railways, and other infrastructure.

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Tips for Success

• Familiarise yourself with common aerial photograph features and symbols.
• Practice sketching features onto a base map for clarity.
• Always cross-reference the photograph with other resources, like OS maps or legends, when available.