REPORT OF WORKING GROUP NO. 1, 
COMMISSION VII 
by Kirk H. Stone 
Department of Geography 
University of Wisconsin 
Aerial photographic coverage of the world continues 
to increase rapidly. This is paralleled by an even 
faster increase in availability of data about air 
photos which may be obtained by at least the citizens 
of the areas photographed. At least 60 per cent of 
the earth's land mass has been photographed from the 
air at least once. It is hoped that making available 
information about this coverage will encourage increased 
use of it, especially through photographic interpreta- 
tion. Only by the use of air photos will we realize 
their full potentials as sources of information. 
Fundamental knowledge about air photo coverage is 
its geographic extent. A potential user wishes to 
know whether or not there is any aerial photography of 
a certain area. The answer is often not simple; there 
may be none, or some for part of the area or for all 
of it. The photography may be verticals or obliques, 
single-lens or multiple-lens photos, overlapping or 
single-shot cover, color or black and white pictures, 
movie or still-camera type; there may be multiple cover- 
age of an area with variations in scale, time, photo- 
graphic equipment, and quality. This variety is too 
great to be shown on only one map. 
World air photographic coverage may be mapped a8 
that known and that which is probable as of December, 
1959 (Fig. 1). Known areas of photography are divided 
into continuous or discontinuous coverage. The con- 
tinuous classification means that at least one complete 
air view of a large area, in at least a few hundreds of 
square miles, is available by the use of one or more 
sets of photography. Discontinuous coverage refers to 
areas in which there may be epotty or linear and small 
parts photographed with many sections, perhaps tens of 
square miles in size, unphotographed. 
On the basis of this classification the extent of 
continental coverage varies considerably (Fig. 1). 
There i8 continuous coverage for nearly all of North 
America. South American cover i8 of nearly two-thirds 
of the area but over half is discontinuous. Roughly 
eight-tenths of Europe west of the area of control by 
the Soviet Union has been covered, more than half of 
which 1s the continuous type. About half of Africa has 
been photographed and most is continuous photography. 
Perhaps two-thirds of Australia and New Zealand are 
covered, nearly all by continuous cover. For eastern 
Europe and Asia the data are fragmentary primarily be- 
cause of military restrictions; nevertheless, informa- 
tion available in unclassified source materials about 
coverage of areas under Soviet control is included. 
Excepting Asia most of the more densely settled sec- 
tions of each continent have been photographed.  How- 
ever, air photos are especially useful in areas with 
few and scattered populations where the coverage data 
are incomplete or unknown. Information sorely needed 
is for most of the western half of South America, 
north-central and southwest Africa, the Middle East, 
southwest Australia, and southeast Asia. The absence 
of symbols in these and other areas in Figure 1, there- 
fore, Should be interpreted as inadequate ormation 
rather than meaning no coverage is available”. 
  
1. Data about coverage in these and other areas 
should be forwarded to the writer for inclusion in 
future publications. 
* Publication authorized by the 
The geographic data on world air photo coverage need 
supplementation. What is known is summarized in 
Table 1 1. What is clearest from the table is the in- 
formation on the subject. For many countries the data 
are nearly a decade old and there is reason to believe 
that newer coverage exists. It is most encouraging, 
though, to see an increase in the publication of maps 
showing coverage in individual countries; several of 
these maps have listings of much of the marginal data 
on the air photos. Too little is known as yet about 
photographic characteristics, such as, type, scale, 
year of photography and cost; it would be interesting 
to learn if there are other items that should be in- 
cluded and to show each on a map when sufficient. infor- 
mation is available. 
The last three columns of Table 1 are of major sig- 
nificance to the objective of encouraging increased use 
of air photos. In general, any coverage shown on 
Figure 1 is available for purchase by a citizen of the 
country photographed. In addition there are many 
nations which will permit qualified foreigners to pur- 
chase some or all coverage needed for research. It is 
especially for the letter that much more information 1s 
needed. Where samples of coverage are available in the 
University of Wisconsin Map and Air Photo Library? 
loans may be arranged to help prospective users. Other- 
wise, data generally are obtainable from the main 
holding agency or from a national mapping agency in the 
country under study. 
Much remains to be done in the assembly of informa- 
tion about world air photo coverage. Analysts must 
know of the existence of photography in order to plan 
to use it. Even before that we must all recognize 
that the tendency to conceal datasbout air photo cover- 
age Should be modified. Much old coverage is valuable 
for current research and has lost its military signifi- 
cance. Further, many detailed maps and documentary 
source materials all ready available negate the value 
of much aerial photography for the feared possible 
military use. To deny availability of data on air 
photos, or of the photography itself, is to stifle re- 
search which directly or indirectly leads to the peace 
everyone wishes. It is to encourage research for 
peaceful purposes that the dete herein are presented. 
  
l. James R. Gibson compiled most of the table. 
information in it has been collected from many 
sources during the past 20 years; the aid of numerous 
students, domestic and foreign colleagues, private and 
state agencies is acknowledged with gratitude. It 1e 
hoped that everyone will continue to supply current 
data. 
The 
  
2. This is a unit of the Department of Geography. 
The M.A.P. Library is a research collection of approxi- 
mately 55,000 selected photos and 85,000 selected maps 
of various parts of the world. 
Director, U. S. Geological Survey