University of Calgary Library
Airphoto Collection

Features of the Collection

• collection of some 1,200,000 airphotos
• limited to Canadian airphotos
• collection strength is Southern Alberta
• particularly strong coverage of the Calgary area and the Kananaskis area
• airphoto coverage for some locations goes back to the 1920s




Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized according to the 1:250,000 NTS map sheet numbers of the sets of airphotos. Sets that cross the borders of 1:250,000 map sheets have been split into separate sets of airphotos for each map sheet.

Each set of airphotos has a unique call number of the form 82 J 16 1939. The first number and letter (82 J) are the designation of the 1:250,000 map sheet that corresponds to the coverage of the airphoto set. The middle number is the sc ale, with 16 indicating a scale of 1:16,000. Note that this middle number is not a number corresponding to a 1:50,000 NTS map sheet. The last number is the year the airphotos were taken. The year is followed by a letter if there is more than one set of airphotos for a given map sheet, scale and year.

To simplify the task of finding relevant airphotos, a database has been developed that indicates which sets of airphotos provide coverage for each 1:50,000 map sheet within a 1:250,000 map sheet. The database was formerly printed in a set of blue 3-ring binders, but a more up-to-date version of the database is now available on the web. It is thus possible to check in a general sense what airphoto coverage the Library has for a particular map sheet before making a visit to the Library. Coverage of a 1:5 0,000 map sheet is listed as complete (90-100% coverage), partial (10-90% coverage), or scant (0-10% coverage), but in order to determine whether there is coverage for your particular site within the 1:50,000 map sheet, you must take the additional on-site step of checking the flightline indexes.

There is a large set of flightline indexes. These indexes indicate where on the NTS map sheets the individual airphotos were taken. The flightline indexes are organized by the corresponding 1:250,000 NTS map sheet number.




How to Find Airphotos




How to View Airphotos Three-Dimensionally

Consecutive airphotos can be viewed three dimensionally using a stereoscope. Please ask the staff if you would like to use (or borrow) a stereoscope.

To view consecutive airphotos, place them side by side with the same orientation so that the area of overlap is a vertical strip in the middle. Place a finger of each hand on the same physical feature on the two airphotos. Then move one airphoto until y our two fingernails appear to overlap. When your fingernails overlap, the three-dimensional effect should jump out at you.




Circulation Policy

Note in particular:
• Users, including alumni, who are not students, faculty or staff of the University of Calgary require a map borrower card in order to borrow airphotos from the Library.
• Some Calgary airphotos are stamped as restricted and are limited to a two-day loan period.




Airphoto Collection Hours