Overview

This initiative will continue the effort to build and maintain a current basemap for the Commonwealth that can meet the needs of its users at the state, federal, local, and regional level. A common basemap, including current color leaf-off aerial photography and elevation data (LiDAR), reduces the cost of developing GIS applications, promotes data sharing, and add efficiencies to many state agency business processes. It is planned that access to the basemap data will be made available in the public domain.

Background

The most current digital leaf-off aerial photography of the Commonwealth was acquired in 2001 and 2002 but only east of 84 degrees longitude (ie. East of Winchester – only ¼ of the state). The photography was captured in a black and white (grayscale) format. Aerial Photography for the remaining ¾ of the state was acquired during the 1992-1998 timeframe. State and Federal Funds were leveraged at that time for the purchase of the photography.

No statewide color leaf-off aerial photography has ever been acquired for the entire Commonwealth, although leaf-on photography (fewer uses) has been purchased. All of Kentucky’s current aerial photography holdings are utilized by cities and counties, area development districts, state agencies, and the federal government.

Kentucky's Statewide Digital Aerial Photography and Elevation Basemap Update provide a common digital mapping base for state and local government, as well as the private sector. The digital aerial photography layer provides the foundation for other base layers as well as numerous thematic mapping programs throughout the state and local governments.

The multi-million dollar project is expected to span a three to four year period (be spread across two biennium) beginning in 2012. Potential funding partners for this effort include federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of the Interior (DOI) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the USDA Farm Services Administration (FSA), and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), as well as local governments and several state agencies.

This project will provide significant savings to government and the private sector in using a common basemap, avoiding duplication, and encourage standardization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) assets throughout the Commonwealth.

News

All 1' resolution imagery from the the 2012 KyFromAbove effort is now available for download via the Geoportal or it can be accessed via an ArcGIS Server Image Service. Use this simple viewer to take a peek at this new resource.

Select datasets from the the 2012 KyFromAbove effort are now available for download or access via the KyGeoNet's ArcGIS Server Image Services. All of the 6" imagery for Franklin, Kenton, Campbell, Oldham, Jefferson, and Bullitt Counties is available and the new 5' DEMs are online for over 40% of the Commonwealth. Use the Geoportal to search for the downloadable datasets and image services that are associcated with these resources.

The acquisition of both aerial photography and elevation data in 2012 was successful within both Project Area #1 and Project Area #2. DGI is now taking delivery of both products and a thorough review is underway. Review of the data will likely continue up until the end of 2012. Distribution of the data will begin once the review has been completed. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data tiles derived from previously collected LiDAR data will be available for download in the coming weeks. Planning for 2013 acquisitions is underway. Please check this site often for informational updates.

Acquisitions for the Kentucky Aerial Photography and Elevation Data Program (KYAPED) will begin in Spring of 2012 in selected areas of the Commonwealth. More information regarding the Project Areas for 2012 will be made available in the coming weeks. Data is not expected to be available for distribution until very late 2012. Information will be posted as it is made available.

An award has been made for RFP-758-1200000087, Digital Orthoimagery and LiDAR. The contract was awarded on December 22, 2011 to GMR Aerial Surveys, Inc dba Photo Science. For additional information, please visit the Commonwealth's eprocurement website @: http://eprocurement.ky.gov. The Master Agreement Number for this effort is MA 758 1200000546 1.