Thomas Dickerson, research assistant at CGIT and civil and environmental engineering graduate student at Virginia Tech has combined his passion for kite flying and photography.
About kite aerial photography
Aerial photography plays a key role in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). While the most reliable aerial photography platforms are aircraft and satellites, under certain conditions, aerial photos can also be taken from kites, balloons, and other devices. History’s first aerial photos were taken from kites and balloons. With the advent of more stable aerial photography platforms, kite aerial photography has become an activity pursued primarily by hobbyists and specialists.
Aerial photographs are commonly classified according to perspective as either vertical or oblique. Photographs taken vertically can be processed to provide a map-like view of the earth. Aerial photos taken at non-vertical angles provide unique perspectives that, while not useful as a map, capture details not viewable from directly overhead. These photos are valuable for condition assessment, geovisualization, and other specialized applications.