Paneling for

Photogrammetric

Mapping

Nancy K. Russell,

Cartographer/Photogrammestrist

National Applied Resource

Sciences Center (RS-140)

Background:

Have you been asked to place

panels for a large scale photogrammetric mapping job? If

so and you have never done

this before, you probably have

some questions regarding how

to do this and how to make

the panels. This Resource Note

is an attempt to clarify some of

those questions.

Discussion:

Lets talk about maps for a

moment. Maps like the USGS

7.5 minute quad sheet or the

BLM 100K maps are considered

small scale for this discussion.

You might notice that I called

these maps we make “largescale maps.” Large-scale maps

are maps that will likely have 1-

or 2-foot contour intervals and

give you a map scale of 1:100 or

1 inch on the map equals 100

feet on the ground. These maps 

are usually requested by engineers preparing to design recreation facilities such as visitors

centers or campgrounds or to

design roads. To make these

types of maps, we need to fly

project photography. This photography would probably be

flown at about 3,000 feet above

the ground and will be called

6,000 scale photography. The

“resource photography” typically used in the field offices

is flown at about 12,000 feet

above the ground and referred to

as 24,000 scale photography.

This photography is considered

small scale and will not work

for the large scale maps I am

talking about. Precise surveying

is required to extract the information needed to create largescale maps. Panels provide a

way for these precisely surveyed points to be seen on

aerial photography. While it is

not necessary for the survey to

be complete first, the panels

must be in place before the

photography is flown.

What is provided here are panel

specifications for large-scale mapping and a few common sense

rules that should be followed

and will, hopefully, help ensure

a successful outcome of a paneling project.

The specifications are: 

RESOURCE NOTES

NO. 14 Date 5/23/2000

Range

Cartography/mapping sciences
A few other thoughts that

might be helpful:

• You can move the panel

location around within 100

feet without any problem.

• Panel locations have been

carefully chosen. If a panel

must be moved more than a

100 feet, discuss this with the

photogrammetrist.

• Pick a spot that will allow the

panel to be as flat as possible.

Don’t place it over bushes or

boulders.

• Panels must have a clear view

from above. If any designated

locations do not have an

open sky view, discuss this

with the project flight designer (photogrammetrist) before

you move the panel and photos are flown. This can usually be dealt with easily.

• Paneling material can be

either fabric or plastic.

Material made specifically for

this purpose can be purchased

from engineering and/or surveying supply stores.

• At panel locations where

there is an asphalt or concrete surface, the panel can

be painted directly on the

surface. Don’t forget to get

permission to do this though,

where appropriate.

• The preferred color for paneling is white unless the desired

location happens to be very

white. In this case, black will

be best. Bright colors often

do not work.

• Photography might not be

flown immediately after the

panels have been placed.

Make sure that the paneling

materials are securely fixed to

the ground and can withstand

a delay. And conversely, you

might need to plan to pick up

the material after confirming

the flight was successful.

• Each panel will need a recoverable spike or rebar at its

center if not placed on an

existing monument.

Conclusion: 

While paneling might seem

simple, following these guidelines will help ensure the success of a paneling project. It is

not uncommon, especially in

certain areas, to have the panels blown away, covered with

blowing sand, or even eaten by

cattle. If there are any questions still unanswered, please

feel free to call me or the photogrammetrist on your project.

Contact:Nancy K. Russell

Cartographer/

Photogrammetrist

BLM National Applied

Resource Sciences Center

Denver, Colorado

303-236-8036

nrussell@blm.gov

Range

Range

Range

Resource Notes are intended to be early

announcements of technical and informational topics for

Bureau of Land Management personnel and some of their customers.

Information in this Resource Note is based on the opinion and

experience of the author and has not been peer-reviewed. Conclusions

and opinions expressed herein do not

necessarily represent those of BLM. Use of trade names does not

imply U.S. Government endorsement of commercial products.

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phil_dittberner@blm.gov or FAX 303-236-3508.

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