Maps like the USGS 7.5 minute quad sheet or the BLM 100K maps are considered small scale for this discussion. 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. 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 large-scale 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. Panel locations have been carefully chosen. If a panel must be moved more than a 100 feet, discuss this with the photogrammetrist.