New detailed aerial imagery of the Maltese Islands has been added to the extensive aerial photographic records of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and is available to the public.

The latest photography was carried out in May 2008 at two different scales: a low flight at 1:4,000 scale and a higher flight at a scale of 1:10,000. Metric aerial photographic surveys are carried out by specialist companies using dedicated cameras following premeditated flight-plans. The photography can only be taken when the right atmospheric, solar and weather conditions coincide, to provide clear and optimum quality images. The latest series of aerial photography was taken by Compagnia Generale Ripreseaeree spa, a subsidiary of the Blom Group, the largest company in Europe for the airborne collection of geographic information.

The new imagery is available at MEPA and is already in use within the Mapping Unit. The larger scale photography is being used to update the topographic map; this is a digital, large scale database of the topographic landscape of Malta. The smaller scale imagery will be used to create an orthophoto map, a mosaic of aerial photographs orthorectified to provide a high resolution and accurate representation of the land.

This was the sixth aerial survey commissioned by the Mapping Unit since it was first set up in 1988. However MEPA’s archive of aerial photography spans over 60 years; the oldest photography dates back to 1943, originally contracted by the Survey Directorate Allied Forces Headquarters.

MEPA’s aerial photography archive is available for reference. Copies of individual photographs can also be ordered and purchased. Further information about aerial photography and other mapping products can be obtained from the Mapping Shop by phoning on 22901007 or via email at mappingshop@mepa.org.mt