History of aerial photography and imagery in Queensland
Before the development of satellite and remote sensing technology, aerial images of Queensland were captured by piloted aircraft. These images were designed to overlap, producing a seamless visual representation of an area. Films of historic aerial photography (HAP) over Queensland have been digitised by scanning the original photographs to produce high-resolution digital images, specifically at 1,693 dots per inch (DPI). This archive of historic imagery serves multiple purposes, including topographical mapping, development planning, aiding criminal investigations and legal proceedings, environmental studies, and surveying. It is also a valuable resource for observing and assessing changes in the landscape over time.
Queensland’s imagery history
1914–1918
Australia's history with aerial imagery begins during the First World War following the need for military intelligence and advances in aircraft technology and photography.
1920s
The RAAF fits Gipsy Moth planes with aerial reconnaissance cameras to record enemy movements and defences.
1930
In August, the Royal Australian Air Force undertakes the first known aerial photography project in Queensland over the Gold Coast hinterland. Aerial photography was typically captured with 60% overlap between frames. As a result, when viewed through a stereoscope, the image appears to have three-dimensional depth. This assisted in deriving cartographic information and intelligence from the aerial images.
The first coordinated state aerial photography program is assigned to the commercial aerial surveying company Adastra Airways, capturing 8 areas along Queensland coastal regions.
1952
With the introduction of the Survey Coordination Act1952 (Qld), aerial photography conducted by state agencies is classified as a survey and required to be lodged with the Surveyor General in the Central Plan Office. This collection is called the State Aerial Photography Library and marks the beginning of the department's involvement in the state-coordinated program for imagery.
1966
The first colour film aerial photography is captured as part of an imagery program.
The state-coordinated program begins transitioning from black and white to colour film photography.
1980s
Historic aerial photographic films are susceptible to a form of chemical decay described as vinegar syndrome. This can permanently damage the film base, causing it to distort, shrink and become brittle. The speed of degradation is influenced by the storage environment (heat and moisture) and the presence of acidic vapours from film degrading nearby. The film archive is stored in a purpose-built vault since the 1980s.
View larger image Film archive vault at the Land centre in Brisbane.
1986
The department launches the Landsat satellite data acquisition program, following the US Government’s Landsat space mission in 1972. We act as a regional distributor on behalf of Geoscience Australia and manage the acquisition of images to support the Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) project.
In the early 1990s, the department implements photographic methods to copy the collection to ensure preservation was maintained. These copies were transferred to QLD state archives.
The Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act 2003 is published and includes imagery from non-aerial platforms such as satellites. It legislates our responsibility for ongoing imagery data acquisition and maintenance activities.
2005
A major aerial film digitisation project begins to turn physical films into digital replicas. The department purchases the first of 3 Leica DSW 700 scanners. The project begins with the Queensland film library (QAP films). Queensland’s first Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is acquired. The point cloud data is used to generate Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), contour datasets, and extract features.
A second Leica DSW 700 scanner was purchased to increase productivity and meet the demand for archival and market requirements.
2008
The Spatial Imagery Acquisition Plan was proposed, creating the Spatial Imagery Services Program.
View larger image High resolution aerial image of Brisbane city 2008.
2009
First high-resolution statewide satellite imagery basemap was acquired at 2.5m resolution. Subsequent basemap imagery was captured in 2012 and 2013-2015.
2013
The department purchased a third Leica DSW 700 scanner to support the existing scanning project. At the time, this was the largest aerial photography scanning operation in the southern hemisphere.
After scanning for 13 years, the QAP films were scanned and transferred to State Archives. This contributed to 5,872 films in the State Remotely Sense Library. Scanning started on the non-QAP collection, with films donated by QASCO, Cameron Cottrell & Steen, NorthAir Surveys, Schlenker Mapping, and Brisbane City Council.
2021
Scanning of the QASCO films was completed.
2022
The last film scanned by the department was on 25 May 2022. More than one million frames have been scanned, equating to 560 terabytes archived. In total, more than 7,900 aerial films were scanned. The specialist scanners were sold, marking the end of a 17-year project of aerial film scanning.
2025
The State Remotely Sensed Image Library (SRSIL) now holds more than 3PB of imagery and elevation data. Data is regularly added to the library, providing a growing and priceless record of Queensland's history.
Accessing imagery
Free historical aerial photographs are available through QImagery.
The Queensland Globe features a time series of historic, aerial and satellite imagery.
