The North Carolina Geological Survey (NCGS) is an affiliate of the Earth Science Information Center ESIC. The NCGS' Raleigh and Asheville offices provide ESIC services. ESIC is a key earth science information source. The NCGS maintains a collection of historic 15-minute quadrangles of North Carolina; please call (919) 733-2423 to schedule an appointment to view these rare maps.
The NCGS conducts free aerial photography availability searches. The CD-ROM database used to conduct the aerial photography search is updated annually. The database is called Aerial Photography Summary Record System (APSERS). Clients need to provide either a latitude -- longitude (degree-minute) of a point, or latitude -- longitude of a "box". This database contains many parameters including date, percentage of cloud cover, and acquisition parameters. A free search printout is available upon request. The NCGS does most searches the same date they are requested. Call for details.
The NCGS maintains several statewide historic reference sets of panchromatic (black and white) aerial photography. One set is from the 1950's; the other is from the 1970's. Data from other years may be available; call for details. Clients use these two sets for environmental assessment studies, and for other studies. This photography may be examined in the NCGS's Archdale office during regular business hours. An appointment is suggested. No photographs are loaned.
The Department of Transportation's photography unit maintains a large collection of aerial photography; their telephone number is (919) 250-4170. Much of the photography is in color, and was flown at a relatively low altitude to support road construction. Property adjacent to state maintained roads have a good chance of having available photography.
The NCGS has statewide 1:24,000-scale orthophotography; most photography is from the 1970's. The NCGS may have additional data, especially historic data available in its microfilm files.
Additional information may be available through ESIC. Topics include: bathymetric maps, photoimage maps, satellite image maps, geologic maps, hydrologic maps, land use maps, maps the planets and moons, National Atlas maps, and special maps. There is a rapidly growing digital map database. Clients can contact ESIC by telephone at (800) USA-MAPS.
For further information, contact us by e-mail at: jeff_reid@mail.ehnr.state.nc.us
Please refer to other pages at this website for information on how to contact the North Carolina Geological Survey.