Aerial OrthoPhotos and Satellite Imagery – What's Available and When are they Updated?
60 Different Map Types
Terrain Navigator Pro features an abundance of different maps and images. These include historic and current aerial orthophotos, classic USGS topographic maps, updated satellite imagery, and current street/outdoor/terrain maps. When all the various editions and merge combinations are combined, TNP can display upwards of 60 unique base maps.
Newer, High-Resolution Images and Current Maps
Terrain Navigator Pro includes higher-resolution satellite images, street, and terrain outdoor map types.Satellite Imagery: Standard and Hybrid Editions
The Satellite Image map type is updated regularly by a well-respected cartographic provider. You will note that these images will change as different map scales are chosen. This is done so that the best resolution map is always in view. The highest resolution (most detailed) photos are viewed at the scales of 1:1,129 and 1:2,257. While they can be stored as MapPacks for offline viewing, our licensing agreement with the cartographic provider prohibits their export in any "geo-referenced" format, and limits printed/published images to 11"x17".Because the Satellite photos are taken from a variety of sources, you may find some are "leaf-off" while others are not. Unfortunately there is no way to predict the exact type of image that will be presented at any scale, nor is it possible to ascertain the exact date of any particular photo.
Can I get more information about the Satellite Images? How about updates?
The Satellite Images included with TNP are licensed from Mapbox. For details on their process, please see this article. Specifically, the satellite imagery is sourced from multiple satellites and airplanes, from both commercial and open sources. Imagery sources and resolutions are tied to specific zoom levels to provide consistency and quality of data. All imagery is checked for color fidelity, optimized, and composited together into a single map type for use in TNP.
To determine where to update imagery, Mapbox takes into account industry use cases and needs, customer feedback, and internal data on tile requests and zoom levels. With this information, Mapbox makes data-driven decisions regarding imagery allocation and can forecast which customers will benefit from an update.
To determine where to update imagery, Mapbox takes into account industry use cases and needs, customer feedback, and internal data on tile requests and zoom levels. With this information, Mapbox makes data-driven decisions regarding imagery allocation and can forecast which customers will benefit from an update.
To submit a specific update request for the satellite image map type, please contact MapBox using this link.
In most cases, Aerial Orthophotos are not as detailed as the Satellite images; their optimum display scales are 1:3,777 and 1:7,554. In some areas, standard edition Aerial Orthophotos may have additional higher resolution images available. Aerial Orthophotos are available in different editions – designated by the year they were taken. Some older Aerial Orthophotos feature black & white imagery, the majority are in full color.
Aerial Orthophotos can be downloaded as MapPacks for offline viewing. They can also be exported in georeferenced formats for display on Garmin GPS units, or use with other GIS mapping applications. They have no restrictions on the size of printing/exporting.
Note: Aerial Orthphotos are not available in the state of Alaska. In Nevada, portions of Nye [south central], Lincoln [south west], and Clark [north west] counties are not available as aerial orthophotos (due to government restrictions.)
What additional states will be receiving updated aerial orthophotos in 2023?
In mid 2023, we anticipate adding additional aerial orthophotos taken in the summer of 2022. The states we expect to be updated are: Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, and Oregon.
Aerial Orthophotos: Current and Historic Editions
The Aerial Orthophoto map type is updated annually. The source of these photos is the USDA "NAIP" imagery. Unfortunately, the USDA does not update every state, every year; so the Aerial Orthophotos for any given state may be slightly older than in another. The USDA also is only interested in gathering "leaf-on" images, so some details may be obscured by the ground cover.In most cases, Aerial Orthophotos are not as detailed as the Satellite images; their optimum display scales are 1:3,777 and 1:7,554. In some areas, standard edition Aerial Orthophotos may have additional higher resolution images available. Aerial Orthophotos are available in different editions – designated by the year they were taken. Some older Aerial Orthophotos feature black & white imagery, the majority are in full color.
Aerial Orthophotos can be downloaded as MapPacks for offline viewing. They can also be exported in georeferenced formats for display on Garmin GPS units, or use with other GIS mapping applications. They have no restrictions on the size of printing/exporting.
Note: Aerial Orthphotos are not available in the state of Alaska. In Nevada, portions of Nye [south central], Lincoln [south west], and Clark [north west] counties are not available as aerial orthophotos (due to government restrictions.)
What additional states will be receiving updated aerial orthophotos in 2023?
In mid 2023, we anticipate adding additional aerial orthophotos taken in the summer of 2022. The states we expect to be updated are: Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, and Oregon.
What aerial orthophoto editions are currently available?
The following edition (year) aerial orthophotos are available in each state. Note that in some circumstances, there may be certain areas not covered by all editions of each photo. Moreover, in regions where state boarders intertwine, there may be additional editions available.
- Alabama: 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2006, 1998.
- Arizona: 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2007, 1992.
- Arkansas: 2021,
2019,
2017, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2003, 2001, 2000.
- California: 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2005, 1999/1998.
- Colorado:
2021,
2019,
2017, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001.
- Connecticut:
2021,
2018, 2016,
2014, 2010, 2006, 1992.
- Delaware:
2021,
2018,
2017, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2006, 1998.
- Florida:
2019,
2017, 2015, 2013, 2007, 1999, 1990.
- Georgia:
2021,
2019,
2017, 2015, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2007, 1993.
- Idaho:
2021,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2009, 2004, 1992.
- Illinois:
2021,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2014, 2011, 2009, 2007, 1999.
- Indiana: 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2003, 1999/1998.
- Iowa:
2021,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2014, 2009, 2008, 2006, 1994.
- Kansas:
2021,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2014, 2010, 2008, 2006, 1991.
- Kentucky: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2008, 2004, 1998/1997.
- Louisiana:
2019,
2017, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2007, 1998.
- Maine:
2021,
2018,
2015, 2013, 2009, 2007, 1997.
- Maryland:
2021,
2018,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2009, 2007, 2002, 1995, 1993, 1988.
- Massachusetts:
2021,
2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2008, 2004, 1995, 1992.
- Michigan: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2009, 2005, 1998, 1994.
- Minnesota:
2021,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2008, 2001, 1991.
- Mississippi: 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2009, 2007, 1997/1996.
- Missouri: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2009, 2007, 1995.
- Montana: 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2005, 1997.
- North Carolina: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 1999.
- North Dakota: 2022, 2020, 2019,
2018,
2017, 2016,
2014, 2010, 2009, 2005, 1997.
- Nebraska: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2009, 2003, 1993.
- New Hampshire:
2021,
2018,
2016,
2014, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2003, 1993.
- New Jersey:
2019,
2017,
2015, 2014, 2013, 2008, 2006, 2002, 1995.
- New Mexico: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2011, 2009, 2003, 1996.
- Nevada:
2019,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2006, 1994.
- New York: 2022, 2019,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2009, 2008, 2006, 1994.
- Ohio:
2021,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2009, 2004, 1995.
- Oklahoma:
2021,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2008, 2003, 1995.
- Oregon: 2020, 2016,
2014, 2009, 2005, 1994.
- Pennsylvania: 2022, 2019,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2004, 1995/1994.
- Rhode Island:
2021,
2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2008, 2003, 1995.
- South Carolina:
2021,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2009, 2006, 1994.
- South Dakota: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2004, 1991.
- Tennessee:
2021,
2018,
2016,
2014, 2010, 2008, 2007, 1997.
- Texas: 2022, 2020, 2016,
2014, 2010, 2009/2008, 2004, 1996.
- Utah:
2021,
2018,
2016,
2014, 2011, 2009, 2006, 1997.
- Vermont:
2021,
2018,
2016,
2014, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2003, 1996.
- Virginia:
2021,
2018,
2016,
2014, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2003, 1996, 1994.
- Washington:
2021,
2019,
2017, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2006, 1998.
- Wisconsin: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2017,
2015, 2013, 2008, 2005, 1999/1998.
- West Virginia: 2022, 2020, 2018,
2016,
2014, 2011, 2009, 2007, 1997.
- Wyoming: 2022,
2019,
2017,
2015, 2009, 2006, 1994.