There is an increasing requirement for a cost-effective means of updating digital base map and natural resources information systems. The Northern Forestry Centre of Forestry Canada is cooperating with Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife and United States agencies to evaluate ER-2 high altitude (i.e., about 20 km) reconnaissance in Alberta. A demonstration flight was arranged on 20 July 1988 to cover flight lines from Waterton Lakes National Park to Lesser Slave Lake, and return (i.e., about 1500 km). The ER-2 platform provides both the high altitude perspective of earth satellite systems and the flexibilities of aircraft. The demonstration flight carried a panoramic camera, two mapping cameras and a digital scanner that were operated simultaneously. This provided rapid, high resolution and stereoscopic coverage of large areas. The savings from improved efficiencies for base map revisions alone, using one mapping camera were greater than the costs of routine ER-2 operations over Alberta. The three other selectable sensors would also permit natural resources information system updates for only the costs of processing, interpretation and data entry. These high altitude capabilities are required for forestry in Canada.
ER-2 High Altitude Reconnaissance: A Case Study
