AERIAL SURVEY

Evening Star, Issue 20587, 12 September 1930, Page 6

AERIAL SURVEY

PART OF CANTERBURY TO BE MAPPED [Spiciu. no the ‘ Star.’] September 11. An aerial topographical contour survey of a portion of the Canterbury district will bo commenced shortly, Mr H, E. Walsho (Surveyor-General) told a reporter to+day. This will bo the first survey of its kind undertaken by the department, and it will bo carried out with the co-operation of the New Zealand Air Force. The previous aerial surveys have been simply for ordinary mapping, but the present effort will show more features of- the country than an ordinary map, the contours being depicted so that tho physical characteristics of tho country can bo more readily appreciated. Mr Walshs has been in Christchurch making ■ arrangements for the past few days, and the camera has now been fitted to the airplane, and only settled weather is wanted before tho survey can be undertaken. Flight-lieutenant M. W. Buckley will pilot the machine, which will bo used m mapping a portion of tho plains, and some of the peninsula hills. Tho camera takes 255 photographs on one film, and each photograph covers four square miles, but owing to the overlapping necessary to complete the process only' about 285 miles of country is mapped on each film. _ The process that is being used is a British one, and good results are | expected. Topographical surveying is ( playing an increasingly large part in surveying operations, and the new map is expected to bo a noteworthy contribution to the present stock of the department.