Kentucky Leads Nation in Obtaining Aerial Imagery of Entire State, Public Access Granted for Free
In a groundbreaking move, Kentucky has become the first state to capture high-resolution aerial imagery of its entire geography, thanks to the KYFromAbove Explorer project. This initiative provides comprehensive access to high-resolution aerial and elevation data across the state, benefiting public safety, economic development, and various professionals.
The project offers a unique perspective with its statewide coverage of oblique imagery. Unlike traditional vertical aerial photos, oblique images capture the landscape at an angle, providing a more realistic, 3D-like view of buildings, roads, and natural features. This enhances situational awareness for first responders during emergencies, helps in accurate property and land assessment, and supports economic development by enabling better visualization of potential development sites statewide.
The KYFromAbove Explorer project aids in emergency response planning, infrastructure development, environmental monitoring, and land use management. Professionals such as urban planners, engineers, environmental scientists, and public safety officials can make more informed decisions based on detailed, up-to-date imagery and terrain information. The availability of this imagery for the entire state ensures consistency in planning and analysis across different regions of Kentucky, supporting uniform access to critical geospatial information.
Gov. Andy Beshear stated that Team Kentucky leads the nation in using this technology to benefit its people. The aerial imagery is available for free to the public online at the KYFromAbove Explorer. The 2022-24 biennial budget allocated $17 million for the pioneering, statewide aerial mapping project.
The LiDAR data, a key component of the project, helps operators and first responders find and rescue people in distress. The imagery also aids emergency management leaders in assessing damage after natural disasters and finding safer places to rebuild. The project benefits every community in Kentucky, in addition to the private sector and all Kentuckians and visitors.
Mike Sunseri, Kentucky Office of Homeland Security deputy executive director, states that the KyFromAbove aerial photography initiative is beneficial for public safety and increases situational awareness for first responders during emergencies. The Governor notes that KYFromAbove provides an unprecedented view of Kentucky's beautiful landscape and context for hundreds of map layers in state and local government agencies.
The imagery was captured during leaf-off conditions starting in the fall of 2022. The completion of the project in the spring of 2024 achieved statewide coverage of oblique (side-angle) imagery, allowing Kentuckians to view both ortho (top-down) and side-angle photographs of all 120 counties at a three-inch resolution.
The project removes the barrier of oblique imagery being restricted to those with the resources to pay for a licensed product, leveling the playing field for all communities, the private sector, and Kentuckians. The KYFromAbove Explorer project is not just a technological advancement; it's a tool that empowers Kentuckians with detailed statewide geospatial resources, improving public safety efforts, economic growth opportunities, and professional practices in land and resource management.
- The KYFromAbove Explorer project, funded by a $17 million allocation in the 2022-24 biennial budget, provides free access to comprehensive high-resolution aerial and elevation data for economic development and public safety, benefiting all Kentuckians and visitors.
- First responders can benefit from the project's unique oblique imagery, as it enhances situational awareness during emergencies, aids in accurate property and land assessment, and supports infrastructure development.
- The project's LiDAR data helps operators and first responders find and rescue people in distress, assess damage after natural disasters, and find safer places for rebuilding, contributing to the overall enhancement of public safety.
- The project provides an unprecedented view of Kentucky's landscape, serving as a valuable tool for various professionals such as urban planners, engineers, and public safety officials, who can make informed decisions based on detailed, up-to-date imagery and terrain information.
- By removing the barrier of oblique imagery being restricted to those with the resources to pay for a licensed product, the KYFromAbove Explorer project levels the playing field for all communities, the private sector, and Kentuckians, empowering them with detailed statewide geospatial resources.
