Getmapping Flyers Feature on the One Show

Part of Getmapping’s air ops team from New Zealand Aerial Mapping (NZAM) featured in the BBC’s ‘One Show’ on 18th August. The light hearted piece presented by Phil Tufnell, initially dressed as a Russian soldier, looked back to the Cold War when many of Britain’s, military bases and secret installations were restricted from appearing on maps. Fast forwarding to today ‘Tuffers’ took to the air in NZAM’s Rockwell Aero Commander 690, based in Oxford, to learn about modern aerial surveying and carrying out his own test with a message left on the runway, ‘Phil Woz Ere!’ Whilst ‘Tuffers’ reassured everyone watching that aerial surveys were now routine and that there was nothing to fear, the NZAM plane did one final pass ‘buzzing’ the presenter in the process!

The ‘One Show’ piece was sprinkled with Getmapping aerial images of Britain’s top secret installations including GCHQ in Cheltenham, the storage site for Trident missiles and the country’s largest nuclear reactor. ‘Tuffers’ also gave the audience some statistics to think about. A typical aerial survey flight can capture up to 4,000 images, enough data to fill 880 DVDs, whilst the plane flies at 3 miles per minute, capturing a frame every second. Modern aerial survey cameras still offer much more detailed imagery than orbiting satellites and still form the basis of most of the UK’s map making.

The full One Show piece can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/5jJ97

About Getmapping Plc
Getmapping Plc is the UK’s leading provider of aerial photography and digital mapping. Based in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Getmapping was the first company to have up to date nationwide coverage and pioneered online delivery of aerial photography to business and the public and large. A reseller of professional mapping, oblique photography, height data, OS maps and third party aerial photography, Getmapping services a wide variety of markets including press and media, local authorities, property and construction, environmental consultants and the public. It also provides mapping services for specific client needs and has undertaken contracts to provide bespoke image databases. A pioneer of many online products through its website, Getmapping is the only company currently re-flying the whole country at enhanced 12.5cm resolution.