Aerial Mapping & Photogrammetry

Photogrammetric mapping, vertical and oblique aerial photography, colour and multispectral orthophoto and GIS — with the Leica DMC250, one of the world’s best systems, approved by the Survey of Israel.

Hetz Hazafon’s Leica DMC250 digital aerial camera

What are aerial mapping and photogrammetry?

Photogrammetry is the science of measuring from photographs. Overlapping aerial images, captured from an aircraft along planned flight lines, allow the terrain to be reconstructed in 3D and turned into accurate maps, models and geographic deliverables.

In recent years Hetz Hazafon has provided extensive aerial photography for the State of Israel through the Survey of Israel, as well as photography services for other survey firms.

The equipment: Leica DMC250 by Hexagon

A large-format digital aerial camera system, among the best in the world for precise photogrammetric mapping. It was approved by the Survey of Israel for precise engineering mapping at 1:250 scale, grade 3, quality class A. It delivers aerial imagery for accurate mapping, colour orthophoto and 4-channel multispectral imaging, including NIR.

A medium-format Leica RCD30 serves as backup; it too is approved by the Survey of Israel and is flown routinely together with the LiDAR system.

Photogrammetry and aerial photography services

  • Photogrammetric mapping for town plans and urban-renewal projects.
  • Vertical and oblique aerial photography for planning.
  • Drone aerial photography.
  • Geographic information systems (GIS).
  • Colour and multispectral orthophoto.
  • Airborne LiDAR scanning for topographic and bathymetric mapping.
  • Bathymetry, visualisation and modelling.
  • Aerial photography for documentation and supervision.

Workflow

The process covers flight planning, image acquisition, ground control, aerial triangulation, production of the model and orthophoto, and a thorough quality control before delivery. Working alongside the company’s surveying and cadastre departments lets us run a project from start to finish under one roof — with no subcontractors.

A dedicated fleet

The equipment is permanently installed in twin-engine Piper Aztec aircraft with large photo openings and enlarged fuel tanks (over 6 hours of continuous flight), so the company is available immediately for any mission — at low and high altitude. Read more about our equipment and fleet.

Frequently asked questions

What is an orthophoto and how does it differ from a regular aerial photo?
An orthophoto is an aerial image that has been geometrically corrected so that scale is uniform across the image. Unlike a regular photo, distances and areas can be measured accurately and it can serve as a base layer in GIS.
Which camera does Hetz Hazafon use for aerial photography?
The large-format Leica DMC250 by Hexagon, approved by the Survey of Israel for engineering mapping at 1:250, grade 3, quality class A. A Leica RCD30 serves as backup.
Where is aerial mapping used?
In infrastructure and transport planning, urban planning and renewal, land management, environmental monitoring, municipal GIS systems and preparing maps for permitting and registration.
What is multispectral imaging?
Imaging in 4 channels (red, green, blue and near-infrared — NIR), allowing analysis of vegetation, soil and change over time beyond what the eye can see.
Can mapping be combined with ground surveying?
Yes. The aerial mapping and ground surveying departments work in parallel, and geodetic control networks ensure accuracy and consistency between all deliverables.

More services

LiDAR Scanning Airborne, ground and marine laser scanning with world-leading technology — the Leica Chiroptera 4x scans topography and bathymetry simultaneously, down to a seabed 25 metres deep. Land Surveying A leading land-surveying company committed to high-quality work — with 6 full land-survey crews operating in the field on an ongoing basis, using advanced laser and GPS‑RTK equipment. Marine Surveying Bathymetric surveys in lakes and along the coast, carried out with a certified marine surveyor and combined with airborne LiDAR scans — for complete seabed mapping for planning, management and safety. Appraisal, Cadastre & Land Registration Boundary reconstruction, registration plans, town-plan compilation, area calculations for balancing tables, appraiser support and expropriations — with over 400 registration plans approved a year with the Survey of Israel.

Interested in this service?

We'll accompany you from planning to final deliverables.

Contact us