Grand Rapids, Minn. -- Itasca County is using color infrared photography shot by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The color infrared aerial photos of land in Itasca County aid county officials and citizens by enabling them to view land masses with detail and ease from the comfort of a computer screen.

The photos were shot from the air at 7900 feet above ground and show trees, buildings and even vehicles. The DNR airphotos are predominantly red in color because they are taken with a special color infrared film. Healthy vegetation appears in red rather than green tones, water usually appears in black, turbid waters in light blue and paved surfaces in blue-gray.

"We are very fortunate to benefit from the DNR's color infrared photography," explains Dave Bily, Itasca County GIS Coordinator, "While the DNR shoots the infrared photographs for forest resource management purposes, Itasca County can use the photos with new technology to help with other purposes."

For instance, the Assessor's Department uses the infrared photography in conjunction with the parcel-based map system to locate land splits, identify land type, spot such landmarks as roads or gravel pits, and view property with a landowner when reviewing land valuations and assessments. The Assessor Department uses the data daily and County Assessor Tom Gilmore stresses that, "The parcel-based map which is laid on top of the infrared photography, is not a survey, but without an actual land survey, the digital map and infrared photography are the next best thing!"

The Land Department uses the color infrared photography extensively for forest resource management, recreation, agricultural inspection and viewing by the public. The photos, which are normally taken in fall, capture color changes which help users to distinguish vegetation and timber types. Assistant Land Commissioner Dave Marshall explains, "Using aerial photos helps us in distinguishing coniferous timber types from deciduous timber types and also helps us become familiar with a parcel of land much faster by picking out wetlands and creeks, power lines and forest trails." Marshall adds, "We can tell the difference in timber stand density from the photos which may be an indication of a stand breaking up and in need of harvest."

Other county offices also using the color infrared photography include Auditor/Treasurer Department, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Surveying and Mapping. For the past three years, GIS and Surveyor employees have been using the Public Land Survey System and the parcels created out of it to build an electronic, parcel-based map and database from records in the Auditor's office. The employees are nearing completion of the parcel-based map although the system will never be totally complete due to the large amount of public ownership and lack of existing land corner information. Bily estimates, "The parcel-based mapping data should be available on the County's website later this year."

The infrared photography is available to the public on the DNR's website www.dnr.state.mn.us/airphotos

Just as Itasca County has moved forward with new ways to provide citizens and County personnel with updated methods of accessing land management data, so too does the County have a treasure of history for those interested in looking. "Itasca County has black and white aerial photographs taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1940," said Bily. Marshall adds, "The Land Department used the 1940's photographs and the first color infrared photo flight was done in 1995/1996." While the historical photos may be limited in detail and clarity, they often provide useful comparisons of current land to historical land. You may find such information as existence of public roads, mine pits, and the like.

For more information about the use of color infrared photography with Itasca County mapping capabilities, contact Itasca County Geographic Information Systems Mapping at 218.327.2850. Or if you have a question particular to another County department in relation to using color infrared photography, contact that department directly. For a listing of Itasca County departments, contacts and numbers, visit the County's website at www.co.itasca.mn.us

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