June 1, 2009 -- The Color Infrared (CIR) imagery provided by Axis Geospatial LLC is being used to delineate coastline and tidal wetlands in order to remap the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. The Critical Area boundary throughout the State of Maryland will be updated using data developed from aerial imagery flown as part of the Maryland Statewide Imagery Acquisition project in spring 2007 & 2008.

Based on 2008 Legislation, the state was required to update the Critical Area boundary - which has not been adjusted since 1972. The maps will include boundaries of tidal wetlands and a digitally generated georeferenced 1,000 foot Critical Area boundary. Axis Geospatial, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Salisbury University are working cooperatively to develop maps for each jurisdiction. The digital critical area maps will be web accessible.

CIR Imagery is commonly used for vegetative mapping, natural resource assessment, and environmental analysis. CIR depicts health of vegetation, soil moisture, and other environmental factors.

“The imagery is important for shoreline/wetland delineation because the NIR ban is absorbed almost completely by water. Those areas that are wet show up plainly in the CIR imagery. The coastal areas that would have been in deep shadow on the true-color photos become interpretable in the CIR imagery. The new technology is extremely valuable, although no price tag as been established this early in the project, we find the resolution quality and the differentiation between cover types to be outstanding”, according to Michael Scott, Ph.D., GISP Salisbury University.

A pilot project was completed for Baltimore County and Talbot County. CIR Imagery has now been provided for all critical area counties in the state of Maryland from Hartford to Worcester. The Maryland CIR Imagery project was made possible by Maryland's State Highway Administration and Department of Natural Resources on behalf of the State of Maryland.

Founded in 2001, Axis GeoSpatial is a full-service photogrammetric aerial mapping firm specializing in providing and updating the core information required in GIS and engineering applications. Headquartered in Easton, Maryland with branch offices in Rochester, New York and Boulder, Colorado, we employ unparalleled project management and state-of-the-art technology using precision aerial imagery and specialized equipment, allowing us to depict ground features as small as a car key and map its coordinate within half its size.

For more information please call Erica Insley at 410-822-1441 or visit www.axisgeospatial.com.