IDENTIFYING AND ASSESSING PROBLEM AREAS IN SOIL EROSION SURVEYS USING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Gully erosion has for many years been a problem in Rhodesia1s Tribal Trust Lands. This paper describes how Soil Conservation Service staff, with no previous ground knowledge of these areas, used good quality 1/25,000 scale aerial photographs to measure the extent of the gully erosion and to pinpoint erosion “black spots.” This enabled quick and reliable estimates of the cost of reclamation work to be made without the need for time-consuming field survey. The survey method discussed is capable of wide application wherever gully erosion occurs and needs to be brought under control.     

THE SUCCESS OF THE METRIC CAMERA AS A DATA SOURCE FOR LAND RESOURCE EVALUATION

This study reviews Metric Camera photography as a data source for land resource evaluation. It concludes that the system is a major move forward in the field of remote sensing and draws particular attention to the value of the stereoscopic image as an aid to interpretation of the data.     

THE APPLICATION OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE PLANNING OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OVERSEAS

An effective procedure for preparing regional plans and individual farm plans for all sections of the farming community in Rhodesia is outlined. The survey work through to the presentation of the completed plan was based on the study of aerial photography and on annotated photo-mosaics. A system for training personnel and the public in the reading and understanding of aerial photography was involved. The need to apply an approach such as this both overseas and in the United Kingdom in the planning field and in the related fields of education is discussed.