The paper collection is a non-circulating research collection of sheet maps, globes, air photos, microforms, digital atlases and cartographic reference works.
Each semester, we compile a list of newly acquired maps and atlases [1]. As of March 31, 2011 the cartographic collection comprised almost 200,000 items including:
Our print air photo collections are self-serve and available during library opening hours. The photos are for in-library use only.
Our main collection contains over 11,000 print air photos focusing on Ottawa and the surrounding area, including the Ottawa Valley and the Gatineau region. Air photos in this collection are in black/white or colour depending on the series.
Find air photos from this collection using our online index [5].
To locate an air photo in the library, first search for it in our catalogue using a keyword search [6] for "aerial photograph". Air photos are filed in their boxes numerically by flight line, then photo number.
This sub-collection of air photos covers selected communities and natural features in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and northern Quebec.
Photos from this collection are not included in the online index. Ask at the Maps, Data, and Government Information Centre [7] for assistance.
Limited coverage of Frobisher Bay, Gjoa Haven, Hall Beach, Hall Lake, Igloolik, and Lake Harbour. Individual photos can be in editions dated from 1968 - 1976. Various scales.
Selected populated areas such as Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Inuvik, etc. and natural features such as the Mackenzie Delta, etc. Individual photos can be in editions dated from 1968 – 1976. Various scales.
Some populated areas such as Fort George, Poste-de-la-Baleine, etc and some natural features such as Grande Riviere de la Baleine, Hopes Advance Bay, etc. Individual photos can be in editions dated from 1968 - 1976. Various scales.
Only Hackett River.
Our collection of digital photos includes the City of Ottawa, sections of the National Capital area and selected other Canadian cities. Consult our GIS pages [8] for descriptions of the photos and indexes. This collection is only available to Carleton students, faculty and staff.
Most of our air photos may not be photocopied unless permission is obtained from the copyright holder. For more information on photocopying, please visit the MADGIC Reference Desk.
Not without written permission from the copyright holder, unless the photo is more than 50 years old and therefore no longer subject to copyright law.
Copies of the 1:30,000-scale photos flown in 1987 and 1988 and the 1:10,000-scale photos flown in 1991 can be purchased from the Ontario Government at the Ministry of Natural Resources' Store. Copies all other photos can be purchased from the National Air Photo Library in Ottawa. These government agencies will also have many other photographs that Carleton University does not.
Scale refers to the relationship of distance on photographs or maps to the actual ground distance. It is a ratio that could represent any unit of measurement. For example, a scale of 1:40,000 means 1 inch on the photograph equals 40,000 inches on the ground, or 1 centimeter equals 40,000 centimeters on the ground.
Medium and small-scale (over 1:30,000) photos are used for general planning. Large-scale (1:30,000 and less) photos are used for detailed work, such as finding lot lines.
No. An enlargement only appears to show more detail than a 9-by-9 inch photograph. Photographic resolution deteriorates with each enlargement factor.
Because most aircraft photography is used for cartographic purposes so the photographs acquired looking straight down or vertically will have the least distortion.
Resolution refers to the ability to distinguish the smallest visible objects on a photograph. Resolution is a result of the combination of film type and the camera lens system.
A flight line is a path on a map or chart to represent the track over which an aircraft has been flown or is to fly.
Some of our maps can be found using the search box above, but many of them are not listed in our catalogue. They are organized using a numerical map classification system. Within this system, maps are separated into topographic or thematic.
Topographic maps are arranged by area classification [9] only, and have a call number ending in a 7. Topographic series have indexes found in the first folder of each series.
Example: 1007 = Canadian topographic map
Thematic maps are organized by area classification [9], and have a call number ending