There are no training institutes that teach aerial mapping in isolation as a subject, but those interested in this area of study have many options depending on what aspect of the field they are interested in. Aerial mapping can be broken down into three areas:
· The photographer who takes the aerial pictures that will be used to make the maps
· The pilot who flies the plane or helicopter
· The cartographer (mapmaker) who translates the aerial photographs into maps
There are certain requirements to consider if you want to explore career options in cartography. With technology playing such an important role in mapmaking, especially aerial mapping, you will need to have a background in computer science. Understanding and knowing about earth and geographical features also mean that an understanding and appreciation of geography is compulsory.
To become a professional cartographer, a college or university degree in the discipline is necessary. Most degree programs are for a period of two to three years. College programs in cartography include courses in related disciplines, such as, computer science, mathematics (for computation of distances and other computations depending on the use of the maps), photography, and mapmaking related areas: geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and surveying.
You can find many colleges and universities worldwide that offer training in cartography; many also teach the subject as a stream in another program such as civil engineering and architectural engineering.
There are also those who opt to learn on the job, and for those who choose this option, there are many companies that take on interns. Also, for continuous upgrading of the skills learnt, cartographers join professional organizations and or subscribe to trade journals in the cartography field, so they can keep abreast of changes in a very dynamic career field.
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