The Changing Landscape

A valuable service provided by aerial photography is the ability to view changes in the land through time. This is important not only to historians, but also to those who plan cities and monitor the environment.

Neville Island, Pennsylvania

When workers became ill during the construction of a public park on Neville Island, environmentalists used aerial photos to look back through time and locate the problem.

Aerial photo analyses courtesy of EPA's Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center

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The 1938 aerial view shows farmlands on Neville Island.
From the National Archives

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In 1948, the island shows signs of development. Apartment complexes have sprung up and a large earth scar on the island's tip indicates increased construction.
U.S. Geological Survey Photograph

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Dark patches suggest dumping of liquid wastes in 1952.
U.S. Geological Survey Photograph

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By 1959, a long narrow holding trench has been constructed for liquid wastes. A new road leading to the shoreline may have been built to facilitate dumping in the channel. Trenches indicate burial of solid wastes.
U.S. Geological Survey Photograph

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The 1969 photo shows that solid waste disposal has ceased, but many dark patches of liquids still remain.
U.S. Geological Survey Photograph

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In the view from the spring of 1973, liquid wastes have been dumped right along the central road. Note that the apartment buildings have been knocked down suggesting plans for new development.
U.S. Geological Survey Photograph

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By the fall of the same year all dumping has ceased.

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The scene from 1979 shows the completed recreation area which is empty and abandoned because of the hazards of wastes buried many years before.
Courtesy of EPA's Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center

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In this near infrared view from 1980, bright red represents healthy vegetation. The paler spots indicate areas where the long-forgotten wastes inhibited growth of grass in the park.
U.S. Geological Survey Photograph

Photo Interpretation

The Changing Landscape (continued)