MnDOT conducts aerial photography near communities in northern Minnesota

BEMIDJI, Minn. – In a sure sign of spring, the Minnesota Department of Transportation begins its transition away from snowplow operations by conducting aerial mapping of several locations in northern Minnesota.

This aerial survey process relies on clear observations, and must be conducted after the snow has melted and before the trees leaf out. To begin the process crews place an “X” on the ground as a reference point for the aerial photographer. Weather permitting; work will begin in early April in the following locations:

·         Red Lake- Highway 1

·         East Grand Forks- Highway 2

·         Bemidji- Highway 2 and Highway 71

·         Hallock- Highway 75

The mapping will create a record of existing infrastructure and landscape along MnDOT right of way for transportation planning and operations. “Crews paint large white ‘X’ targets on paved surfaces” said Dan Domeier, MnDOT Land Surveyor.

“For unpaved locations they use a wood panel target. A survey crew then records the coordinate position and elevation of these targets, and provides that information to the aerial photography company.”

The wood panel targets are temporary and will be removed when the photography is completed. MnDOT requests that landowners not remove or disturb the targets until the photography is completed.

If a target must be moved, please contact MnDOT District 2 survey staff at 218-755-6533 or by email at Daniel.Domeier@state.mn.us.

MnDOT conducts aerial photography near communities in northern Minnesota

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation will conduct aerial mapping of several locations in northern Minnesota this fall. This work must be conducted after the leaves have fallen off of the trees and before any snow has fallen.

Weather permitting; work will begin in early October in the following locations:

·         Erskine- Highway 2

·         Halstad- Highway 75

·         Northome- Highway 1

·         Saint Hilaire- Highway 32

·         Warren- Highway 1/75

·         Warroad- Highway 11

The mapping will create a record of existing infrastructure and landscape along MnDOT right of way for transportation planning and operations. To take the photos, crews place an “X” on the ground as a reference point for the aerial photographer.

“Crews paint large white ‘X’ targets on paved surfaces” said Dan Domeier, MnDOT Land Surveyor. “For unpaved locations they use a wood panel target. A survey crew then records the coordinate position and elevation of these targets, and provides that information to the aerial photography company.”

The wood panel targets are temporary and will be removed when the photography is completed. MnDOT requests that landowners not remove or disturb the targets until the photography is completed.

If a target must be moved, please contact MnDOT District 2 survey staff at 218-755-6533 or by email at Daniel.Domeier@state.mn.us.

DNR to fly deer and elk surveys

Low-flying helicopters will be used for white-tailed deer population surveys planned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for January through March in central and southeastern Minnesota, if suitable snow conditions develop.

“We use aerial surveys to help monitor deer populations in portions of Minnesota,” said Gino D’Angelo, DNR farmland deer project leader. “These flights provide data to improve our understanding of how deer populations respond to management, which helps us to make decisions about future deer hunting season regulations.”

Deer will be counted during daylight hours at an altitude of about 200 feet. These counts are used to estimate deer numbers in deer permit areas. A representative sampling of 1 square mile areas within the permit areas are flown that allows for a statistically valid representation of the population in a given area.

“The goal is to complete deer permit areas 214, 215, 218, 219, 221, 223, 224, 229, 241, and 248 in Becker, Benton, Cass, Hubbard, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, Wilkin, and Wright counties; and deer permit areas 341, 343, 345, 347, and 348 in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties,” D’Angelo said. “Successful completion of the surveys requires continuous snow conditions over the survey areas in order to complete them all.”

Aerial elk surveys are also planned for the Kittson County and Grygla elk ranges in northwestern Minnesota.

Questions about survey flights should be directed to the DNR’s Farmland Wildlife Research office in Madelia at 507-642-8478, the central regional wildlife office in St. Paul at 651-259-5756, or the northwest regional wildlife office in Bemidji at 218-308-2651.