Butler County motorists
may have noticed painted white marks on area roadways in recent
weeks, particularly in the Trenton area between State Route 4
and U.S. 127. These marks, most of which are a white X
or >, are control points for aerial
photography and mapping currently being conducted by the County.
A control point gives an exact location and elevation on the
ground so that once photos are taken from a specially-equipped
airplane, an accurate map may be prepared. The white marks will
show up in the photos and will be used to establish exact distances
and elevations as the photos are used to make a detailed map.
Aerial mapping is being
prepared for the countywide Geographic Information System (GIS).
Many counties are converting to this new system in which all
mapping is computerized and depicts utility locations, survey
benchmarks, parcel and plat info, roads, and other similar information.
The current aerial
mapping is more heavily concentrated around Trenton since this
area is being studied for major highway improvements, including
a possible extension of State Route 63. The Trenton study area
is about a mile wide by 10 miles long.
County Engineer Dean
C. Foster says it is important that citizens understand the white
marks in the Trenton area do not indicate an exact location of
any future roadway improvements. These are just control points
as described above. An exact location for the proposed SR 63
Extension is being studied but has not yet been established.
The aerial photos must be taken in mid- to late winter before
tree and crop foliage becomes too dense and obscures the ground
from the aerial camera's view.
Aerial Photo
Update for the Trenton Area
Butler County residents
in the Trenton area may have noticed an orange and white twin-engine
airplane lapping back and forth across the sky on Tuesday, March
14. That plane was taking the aerial photos for the Trenton area
studies. As soon as the images taken on this flight have been
processed, an example will be posted on the SR
63 Information Page here on the BCEO's web site.
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