Hi all --- this thread caught my attention and thought I would post about how I use aerial imagery, along with some resources (free) that you might want to use....

Google Earth(download to your computer)/ Google Maps(internet based)-- I like the color imagery, lower resolution,difficult to work with images in other software.
TerraServer -- Black/White imagery, older images, easy to use images into other software, images contain coordinate information, and much better resolution.

If you are interested in using GPS data to "overlay" the aerial imagery, then I prefer TerraServer imagery. Here is a quick rundown of what I do:

1. Locate your area of interest (wide zoom).
2. Zoom in to obtain high resolution/detail.
3. Right-click image and "Save As" to the harddrive.
4. Right-click the "WorldFile" link and "Save As" to the harddrive. Save as type jpeg or .jpg
5. Open Windows Explorer and locate imagery folder (where it's saved to). Open the world file and "save as" -- using the same name as the .jpg image you downlaoded, but change the file extension to .jgw
6. Go back to the webpage and pan over in any direction. Then follow steps 1-5 until you have a collection of imagery saved.

The software you can download for FREE to view, annotate, view gps data with the imagery is located here: http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/index.html

ArcExplorer is a fully functional GIS software program that is very powerful. While I personally use a similar program (ArcView), ArcExplorer has MANY of the same functions that ArcView ($1500)has...

I will use the imagery to do as much scouting as possible, taking note of the kinds of terrain/tree cover and doing my best to identify it. After a while, it's fairly easy to identify Cypress Heads/Swamp from Oak Hammocks to open paries.

The final truth comes when I bring my laptop with me into the area... I hook up a GPS to the laptop, bring up the aerial imagery and this allows me to have real time navigation as I drive. The GPS point tracks over top of the aerial photos and you truly begin to understand what you are looking at on the computer screen.

Anyway -- I sure hope some of this helps those who might be interested. I went ahead and included an image of the setup I built in my truck. The laptop mount/stand is pretty much what Police use in their vehicles, but does require a bit of "beefing up" if the trails are bad/rough.

Take Care,

James