Anyone know where I can get arial photos for free?

There are satelite images at maps.google.com.
Depending on the area you can get pretty detailed.
Let me know how it works.

another one is virtualearth.com from msn

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/

http://www.terraserver-usa.com is microsofts version. i use it a lot, works great for me.

Try this link. http://nationalmap.gov/gio/viewonline.html

Google Earth is a very cool program. It has really helped me set stands up and get an overview of mine and my niegbors property. It shows elevation and is easy to use

Those are the sights I most often use. If I want big printout of an aerial photo, I go to our GIS Department. It's a County Office, part of the Auditor's office. They have photos of the entire County, and you can get anysize printout you need for a small fee...or once you get to know the guys, for free.

I know in Ohio they have an Online REGIS. I forget what it stands for but it is created by the auditors office. It tells you who owns what land and shows the whole county. Its been a big help for me. Maybe illinois has that or if not I know they should have one in the auditors office.

Download this software and use it. http://www.jdmcox.com/ It will allow you to download satelite pics and super-impose topo lines, roads,and waypoints on it. I think it will interact with your GPS as well. Don't have one but it has a GPS setting.


GIS is geographic information systems. www.gis.com My county has one as well integrated into their tax maps. Great for finding new areas to seek permission on. LOL Gives owners name and address.