How to make a mosaic from WW2 aerial survey photographs?

[JohnFraser]

The archives here on Ssipan, CNMI contain  a set of photographs from a 1945 US Navy or Army aerial survey of the entire island of Saipan.

My task is to combine them into a single photographic image file.

The photos are b&w and approximately 10" x 10".

The facility where the photographs are archived has a 600 dpi scanner.

I have access to the photographs only and not the original negatives.

Do you have any suggestions on the best way for me to proceed?

Thanks.

john

[DanPatterson_Retired]

You have to Georeference them first.  Read the whole help topic.  From there you can proceed to mosaic or mosaic data set

[JohnFraser]

Thanks. Regarding the coordinates for georeferencing - I could get the coordinates from a recognizable object on Google Earth and/or go to that same object on the ground and take its coordinates with a gps. Is either of those methods preferable?

[DanPatterson_Retired]

Google Earth would probably suffice.  Ensure that you are recording the coordinates in decimal degrees...one of the options for coordinates

[JohnFraser]

OK.  Decimal degrees is what I usually use. Thanks again.

[JohnFraser]

OK.  Decimal degrees is what I usually use. Thanks again.

[JohnFraser]

TIFF/uncompressed seems to be a preferred file type. Should I use TIFF/uncompressed?

I don't find a recommendation for scanning dpi. The scanner that's available is capable of 600 dpi. What do you think?

[DanPatterson_Retired]

More than adequate...You just need to get it into Arcmap...

[JohnFraser]

I don't want to record and store more data than I have to. Would less than 600 dpi be OK?

[DanPatterson_Retired]

You may have to experiment with the desired resolution...scanning is cheap