About NCAP Our Partners
A historic black and white photo of a group of people in uniform in a group inside, 4 of them standing above the others.

British and American members of the ACIU Operation Crossbow team, 1945
Image courtesy the Medmenham Collection

Our Partners

We collaborate with organisations from around the world who share the common goal of facilitating access to aerial photographic collections. Together, we work on finding new and engaging uses for these valuable collections.

In this section

A long, low profile building fills the frame. It has lots of square edges and sharp angles, and our view of it is partially blocked by spindly trees and dense, low bushes. The photograph has been taken at night, and the clear, dark blue sky glows behind the building. Three rows of windows are illuminated with orange light from inside.

Directorate of Overseas Surveys Partnership

Working with Stockholm University and the University of California (Berkeley), this partnership delivered a pioneering digitisation programme.  

The logo of the Edinburgh International Data Facility.

Edinburgh International Data Facility

Our research collaboration with the EIDF facilitates access to high-performance computing infrastructure, enabling the development of advanced algorithms and creation of analytics-ready datasets.

The logo of the Irish Military Archives.

Irish Defence Forces

NCAP has been working with the Irish Defence Forces to digitise tens of thousands of aerial photographic images and associated records held by the Irish Military Archives.

The logo of the Medmenham Collection.

The Medmenham Collection

With significant elements of the NCAP collection originating from RAF Medmenham, our relationship with the Medmenham Collection remains a valuable one.

The logo of the National Archives and Records Administration.

National Archives and Records Administration

In 2016, NCAP began a partnership with NARA to copy its extensive holdings of aerial photography, with a particular focus on images from the Second World War.

Logo of the National Library & Archives UAE.

National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates

NCAP has been working with the National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to digitise tens of thousands of aerial photographic images of the UAE.

The logo of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

NCAP has been working with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales to digitise tens of thousands of aerial photographic images held in The National Monuments Record of Wales.

IN THIS SECTION

Four white and grey image scanners are spaced across a line of desks. Five blue and black film winders are spaced between the scanners. Each winder has a roll of black film on it. A section of a screen is in partial focus in the top right corner of the frame.

Our Mission

With a responsibility for 30 million aerial photographic images, our goal is to preserve them and make them accessible for present and future generations.

A historic black and white photo of a group of people in uniform on a flight of steps outside a grand, mock-Tudor house.

Our History

Our origins are rooted in the development of the Allied Central Interpretation Unit during the Second World War, but the oldest images in NCAP date back over 100 years.

A black and white historic photo of 4 women in uniform working in an office. Large windows are visible in the background. 2 of the women face the camera, 2 are sitting with their backs to the camera. Metal film canisters cover almost every surface.

Our Team

Meet the team of dedicated technicians, historians, analysts, cataloguers, data managers and robots who deliver NCAPs collections to the public every day.

A screenshot of a digital map of England, Wales, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, indicating 91,683 photos available. There are numerous blue numbered dots showing where each photo is and how many are in each location.

Release Notes Overview

Explore newly released aerial imagery on Air Photo Finder, with detailed summaries of each batch from NCAP and partner collections.

A black and white historic photo of a library. Cardboard boxes numbered in thick pen line numerous racks of metal shelving. 3 people in uniform examine boxes from the shelves.

Operating Model

The operational and development costs of NCAP are funded through commercial income generation and grant funding.

Two figures fill the right side of the frame, and sit in front of a computer workstation on the left. The figure on the right has short, dark brown hair an is wearing a grey jumper. The figure on the right has long red hair and wears glasses with a dark frame and a dark blue top. The figure on the right is pointing at the screen. Two frames black and white images are displayed on the grey walls around them.

Volunteer

Growing our network of partners includes reaching out to a knowledgeable and engaged public for volunteer opportunities.