Products & Services Archival Digitisation Services

Archival Digitisation Services

At NCAP, we have one of the largest suites of photogrammetric imaging systems in the world. Combined with the skills of our expert staff, this range of precision equipment allows us to deliver the highest quality image services, tailored to meet client requirements.

Each machine can capture and digitise to incredible levels of accuracy, delivering ultra-high resolution digital images to allow our customers to generate extremely accurate datasets.

Visit our Contact Us page if you’d like to get in touch to discuss your digitisation requirements.

Equipment

The NCAP facility is located in Edinburgh, Scotland. Our imaging suites are environmentally controlled to create a safe, dust-free environment for handling and digitising archival film and print material. Our Preservation Team ensures all archival material is safely and appropriately prepared before digitisation.

On site, we have a variety of photogrammetric scanning workstations. All our workstations are serviced annually to ensure they operate at full performance. They are maintained by official service engineers and calibrated regularly. Customers can be supplied with this data when ordering images from us.

Leica DSW700

Our Leica workstation is a high-precision, high speed automated scanner for the digitisation of aerial film. The employment of high-resolution sensors enable the DSW700 to capture image data at high speed, with consistently high fidelity. It can scan a range of film types, including greyscale, colour and false colour, film negatives and diapositives.

NCAP operates 9 Leica workstations.

Suitable For Scanning

  • Modern aerial film

Images Produced For

  • Map making
  • Geographic software
  • Land change exploration
Specifications
Optical resolution Up to 10μm
Scan area 260mm x 260mm
Geometric RMS range Better than 2μm
Leica DSW700

Vexcel Ultrascan 5000 AFR

The Vexcel workstation creates geometrically accurate digital images from aerial film and prints. Its strength is in scanning at micron-level detail, capturing colour and tone, distances and angles. Designed to automatically digitise aerial film in roll format, the Ultrascan can also accept cut frames and prints (up to 240 mm sq).

NCAP operates 15 Vexcel AFR workstations.

Suitable For Scanning

  • Modern aerial film

Images Produced For

  • Map making
  • Creating 3D terrain models
  • Land change analysis
  • Map-ready aerial images
Specifications
Optical resolution Up to 7μm
Scan area 280mm x 260mm
Geometric RMS Range Better than 2μm
Vexcel Ultrascan 5000 AFR

IN THIS SECTION

A black and white aerial photo of a very heavily bombed area of land. What land is visible is dark grey, and almost obscured with numerous white bomb craters. A road can be seen running from the bottom left corner to the top right.

Scan on Demand Services

Order images from the NCAP Collection which have not yet been digitised and made available on the Air Photo Finder.

A figure in a white and black jumper leans in from the bottom left of the frame. The top of their head and the whole tabletop that is in front of them are visible from our vantage above. There are two black and white images of landscapes on the table top. The figure is wearing white gloves and appears to be positioning the images under a beige viewing apparatus which has two transparent viewing lenses. There are two cardboard boxes of images on the tabletop - one with more black and white images piled in it, and another with a white sheet in it.

Image Sales and Licensing Use

When using images from the NCAP Collection you will need to know the intended use in order to purchase an appropriate licence.

A figure in a dark blue lab coat stands with their right side to us. They are wearing purple gloves, and a black and white mask. They have their arms stretched into a desk top cabinet which has transparent plastic front and sides, and a white frame. A vacuum cleaner hose feeds into the cabinet. The figure grasps a brush and holds up an image to examine it. There are other pictures and boxes in the cabinet.

Subject Specialist Consultancy

NCAP employs specialists in imagery analysis, data management, and collections care. Specialist support consultancy is offered in a variety of areas.

A row of black and white aerial photographs fills most of the frame. We can see the central image fully, but the ones on either side are partially cropped by the image frame. They are lying flat and appear to be joined together. Irregularly shaped fields and roadways are visible on the images.

Research Copies

For images that are not yet digitised, purchases can be made with confidence by requesting a lower-resolution copy of an image before you place a Scan on Demand order.

A figure in a black jumper leans into the frame from the far right. They lean on a tabletop and are holding a computer mouse. On the desk there is a screen with a colour aerial photograph displayed on it. There is also a black, cylindrical canister which has white labels on it, and a document lying on the table.

Paid Image Searches

If you are not familiar with navigating non-digitised collections or if you are short on time, NCAP provides a convenient solution.

A figure leans into the frame from the left. They have short blonde hair and wear a dark blue top. They have their back towards us, and are working with a large white boxy machine with a display screen. Under the screen a film runs between two spools. The image on the screen is of a monotone landscape. A colour aerial image is displayed on the wall and is partially obscured by the screen.

Search Room

Request to make an appointment in the NCAP Search Room to access and consult catalogued aerial imagery.