Frequently Asked Questions

1. How did WROC start?

In 2005 three Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) coordinated the single largest mapping initiative in Wisconsin history. This project included 35 counties and 100 additional partners to acquire aerial imagery and planimetric mapping. In 2008 seven RPCs decided to work together to coordinate an even larger organized mapping initiative for 2010. This project has been named the Wisconsin Regional Orthophotography Consortium or WROC.

2. How does an organization benefit from being a member of WROC?

The WROC program brings a number of benefits to its members, including:
Cost savings
Specifications and standards support
Data sharing between members
Procurement support

3. How does an organization become a member of WROC?

A member is defined as an organization that is completing a local project through WROC. There are two stages of membership. The first stage is when a county or local unit of government signs a letter of intent (LOI). The LOI states that a member intends to do a project if funding becomes available. The second stage of membership is reached when they become a full member by signing a contract with the Ayres Associates/Aero-Metric team to complete a project.  See Fact Sheet 1 for more information on project fees. 

4. How does an organization become a partner in WROC?

A partner is defined as an organization that is providing a cost share to WROC members to facilitate the completion of their projects, resulting in access to higher resolution datasets over larger geographic regions at a greatly reduced cost to the partner.  Partner cost shares will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on such factors as the total area, resolution, and degree of customization of the dataset. Cost shares are dependent on the specific technical requirements of each dataset. Cost shares for all partners will be identical for identical datasets.  Member approval is required before any partnership arrangements are finalized.  Contact a WROC representative to learn more about becoming a partner in WROC. 

5. As more partners join WROC, how do all partners benefit?

WROC is currently structured so that participating county and local governments fund 100% of the upfront cost of their projects. All partner funding, minus the cost of customization and delivery of the partner dataset, is distributed to WROC members.  As more partners join, overall project costs decrease for WROC members, thereby creating more and more incentive for members (i.e., county and local governments) to participate. Greater member participation in the program benefits members by attracting more partnership opportunities; for all partners, greater participation ultimately means increased availability of larger regions of data at greatly reduced costs.

6. When do partners have to pay their contribution?

Partners must pay their contribution within 30 days after delivery and acceptance of the partner dataset.

7. What time of day are images acquired?
A: All imagery is acquired when the sun angle is at 30 degrees or greater to minimize the obscuring of ground features that lie within the shadows of vertical features. The actual time of day where the sun is at 30 degrees or higher in the sky varies depending on region and calendar date.

8. What are the flying heights for the various ortho scales and resolutions?

3” resolution/1”=50’ scale: 2,500 feet above mean terrain (AMT)
6” resolution/1”=100’ scale: 5,000 feet above mean terrain (AMT)
12” resolution/1”=200’ scale: 10,000 feet above mean terrain (AMT)
18” resolution/1”=400’ scale: 14,400 feet above mean terrain (AMT)

9. What are the approximate file sizes for the various ortho scales and resolutions?

True Color/3” resolution//1”=50’ scale/PLSS Quarter Section: 325 (megabyte) MB
True Color/6” resolution/1”=100’ scale/ PLSS Section: 350 MB
True Color/12” resolution/1”=200’ scale/4 PLSS Sections: 425 MB
True Color/18” resolution/1”=400’ scale/9 PLSS Sections: 450 MB

10. Do you provide FGDC metadata?

Yes, all orthoimagery and other map products will be delivered with associated FGDC compliant metadata.

11. What is the deadline for joining WROC?

WROC is planning for Spring 2010 aerial acquisition missions.  Members are encouraged to have their projects under contract by January 2010.  There is no deadline for a partner to join WROC. Partners are encouraged to step forward before the projects start to provide the funding assistance necessary to make more projects happen.