Photogrammetry in the Ordnance Survey from Close to MacLeod

In the period after the First World War the Ordnance Survey was relatively slow to recognise the contribution that air survey could make to its work. In part, this was due to external constraints on budgets, which helped to stifle innovation. However, the views of the four Directors General, Close, Jack, Winterbotham and MacLeod, were to play large roles in determining the energy with which innovations were adopted. Both Close and Winterbotham were generally sceptical about the value of air survey, while Jack was well disposed, but constrained by budget limitations. In MacLeod, however, air survey was to find a convinced champion. This paper explores the roles played by the key players and how, in the late 1930s, significant advances were made.