In 1946 an aerial survey squadron was estab­lished within the Kyiv United Aviation Detach­ment (UAD) in Kyiv to map the entire western and southwestern border territories of the USSR (Ukraine, the Baltic republics, Byelo­russia, Moldavia, the northern Caucasus, and Transcaucasia). Similar aerial survey subdivi­sions were formed in four other detachments in the former USSR: Mayachkovskiy UAD (Moscow), Leningrad UAD (Rzhevka), Alma-Ata UAD (Burundai), and Novosibirsk UAD. The aerial photography survey squadron of the Kyiv UAD - the largest aerial surveying enterprise in the Ukrainian Soviet Republic, which was essentially the beginning of our history -possessed impressive technical and human re­sources. A fleet of nine AN-30 aircraft and four IL-14 planes was able to perform aerial photo surveying, thermal infrared surveying, environ­mental monitoring, and weather defense flights within both Ukraine and the USSR and abroad. Experts from the Kyiv UAD spent several years in Yemen making a 1:50000 scale map. In Bulgaria they performed aerial survey work for surveying, mapping, and forest management enterprises for use in engineering power lines, gas and oil pipelines, highways, maps, etc. In addition to the aforementioned civil avia­tion enterprises, aerial surveying in the former USSR was also performed by military subdi­visions - specifically, the Chernivtsi, Tiraspol and Krasnoyarsk aviation squadrons. When Ukraine declared its independence in 1992, the Blakytna Stezha aviation squadron (stationed at Boryspil Airfield) was created within the Chernivtsi squadron under Ukraine's Min­istry of Defense in order to carry out aerial surveys for the Open Sky international project. In addition, a special aviation unit (located at Nizhyn Airfield) was formed under the Emer­gency Situations Ministry of Ukraine to perform aerial surveys for the prevention and mitigation of emergencies.

Revival in an Independent Ukraine

During the first few years of Ukraine's indepen­dence in the early 1990s, a decline in Ukraine's cartographic output took place due to a dramatic decrease in government funding. The volume of map updates and topography surveys de­creased, and, as a result, aerial surveys were practically discontinued and the industry fell into decline. During this period, former specialists of the Kyiv UAD aerial survey squadron resumed their professional activities in the newly created Aerogeoinformatics company. Essentially the successor to Ukraine's aerial surveying industry, Aerogeoinformatics inherited the key experience and professional skills of its employees, who managed not only to preserve and continue the traditions of the aerial survey squadron, but also to organize a highly efficiency system of mecha­nisms for gathering and processing aerial data and satellite remote sensing data. In the new century, Aerogeoinformatics extended its geog­raphy of operations: in 2001 it began working in Turkmenistan (Central Asia), and in 2002 - in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

A Time for Technology Changes

As contracts with commercial and governmental enterprises increased in number, the company began to feel a need to improve its technological capabilities and purchased new equipment andassimilated new applications of remote sensing data. The company's activities are no longer limited to aerial surveying from aircraft, and a continually growing set of services has led to the creation of a brand that fully reflects all facets of our work.