Rhode Island's Imagery Library

Imagery from 1939 - present: Available through the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS) consortium.

RIGIS Imagery Library

The library is a collection spanning years; 1939 - the present. The sensors, resolution, scale, horizontal accuracy, extent, ground conditions and provider are variable. Many of these collections are available as hosted tile layers and/or image services and some are also available for direct download.

How to ~

Find a collection: Use the date range headings provided to jump to a collection group. View webmaps of selected imagery. Links to the imagery download pages along with tile layer and image service urls may also be included.

Zoom in on the map: Use the zoom in / zoom out tools found in the lower right corner of each map.

Zoom in on a specific area of the map: Use the key in combination with your mouse to define an area on the map.

Expand the map panel: Use the Expand tool found in the upper right corner of each map. When the map is expanded, the mouse wheel or similar tools may be used to zoom in and out on the map.

Imagery: 2023 - 2021

01 / 07

NEW!! Spring 2023 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: March 5 - April 4, 2023.

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

Winter 2022 - 2023 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: November 15, 2022 - January 17, 2023.

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

Summer 2022 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: July 3- August 18, 2022.

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

Spring 2022 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: April 2 - April 23, 2022.

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

Fall 2021 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: August 13 - November 3, 2021.

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

June 2021 Digital Orthophotographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, URI Environmental Data Center, USGS

Digital multispectral orthorectified aerial photographs encompassing Narragansett Bay, Block Island, and Rhode Island coastal areas. 1-foot pixel resolution.

Capture date range: June 6 - 18, 2021.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

Spring 2021 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: March 12 - April 16, 2021.

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

Imagery: 2020 - 2018

01 / 09

Fall 2020 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: September 12 - November 24, 2020. 

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

April 2020 Digital Orthophographs

Contributor: Unversity of Rhode Island Environmental Data Center, RI Department of Statewide Planning, RI Department of Environmental Management

Statewide digital multispectral orthorectified aerial photographs of Rhode Island. 6-inch pixel resolution

Capture date range: April 29 - May 2, 2020. 

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

April 2020 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: April 12 - 25, 2020.

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

Metadata (not currently available)

Web services available:

Winter 2019-2020 (Leaf-Off) Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: November 16, 2019 - January 20, 2020

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

Metadata (not currently available)

Web services available: 

Summer 2019 (Leaf-On) Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: July 28 - August 16, 2020

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services available: 

Spring 2019 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: April 24 – May 7, 2019

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services available: 

Winter 2018-2019 (Leaf-Off) Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: November 24, 2018 – January 15, 2019

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

These images will be made available for traditional file download by RIGIS when resources are available.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services available: 

Fall 2018 (Leaf-On) Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: October 14 – November 8, 2018

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services available: 

Spring 2018 Digital Aerial Photographs

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Statewide digital true color georeferenced aerial photographs of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: Spring 2018

While these aerial photographs are very detailed (3-in pixel resolution), they are not traditionally orthorectified. Their horizontal accuracy may vary throughout the state. Potential users are encouraged to carefully evaluate the suitability of these images before use.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services available: 

Imagery: 2016 - 2011

01 / 06

2016 Rhode Island Eelgrass Mapping Taskforce Orthophotography

Contributor: Rhode Island Eelgrass Mapping Taskforce, U.S. Geological Survey

Multispectral (4-band), 0.5-meter spatial resolution orthorectified digital aerial photographs of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island coastal waters, and some inland areas.

Capture date range: June 15 & 26, 2016

These images were contracted by the Rhode Island Eelgrass Mapping Task Force in partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). These images are available from RIGIS in both GeoTIFF and JPEG2000 (JP2) formats.

Web services available: 

2014 NOAA NGS IOCM 35cm Orthoimagery

Contributor: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Geodetic Survey, Remote Sensing Division, Environmental Data Center, University of Rhode Island

This data set contains ortho-rectified mosaic tiles at 0.35m GSD created for NOAA Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IOCM) initiative in Hurricane Sandy coastal impacted areas.

Capture date range: August 18 2014.

These orthophotos are an ancillary product of NOAA's Coastal Mapping Program (CMP), created through a wider Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping initiative to increase support for multiple uses of the data. These images are not tide coordinated.

  • Web services: (none currently available)

Most of the GeoTIFF formatted files are approximately 100 MB large, while the ~10:1 compressed JPEG2000 formatted files are about 20 MB large. The JPEG2000 file formatted files are of excellent quality and are recommended unless if you have a specific need for the larger file size.

2014 USDA NAIP Digital True Color Orthophotography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Capture date range: July 12 & 18, 2014

Multispectral (4-band), 1-meter (~3.3-foot) spatial resolution orthorectified digital aerial photographs of the State of Rhode Island. These images were collected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency's National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). These are available in both GeoTIFF and JPEG2000 (JP2) formats.

Web services available

2014 USGS Digital True Color Orthophotography

Contributor: U.S. Geological Survey, Fugro EarthData, Inc.

Multispectral (4-band), 0.3-meter (~1-foot) spatial resolution orthorectified digital aerial photographs of the State of Rhode Island

Capture date range: April 9-10 and 17, 2014.

These images were contracted by a partnership consisting of the United States Geological Survey, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program.

This downloadable  supplemental documents  file, originally delivered by the USGS, includes survey reports, flightlogs, and accuracy reports.

Web services:

2012 Rhode Island Eelgrass Mapping Taskforce Orthophotography

Contributor: Rhode Island Eelgrass Mapping Taskforce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Coastal Services Center

Multispectral (4-band), 0.5-meter spatial resolution orthorectified digital aerial photographs of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island coastal waters, and some inland areas.

Capture date range: June 26 & 28, 2012.

These images were contracted by the Rhode Island Eelgrass Mapping Task Force in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and with the support of the Rhode Island Habitat Restoration Trust Fund. These images are available from RIGIS in both GeoTIFF and JPEG2000 (JP2) formats.

Web services available:

2011 RIDEM Digital True Color Orthophotography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Multispectral (4-band), 6-inch spatial resolution orthorectified digital aerial photographs of the State of Rhode Island were collected April 29 - May 2, 2011. These images were contracted by a partnership consisting of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Rhode Island Department of Transportation, United States Geological Survey, and RIGIS. These images are available from RIGIS in both GeoTIFF and JPEG2000 (JP2) formats. 

Web services available:

Imagery: 2008 - 1992

01 / 08

2008 Digital Aerial Photography (Pictometric Licensed Images)

Contributor: Rhode Island Digital Atlas, Rhode Island Enhanced 911 Uniform Telephone System (RI E911)

Pictometry International collected statewide aerial photographs of Rhode Island in Spring 2008. These data consist of georeferenced, 4-inch resolution digital nadir aerial images, as well as oblique aerial images. These data are licensed by Pictometry for use by the Rhode Island Enhanced 911 Uniform Emergency Telephone System (RI E911) and RI E911 sub licensees (e.g. fellow state agencies, Rhode Island municipalities, and contractors working on relevant projects). If you have any questions regarding the licensing of these data, please contact RI E911.

Due to licensing restrictions, RIGIS does not have permission redistribute these data. However in partnership with the University of Rhode Island Environmental Data Center, convenient online map services are available which provides easy online viewing of these images through a variety of means.

Web Services available: 

2008 RIDEM Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Keystone Aerial Surveys

Panchromatic (black & white) non-georeferenced, non-orthorectified digital aerial photographs flown in Spring 2008 by Keystone Aerial Surveys of the entire state at a map scale of 1:12,000. These images were contracted by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Office of Compliance and Inspection. These images are available from RIGIS solely in the JPEG2000 format.

2006 NBNERR, Save The Bay, and URI 1:12,000 Digital True Color Ortho-photography

Contributor: Save The Bay, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Environmental Data Center, University of Rhode Island

True color, 1.5-foot (~0.5-meter) spatial resolution orthorectified digital aerial photographs of the Narragansett Bay and Block Island regions of Rhode Island.

Capture date range: Summer of 2006.

These images were originally collected for use by the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Save The Bay, and the University of Rhode Island Environmental Data Center to map and delineate shallow-subtidal estuarine habitats, specifically submerged aquatic vegetation. These images are available from RIGIS in both GeoTIFF and JPEG2000 (JP2) formats.

Web services available: 

2003-2004 RIDOT 1:5,000 Digital True Color Orthophotography

Contributor: Chas. H. Sells Inc., Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Rhode Island Geographic Information Systems (RIGIS)

 True color, 2-foot resolution orthorectified digital aerial photographs collected in April 2003 for eastern Rhode Island (and Block Island) and April 2004 for western portions of the state by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. Images were originally provided in 1:30,000 flight photo scale and were reduced to 1:5,000 scale for distribution on RIGIS. These images are available for download in both GeoTIFF and JPEG2000 (JP2) formats.

Web services available: 

2003 USDA-FSA National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) 1:12,000 Digital True Color Orthophotography

Contributor: USDA-FSA-APFO Aerial Photography Field Office, Rhode Island Geographic Information Systems (RIGIS)

True color, 1-meter resolution digital orthophotographs.

Capture date range: Summer of 2003

The United States Department of Agriculture NAIP (National Agriculture Imagery Program) provides state-wide coverage. These are available in both GeoTIFF and JPEG2000 (JP2) formats. This collection is available for download as JP2.

Web services available:

2002 USGS True Color Orthophotography

Contributor: Sanborn Colorado LLC, U.S. Geological Survey, Rhode Island Geographic Information Systems (RIGIS)

True color, 1-foot spatial resolution orthorectified digital aerial photographs of northeastern Rhode Island.

Date range captured: Spring of 2002

These were contributed to RIGIS by the United States Geological Survey. These images are available solely in the MrSID format.

Web Services available: 

1997 RIDOT 1:5,000 Digital Orthophotography

Contributor: Intermap Corporation, Rhode Island Department of Transportation, National Grid USA

Panchromatic (black & white) georeferenced, orthorectified, 2 foot spatial resolution digital aerial photographs.

Date range captured: Spring of 1997

Flown by Intermap Corporation of the entire state, at a map scale of 1:5,000. These images were contracted by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, and are available from RIGIS in both GeoTIFF and JPEG2000 (JP2) formats.

Web services: 

1992 Digital Aerial Photography

Digital panchromatic (black and white) non-orthocorrected, non-georeferenced, aerial photographs of Rhode Island scanned from hard copy photo positive prints from the historical collection of photographs held by the Rhode Island Department of Administration Statewide Planning Program. These images are available for download in MrSID format.

Web services available: (none currently available)

Imagery: 1988 - 1939

01 / 08

1988 Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Digital panchromatic (black and white) non-orthocorrected, non-georeferenced, aerial photographs of Rhode Island scanned from hard copy photo positive prints from the historical collection of photographs held by the Rhode Island Department of Administration Statewide Planning Program. These images are available for download in MrSID format.

1985 Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: U.S. Geological Survey with contributing funds from USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), previously known as Soil Conservation Service (SCS)

Scanned color-infrared aerial photography for Rhode Island flown on 3/16/85 and 4/17/85 through the The National High Altitude Photography (NHAP) program, which was operated from 1980-1989, was coordinated by the U.S. Geological Survey as an interagency project. NHAP photographs were obtained on 9-inch film from an altitude of 40,000 feet above mean terrain elevation and were centered over USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles.

  • Metadata (not currently available)

Web services:

1981 Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Digital panchromatic (black and white) non-orthocorrected, non-georeferenced, aerial photographs of Rhode Island scanned from hard copy photo positive prints from the historical collection of photographs held by the Rhode Island Department of Administration Statewide Planning Program.

These images are available for download in MrSID format.

Web services available: 

1976 Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Digital panchromatic (black and white) non-orthocorrected, non-georeferenced, aerial photographs of Rhode Island scanned from hard copy photo positive prints from the historical collection of photographs held by the Rhode Island Department of Administration Statewide Planning Program.

These images are available for download in MrSID format.

Web services: (none currently available) 

1972 Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Digital panchromatic (black and white) non-orthocorrected, non-georeferenced, aerial photographs of Rhode Island scanned from hard copy photo positive prints from the historical collection of photographs held by the Rhode Island Department of Administration Statewide Planning Program.

These images are available for download in MrSID format.

Web services available:

1962 Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Digital panchromatic (black and white) non-orthocorrected, non-georeferenced, aerial photographs of Rhode Island scanned from hard copy photo positive prints from the historical collection of photographs held by the Rhode Island Department of Administration Statewide Planning Program. These images are available for download in MrSID format.

Web services available:

1951-1952 Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Digital panchromatic (black and white) non-orthocorrected, non-georeferenced, aerial photographs of Rhode Island scanned from hard copy photo positive prints from the historical collection of photographs held by the Rhode Island Department of Administration Statewide Planning Program.

These images are available for download in JPEG2000 format.

Web services available:

1939 Digital Aerial Photography

Contributor: Rhode Island Department of Administration, Statewide Planning Program

Digital panchromatic (black and white) non-orthocorrected, non-georeferenced, aerial photographs of Rhode Island scanned from hard copy photo positive prints from the historical collection of photographs held by the Rhode Island Department of Administration Statewide Planning Program.

These images are available for download in MrSID format.

Web services available: