City survey

Why a yellow plane is circling over Graz today

No cause for alarm: When a yellow propeller plane makes its rounds over Graz on Wednesday and Thursday, it's for a simple reason: aerial photographs are being taken for the city survey. 

On Wednesday morning, a small yellow aircraft will take off from Graz Airport and fly over the provincial capital for two days. Behind it is the aerial photography company AVT, which takes high-tech aerial photographs on behalf of the Graz City Survey Office. 

Important data for urban planning
"The data collected by the aerial survey forms an essential basis for the future of urban planning, urban development, traffic planning, all climate analyses and much more. So please don't be surprised if an airplane circles over the city today and tomorrow," explains Deputy Mayor Judith Schwentner. 

Optimal time for aerial photography
According to the city planning department, the timing was chosen deliberately: As long as the trees and bushes don't have too much foliage, the view of the city, its buildings and topography is particularly good. It must also be cloudless, clear and haze-free.

The entire city and the Kalkleiten area are flown over, surveyed and photographed, covering a distance of around 1,200 kilometers. Buildings, areas and terrain will be precisely recorded. 

The data is analyzed in several stages and results are delivered within 12 to 20 weeks after the flight. The last comparable aerial survey took place in 2019.