Predictably, the modern day gold rush has touched off a frenzy in the mapping business, too. For a cubic foot of natural gas to find its way from the Marcellus Shale formation nearly 9,000 feet below the surface to the furnaces of regional energy customers, maps are needed–and in some states legally required–in every phase of development, from exploration and land leasing to well pad siting and pipeline construction. “This is a classic energy boom–the oil and gas companies that get there first are going to grab the golden egg,” says Ken Scruggs, President of Midwest Aerial Photography. “In terms of mapping, the demand is intense because the development activities are changing the area so fast that maps are out of date after four or five months.” Read More »