A note on the use of aerial photographs for land use planning on a settlement site in Ethiopia

Aerial photographs were used as a communication tool to discuss land use with farmers in Ethiopia. The farmers had no problems interpreting the photographs and could even "take one to any spot on their land shown to them on the mosaic". Each village used the photographs to present their proposals for land use allocation. The author concludes that whilst aerial photography helps technical staff "to visualise development options", its main function for the farmers was not as a planning tool (they already know their land well) but to help illustrate and demonstrate their ideas to others.