I'm not sure how helpful this will be overall, but Google Earth's new
Version 4 (currently available in Beta) allows you to overlay images ontop
of Google's satellite imagry. You can adjust the opacity of the overlay.

I haven't tried it with historic maps yet, but I will do shortly.

http://earth.google.com/

Click on the link at the top of the page for the Version 4 Beta

--Megan.


> Many thanks to those who posted, pm or even rang me about this, it was
> great
> to get so much advice.
>
>
>
> There were three broad solutions to the problem:
>
>
>
> Photocopying
>
> Drawing Programs
>
> GIS and other programs.
>
>
>
> The photocopy method relies on and accurate photocopier and working out
> the
> scale ratio between a base plan and a historical plan and then reducing or
> enlarging to fit. Transparent sheets and light boxes can be used to align
> the maps. This is an effective solution if you have a good photocopier and
> access to plenty of paper (and you can work out scale ratios).  I used it
> a
> lot when I was at HLA with drastic effects on the stationary budget no
> doubt. However I did observe that while I could get one axis to fit the
> other was inevitably out. I am not sure why this occurred (could be
> operator
> error).
>
>
>
> The drawing program approach relies on having a graphics program such as
> Coral Draw or Photoshop Illustrator and overlaying layers. This seems to
> be
> what most consultants use and what I'll try given that Arch View is out of
> my budget. However as Penny Crook noted there are limitations to this
> approach and it lacks the flexibility that a GIS has.
>
>
>
> With GIS rubbersheeting is more accurate in overlaying and flexible (e.g.
> you could draw an accurate buffer zone around a site). Most responses
> mentioned Arch View although two mentioned MapInfo and one mentioned
> Grass.
> The problem is the high initial cost of a commercial GIS. Grass is free
> (or
> low cost, what's more I did dome training on it at the Uni of Sydney).
> Kevin Jones suggested Aerial or Air Photo, Greg Jackman mentioned Global
> mapper which look worthy of exploring too.
>
>
>
> I think all this advice has been a great help.
>
>
>
> Dr Iain Stuart
>
> JCIS Consultants
>
> P.O. Box 2397
>
> Burwood North
>
> NSW 2134
>
> ph/fax 97010191
>
> iain.stuart@bigpond .com
>
>
>
>
>