There are currently companies that offer technology and certain tools for the purposes of interpreting aerial photographs. The images that are created with the use of above-ground photography equipment need to be interpreted and deciphered, in some cases, to determine what the pictures represent and to verify and ascertain what certain images are showing. Some images are taken in high resolution and need special optical tools with which to see the pictures more clearly.

Stereoscopes can help photo interpreters to see the image and then other tools allow them to relocate those images onto computers so they can be looked at further. Once they are on a personal computer, they can be managed, altered, and measured to find out certain information.

Many photo interpreters are used for different businesses and industries, including the national government of the United States and intelligence societies and communities around the globe. Other industries that make use of this service include but are not limited to mapping professionals and cartographers, environmentalists, city planners, engineers, architects, foresters, and lawyers. Each profession will use the photo interpretation to serve their individual needs and requirements so that the images can help them acquire the information that best serves their industry.

Other people who make good use of photo analysis and elucidation include those who recognize the importance of studying present-day and historical photos in order to document the differences and to learn about history and the changes that occur over time.

The equipment used by professional aerial photo interpreters in the occupation known also as image interpretation is very specific and is used solely for this purpose. Operators of the machinery are taught how to recognize and classify certain features and details that they see from the photographs that are taken from satellites or different flight vehicles. There are different levels of sophistication that are used in this field of interpretation and the more advanced technology will be used for more detailed and nuanced tasks. For example, a more basic stereoscope will be utilized when examining aerial views for the benefits of geologists and those who work in forest preservation.

However, for the benefit of the United States Department of Defense and other military subdivisions, only the most superior and highly developed instruments can be used to interpret images because there is no margin for error. Also, even minute details can be significant in these cases and everything must be viewed and assessed clearly.

Washington D.C., the capital city of the U.S., is the core and the main place for photo interpretation so the most complex and high-level equipment and technicians are present there. Some interpretation tools used for aerial photos and satellite images are also able to transfer illustrations and pictures onto maps, and there are also many advanced forms of technology that are able to develop these images, making them more clear and precise.

Aerial Maps