About Us Our Team
A black and white historic photo of 4 women in uniform working in an office. Large windows are visible in the background. 2 of the women face the camera, 2 are sitting with their backs to the camera. Metal film canisters cover almost every surface.

ACIU staff preparing and cataloguing aerial photographic film
Image courtesy of the Medmenham Collection

Our Team

Our passionate and dedicated team are subject specialists who care for, curate and develop one of the world's largest and most significant collections of aerial imagery.

A red robotic arm ending in a black cube stands vertically in the centre of the image. The arm sits between two black scanners. Other arms and scanners are visible in the background. The room is suffused with a green light.
The team of ‘collaborative robots’, or ‘cobots’, can process almost 10,000 images a day. Credit: Robert Ormerod


Head of NCAP

Since June 2001, Allan has spearheaded NCAP's growth, previously working in public service before managing the collection at Keele University. Facilitating the declassification of millions of aerial photographs with the Ministry of Defence, he's expanded accessibility. Despite the collection's six-fold growth to 30 million images, he ensures operational costs are covered through commercial ventures. His expertise in Photographic Intelligence (PHOTOINT) led to consultancy roles for notable documentaries and films. Allan co-authored "Above Scotland Cities" and authored "Operation Crossbow: The Untold Story of the Search for Hitler's Secret Weapons" and "Aerofilms: A History of Britain from Above." A PhD in Intelligence Studies and fellowship with the Royal Historical Society highlight his scholarly contributions.

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Dr. Allan Williams

Head of National Collection of Aerial Photography



Senior Management

The senior management team at NCAP has over 80 years of combined experience in cultural heritage management, photographic imaging, imagery analysis, and digital asset management. They lead NCAP’s efforts to preserve, digitise, and manage the collections under their care. Their expertise ensures high-quality digital imaging and careful handling from acquisition to publication. Collectively, their strategic vision and technical skills drive NCAP's mission to promote, preserve and provide access to historical aerial imagery.

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Rachel Nordstrom

Operations Manager

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Alan Potts

Digital Imaging Manager

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Kevin McLaren

Interpretation Manager

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Sam Martin

Geospatial Data Manager

Digitisation and data management

With backgrounds in photography and digital imaging, the fourteen-strong digitisation team are well equipped to perform the full range of digitisation and data management processes undertaken by NCAP. These range from Scan-on-Demand digitisation for customer orders to scheduled programmes. The team work across various photographic formats employing robotic technology and precision photogrammetric systems for the creation of digital copies for customers and platforms. They also work to digitise associated textural records, microfilms and mapping. Our processes are all quality assured to provide the highest standard of digital output throughout.

business development

The business development and sales delivery team at NCAP comprises four skilled professionals dedicated to driving sales of NCAP imagery. With diverse backgrounds in sales, marketing, archives and customer relations, they hold a wealth of experience. Leveraging this expertise, they cultivate strategic partnerships and explore new markets to expand NCAP's reach. Through their collaborative efforts, they devise innovative sales and outreach strategies tailored to meet the unique needs of clients worldwide and introduce NCAP to new sectors.

Collection Care 

The photographic preservation team at NCAP has a collective background in photography, history of photography, collections and curating practices, paper conservation, history of art, and museum studies. The team fulfils NCAP's mission to care for the photographic collection and prepare it for mass digitisation and long-term storage. Leading the sector on preservation throughput, they meet unique challenges with a combination of traditional methods and state-of-the-art technology. 

Collections Management and Cataloguing

The collections management and cataloguing team are a dedicated group of professionals who systematically record and organise the vast array of historical aerial imagery digitised every day. With a combined wealth of experience in imagery analysis, collections care and metadata management, they ensure the meticulous recording of NCAP's holdings to appropriate sector standards. They establish robust frameworks for navigating and retrieving imagery efficiently as they coordinate operations across teams. Together, they play a vital role in safeguarding these valuable historical resources for future generations.

robotic colleagUes

Capable of processing thousands of images a day, the NCAP robots are a crucial element of our team. Each robotic arm operates two scanners, and is kept well-stocked with carefully prepared prints for processing by the Digitisation Team.

Related reading

IN THIS SECTION

Four white and grey image scanners are spaced across a line of desks. Five blue and black film winders are spaced between the scanners. Each winder has a roll of black film on it. A section of a screen is in partial focus in the top right corner of the frame.

Our Mission

With a responsibility for 30 million aerial photographic images, our goal is to preserve and make accessible for present and future generations.

An industrial building with signage that shows a blue and teal logo. The sign reads ‘Historic Environment Scotland’. Above it is a grey ‘3’ – indicating the building unit number. The building is dark blue and has large glass windows. In the far right two white vans are parked.

Historic Environment Scotland

Operating as a part Historic Environment Scotland, we are able to work closely with colleagues across archives and business support to help meet our goals.

A large modern, multistorey building is the focus of the image. It is primarily made from glass sheets, with white panelling between them. Our view is partially obscured by large, low bushy trees, which are spaced in between areas of grass. Decorative paving is laid directly in front of us and leads to a low, sweeping glass entranceway.

Our Partners

We collaborate with organisations from around the world with the common goal of facilitating access to aerial photographic collections.

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What's New and Next

Guided by our strategic plan for the care, digitisation and dissemination of aerial photographic collection, we are working through project priorities to meet set targets.

Two figures fill the right side of the frame, and sit in front of a computer workstation on the left. The figure on the right has short, dark brown hair an is wearing a grey jumper. The figure on the right has long red hair and wears glasses with a dark frame and a dark blue top. The figure on the right is pointing at the screen. Two frames black and white images are displayed on the grey walls around them.

Get Involved

Growing our network of partners includes reaching out to a knowledgeable and engaged public, for both volunteer and outreach opportunities.