The partnership's formal title is the Digital Millennium Map Limited Liability Partnership, and the partners are Getmapping, Flight Images, GeoSense and SCS.

The Getmapping Partnership will be one of the first organisations worldwide to use a new generation large format digital camera. The Vexcel Ultracam D camera will be fitted to a dedicated Piper Chieftain survey aeroplane. Operational flying is expected to commence in August.

Each of the partners will play a vital role in the partnership. Flight Images will fly the photography and Geosense will process it. Getmapping will manage the sales activities, concentrating particularly on internet sales, and SCS will develop new visualisation and application tools based on their powerful NURBS technology.

Tristram Cary, the Managing Director of Getmapping, said "I am delighted that we will now be able to enhance our Millennium Map offering. Over the past four years Getmapping has developed an excellent business selling its national aerial photography, particularly using its on-line services at www.getmapping.com. We will now be able to provide our customers with more up-to-date information ensuring that the entire Millennium Map for England and Wales will be updated on a three-year cycle. Furthermore we will fly all major urban areas at a 10cm resolution. We anticipate a strong growth in sales from customers who need higher resolution and regularly-maintained data to meet their business needs."