Aerial roof markings

Aerial roof markings are symbols, letters or numbers on the roof of selected police vehicles, fire engines, ambulances, coast guard vehicles, cash-in-transit vans, buses and boats to enable aircraft or CCTV to identify them.

Different state police forces in Australia use different aerial roof markings to designate specific vehicles, duty types and areas.

[2] The South Australian Country Fire Service have an infrared beacon on the roof of most new appliances and the vehicle call sign.

Older State Emergency Service vehicles, primarily in country areas, may have their call sign on the roof as well.

Police vehicles in the United Kingdom have markings of symbols, letters and numbers on their tops to enable aircraft to identify them.

Regarding roof markings, their inscription helps identifying the regional or institutional affiliation of each vehicle.

[6][7] Operator codes include: In Germany, DIN 14035, "Dachkennzeichen für Feuerwehrfahrzeuge" (Roof Marking of Fire Engines), issued in November 1981,[8] defines that fire engines should carry their registration plate number; these include the one-to-three letter abbreviation code of the corresponding Landkreis, thus making regional origin self-evident.

In the Metro Vancouver, British Columbia area, the various police forces have their specific municipal code and vehicle number on the roof for airborne identification.

Redfern Local Area Command 35, displaying aerial markings on the roof and bonnet. "RF" denotes the Command, being Redfern while "35" denotes its use as a general duties sedan.
Aerial roof markings on London Metropolitan police car
Vehicle usage markings
Letter and number markings on the roof of an emergency vehicle highlighted on a thermal camera
Thermal roof markings seen through a thermal camera
Aerial roof markings on a London battery electric bus
Aerial roof markings displaying the registration of an ambulance operated by the Herne city fire service