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CHOOSING THE RIGHT RESOLUTION
Orthophotography can vary greatly in accuracy and pixel resolution. Pixel resolution (a single point in a graphic image) refers to the actual distance on the ground each pixel represents in the orthophotography. For example, one-foot pixel resolution means each pixel in the image covers one foot on the ground. Common resolutions include three-inch, six-inch, and one-foot. The higher the imagery resolution (i.e., three-inch per pixel), the greater the visible detail within it.
12″ Resolution Ortho
Generally captured at higher altitudes, 12-inch resolution orthoimagery provides a greater scale at a lower resolution. It is a cost effective way to collect large-area projects in time constrained environments.
Key features:
- Paved Roads
- Airfields
- Railroads
- Buildings
- Hydrology
- Forested Areas
- Quarries
Typical uses:
- Regional/rural planning
- Tax assessment
- Building counts
- Change detection
- Land cover trends
- Watershed management
- Forestry management
- Highway mapping

6″ Resolution Ortho
Six-inch resolution orthoimagery is a standard resolution option. The 6″ resolution ortho product yields greater accuracy, greater detail, and improved inherent positional accuracy over the 12″ product.
Key features:
- Roads – Paved and unpaved
- Parking Lots and Driveways
- Lakes, ponds, rivers and streams
- Culverts and headwalls
- Property line fences
- Utility Poles
Typical uses:
- State planning
- Land boundaries
- Planimetric
- Pervious / impervious surface
- Feature identification
- Stormwater management
- Natural resource management
- Irrigated/non-irrigated land

3″-4″ Resolution Ortho
Captured at lower altitudes, high resolution orthophotography has the best resolution, providing a product that captures the greatest visible detail and has the best innate positional accuracy available.
Key features:
- Utilities – fire hydrants, manholes, catch basins
- Power and light poles
- Billboards and traffic signs
- Curbs and gutter
- Transportation paint lines
- Single trees and shrubs
- Golf course – tees, greens, fairways, sandtraps
Typical uses:
- Urban planning and zoning
- Contour development
- Asset management
- 3D Modeling
- Utility / pipeline mapping
- Land development
- Transportation / transmission corridor projects
- Volumetric analysis
- Civil engineering

For more information or to order Sanborn Ortho products or services, call Sanborn customer service at 1.866.SANBORN (1.866.726.2676), or contact us by e-mail at information@sanborn.com.
ORTHOIMAGERY SAMPLES
ORTHO OPERATING PRINCIPLES
ORTHO RESOLUTION
TRUE ORTHO
GEOSERVE
For more information or to order Sanborn Orthoimagery products or services, call Sanborn customer service at 1.866.SANBORN (1.866.726.2676), or contact us by e-mail at information@sanborn.com.
Click below to contact us or to download the Sanborn Ortho PDF Product Sheet