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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