Ortophotot

Ortophoto is a georeferenced, orthorectified aerial or satellite image. Unlike a standard photograph, an ortophoto has been geometrically corrected to remove the effects of sensor tilt and terrain relief. This means that the scale of the ortophoto is uniform throughout, allowing for accurate measurements of distance, area, and direction. The process of orthorectification involves using a digital elevation model (DEM) to warp the original image, projecting its features onto a horizontal plane. This correction is crucial for applications where spatial accuracy is paramount.

Ortophotos are widely used in various fields. In cartography, they serve as a base map for creating detailed and accurate topographic maps. Surveyors utilize ortophotos for land management, property boundary determination, and construction planning. Environmental scientists employ them for monitoring land cover changes, mapping vegetation health, and assessing natural disaster impacts. Urban planners and engineers use ortophotos for infrastructure development, city planning, and managing urban sprawl. The ability to overlay other geospatial data, such as cadastral maps or GPS points, onto an ortophoto makes it a versatile tool for analysis and decision-making.