ortomosaiky

An ortomosaic is a type of geometrically corrected aerial image. It is created by mosaicking together multiple overlapping aerial or satellite photographs. These individual images are then processed to remove geometric distortions caused by factors such as camera tilt, terrain relief, and lens distortion. The result is a single, seamless, and accurate representation of the Earth's surface. Unlike a standard aerial photograph, an ortomosaic has a uniform scale throughout, meaning measurements can be taken directly from it with high accuracy. This makes ortomosaics valuable for various applications.

The process of creating an ortomosaic typically involves aerial triangulation, digital elevation model (DEM) generation, and then orthorectification of the individual images before mosaicking. Aerial triangulation establishes the precise position and orientation of each photograph. A DEM is used to model the Earth's surface topography, which is crucial for correcting relief displacement in the images. Orthorectification uses the DEM to remove geometric distortions, transforming the tilted perspective of the original photograph into a top-down, planimetric view. Finally, these orthorectified images are stitched together to form the seamless ortomosaic.

Ortomosaics are widely used in surveying, mapping, urban planning, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management. Their accuracy allows for precise area calculations, distance measurements, and feature identification. In agriculture, they can be used to monitor crop health and assess field conditions. For urban planning, they provide a detailed and up-to-date base map for development and infrastructure projects. Their use is prevalent where accurate spatial data is essential for decision-making and analysis.