An orthomosaic is a single, geometrically corrected aerial image stitched from dozens or hundreds of overlapping photos. It looks like a satellite image but with centimeter-level resolution, and every pixel carries real-world geographic coordinates. Surveyors, GIS analysts, and project managers use orthomosaics to measure area, track land use, and overlay data layers in mapping software.
A 3D model reconstructs the full geometry of a scene -- walls, rooftops, terrain contours, and everything in between -- as a navigable three-dimensional dataset. Where an orthomosaic flattens the world into a top-down view, a 3D model preserves elevation, depth, and vertical surfaces that a bird's-eye image cannot capture. The choice between these two drone mapping outputs depends on whether your analysis happens in a flat GIS layer or requires spatial depth.
Contents
- What Information Does an Orthomosaic Capture?
- What Information Does a 3D Model Capture?
- Which Tools and Platforms Support Each Output?
- How Do File Size and Delivery Differ?
- When Should You Choose One Over the Other?
- Where Does SkyeBrowse Fit?
- Related Comparisons
- Get a SkyeBrowse Recommendation
What Information Does an Orthomosaic Capture?
An orthomosaic captures planimetric (top-down) detail with uniform scale across the entire image. Because distortion from camera angle and terrain has been corrected, measurements taken anywhere on the orthomosaic reflect true ground distances. Each pixel is georeferenced, meaning it maps to a specific latitude, longitude, and coordinate system.
This makes the orthomosaic the standard deliverable for area measurement, boundary delineation, and change detection. Construction managers overlay orthomosaics onto site plans to verify grading progress. Insurance adjusters measure roof area to validate claims. The format integrates directly into GIS platforms like ArcGIS and QGIS as a raster layer, so it slots into existing spatial workflows without conversion. The limitation is that an orthomosaic is fundamentally a 2D product -- it cannot represent vertical faces, overhangs, or the interior of a structure.
What Information Does a 3D Model Capture?
A 3D model captures full three-dimensional geometry: elevation changes, vertical walls, slopes, and complex surface details that an orthomosaic collapses into a flat plane. The model can be a textured mesh (surfaces with photo-realistic appearance) or a point cloud (raw coordinate data), and users can rotate, zoom, and measure in all three axes.
This depth information is essential when the analysis involves height, volume, or spatial relationships that a top-down view cannot convey. Accident reconstructionists need to see how a curb relates to a vehicle's path. Tactical planners need to understand entry points and roofline geometry. A 3D model built from 3D mapping workflows provides all of this from a single drone capture, whereas an orthomosaic would require supplemental ground-level photography to cover the same vertical detail.
Which Tools and Platforms Support Each Output?
Orthomosaics export as GeoTIFF or JPEG files. GeoTIFF is the standard for GIS integration -- ArcGIS, QGIS, Global Mapper, and Google Earth Pro all import GeoTIFF rasters natively and preserve the embedded coordinate reference system. JPEG orthomosaics work for visual reports and presentations but lose the georeferencing metadata.
3D models export as GLB (browser-viewable mesh), LAZ (point cloud for CAD), or OBJ/FBX (engineering and visualization). GLB opens in any web browser, making it the easiest format to share with non-technical stakeholders. LAZ feeds into CloudCompare, AutoCAD, and forensic reconstruction tools. The versatility of 3D model formats means the same capture can serve both a GIS analyst working in QGIS and an attorney reviewing the scene in a browser viewer.
How Do File Size and Delivery Differ?
Orthomosaic GeoTIFF files range from 20 MB for a small site to several hundred megabytes for a large-area survey. They are single-layer raster images, so file size scales with area and pixel density.
3D models vary more widely. A GLB mesh might be 15-50 MB, while the LAZ point cloud of the same area could be 100-500 MB. Sharing a mesh is as simple as sending a browser link; sharing a point cloud requires compatible software. For drone mapping teams producing both, the orthomosaic serves as the lightweight reference layer while the 3D model delivers the depth needed for detailed analysis.
When Should You Choose One Over the Other?
Use an orthomosaic when the analysis is fundamentally planimetric: area measurement, progress monitoring, site planning, crop analysis, or any workflow that lives inside a GIS platform. The orthomosaic is faster to load, easier to annotate, and integrates with existing 2D mapping tools without friction.
Use a 3D model when you need elevation data, vertical surface detail, or the ability to measure in three dimensions. Accident reconstruction, structural inspection, tactical planning, and volumetric analysis all require the spatial depth that an orthomosaic cannot provide. Many teams produce both from a single capture -- the orthomosaic for GIS records and the 3D model for detailed investigation.
| Orthomosaic | 3D Model | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains | Georeferenced 2D aerial image, uniform scale | Full 3D geometry with texture or point data |
| File Size | 20-500 MB (GeoTIFF) | 15-500+ MB (GLB mesh or LAZ point cloud) |
| Opens In | ArcGIS, QGIS, Global Mapper, Google Earth | Web browser (GLB), CloudCompare (LAZ), CAD |
| Best For | Area measurement, GIS overlay, change detection | Volume, elevation, vertical surfaces, 3D walkthrough |
| SkyeBrowse Tier | Premium and Premium Advanced (GeoTIFF) | Premium and Premium Advanced (GLB, LAZ) |
Where Does SkyeBrowse Fit?
SkyeBrowse produces both orthomosaic and 3D model outputs from a single video upload at map.skyebrowse.com. On Premium and Premium Advanced tiers, every processed scene generates a GeoTIFF orthomosaic for GIS workflows alongside GLB mesh and LAZ point cloud exports for three-dimensional analysis. The platform's browser-based viewer lets teams review the 3D model immediately while the GeoTIFF downloads for integration into ArcGIS or QGIS. This dual-output approach means one drone mapping capture serves both the GIS team and the field investigator without separate flights or processing runs.
Related Comparisons
- LiDAR vs Photogrammetry
- Videogrammetry vs Photogrammetry
- Premium vs Lite Accuracy
- 4K vs 16K Forensic Models
Get a SkyeBrowse Recommendation
Need orthomosaics for your GIS platform and 3D models for field analysis from the same drone flight? Let us help you configure the right export workflow.
