Modern tools such as drones and innovative software like SkyeBrowse make it possible to maximize the efficiency of mission-critical tasks. A great example is the orthomosaic – a product that once required a significant amount of time to create. Today, it takes only moments to generate material ready for further analysis and operational use.
What exactly is an orthomosaic, and when can it be useful? What purpose does it serve? You’ll find the answers to these questions in the article we’ve prepared. Remember, you can always reach out to our SkyeBrowse team – we’re here to help you achieve your goals.
Contents:
- What is an orthomosaic map and how does it differ from a standard drone photo?
- How are orthomosaics used? Practical applications in SkyeBrowse for public safety and business
- Technical requirements and accuracy standards for orthomosaics (ASPRS, Horizontal Accuracy, Resolution)
- How to create an orthomosaic in SkyeBrowse Step-by-Step – from video flight to GeoTIFF
What is an orthomosaic map and how does it differ from a standard drone photo?
An orthomosaic is a large, highly accurate, georeferenced image of an area. It is created by stitching together multiple aerial or drone photos that have been corrected for perspective distortion, camera tilt, and variations in terrain elevation – a process known as orthorectification. You can think of it as similar to a Google Earth–style view, but captured in significantly higher resolution and with precise geographic coordinates.
When you take a standard drone photo, the image naturally includes building facades, perspective angles, and various distortions. An orthomosaic, on the other hand, presents a true top-down (nadir) view with no leaning buildings and a uniform scale across the entire image.
For comparison: a single drone photo may look visually appealing, but it typically includes a “skewed” perspective. The distance to objects can vary, the camera angles change from shot to shot, and lighting conditions may differ. Meanwhile, an orthophoto (a single orthorectified image) or an orthomosaic (a mosaic of many such images) provides a consistent, measurement-ready view thanks to its uniform scale.
Orthorectification is the process in which an aerial image is corrected so that every pixel corresponds to its true geographic position on the ground (x, y) while maintaining a consistent scale. This allows accurate distance and area measurements without the need for additional adjustments.
How are orthomosaics used? Practical applications in SkyeBrowse for public safety and business
The range of orthomosaic applications is extraordinarily wide. This technology is used across the private sector, industrial operations, urban planning, and by agencies responsible for protecting public health and safety.
Public safety
Public safety agencies such as law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency management teams often operate under severe time and information constraints – whether responding to a crash reconstruction, a large fire, a disaster event, or the analysis of a crime scene. In such scenarios, an orthomosaic can serve as a highly valuable analytical tool, enabling teams to plan further actions in the shortest possible time.
Currently, many agencies rely on helicopter-based photography, manual measurements, or handheld video footage. These methods can be time-consuming, less precise, or limited in ways that prevent rapid mapping of the full area.
Our SkyeBrowse platform, on the other hand, allows users to generate both a 2D orthomosaic map and a 3D site model (OBJ/LAZ) from a single drone flight. This gives public safety teams an immediate, high-resolution base layer that enables them to:
- quickly measure distances
- calculate the area of evacuation zones
- analyze access points
- plan rescue operations
Want to learn more? Take advantage of expert support from the SkyeBrowse team today.
Construction and infrastructure
On construction sites and during infrastructure projects (roads, embankments, bridges, warehouses), strict progress control is essential – ensuring compliance with plans, assessing material volumes, and identifying fills or excavations. Standard photography and manual measurements are slow and prone to error. Replacing them with innovative technology – such as SkyeBrowse – is a far more efficient option.
Construction companies can compare terrain states over time, monitor fills and excavations, and measure material volumes without entering hazardous zones. SkyeBrowse allows seamless export of both GeoTIFF orthomosaics and 3D models within a single system. This gives engineers and site managers an up-to-date visual reference for analysis and decision-making.
Energy and solar
Companies in the energy sector (e.g., roof inspections, photovoltaic farms, shading analysis, surface availability assessments) require precise spatial data to make informed decisions. Manual review of images can be inefficient and unreliable in these contexts.
Today, drone photos are typically captured and then analyzed manually – often separating 2D imagery from thermal inspections, especially in photovoltaic applications.
With SkyeBrowse, a single drone mission can generate both a 2D orthomosaic map (GeoTIFF) and a 3D model of the asset. This enables comprehensive analysis of roof accessibility, roof surface measurements, shading simulations over time, and seamless data export to GIS or energy-management systems.
Technical requirements and accuracy standards for orthomosaics (ASPRS, Horizontal Accuracy, Resolution)
Drone mapping requires precision, reliability, and compliance with specific technical standards. Below, we’ll break down the key concepts involved in creating orthomosaics, including:
- GSD
- spatial resolution
- horizontal and vertical accuracy
- the most important industry standards, particularly the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Positional Accuracy Standards
As an experienced SkyeBrowse team, we also help users understand how to interpret orthomosaic accuracy requirements in practical, real-world scenarios.
Key technical terms
The first concept to understand is GSD (Ground Sampling Distance). GSD is the distance between the centers of adjacent pixels on the ground. The smaller the GSD, the higher the spatial resolution – and the greater the level of detail visible on the orthomosaic.
The second key aspect is positional accuracy, typically divided into horizontal positional accuracy and vertical positional accuracy.
- Horizontal accuracy indicates how closely the map’s pixel locations, in inches or meters, match the real-world X/Y coordinates.
- Vertical accuracy reflects how closely elevation/Z values match their real ground positions.
To ensure reliable results, ground control points (GCPs) and checkpoints are commonly used when assessing data quality. For example, the analysis may show that an orthomosaic achieved a horizontal RMSE (RMSEH) of 1 inch – meaning the average horizontal error was roughly 1 inch.
SkyeBrowse supports exporting orthomosaics in GeoTIFF format, which can be imported into GIS/CAD systems and used in compliance with your organization’s accuracy standards. This ensures your data meets professional requirements not only visually, but also technically.
How to create an orthomosaic in SkyeBrowse Step-by-Step – from video flight to GeoTIFF
Want to generate an orthomosaic without complex photogrammetry workflows or hours of manual processing? With SkyeBrowse, it can be done in four simple steps – from flight planning to exporting your 2D map and 3D model.
Step 1 – Mission planning
Before flying your drone, you need to plan the mission route. Choose the right hardware, such as DJI or Autel drones equipped with high-resolution cameras compatible with the SkyeBrowse app (or your flight-control app).
Define the mapping area, flight altitude, speed, and camera orientation. For orthomosaics, it is essential that the camera is pointed straight downward (nadir) and that the flight path provides stable motion with overlapping frames. If you operate in the United States, make sure your mission follows FAA Part 107 requirements.
After tapping “Start” in the SkyeBrowse app, the flight can be performed automatically – your drone will follow the mission path and capture all required video data.
Step 2 – Data collection
During the flight, record video exactly as instructed. Maintain a stable flight, consistent speed, and appropriate altitude – the lower the altitude, the better your GSD (ground resolution). Ensure that the video contains adequate frame overlap, though you won’t need hundreds of static photos as required in traditional photogrammetry.
The same video file will be used to generate both your 3D model and your 2D orthomosaic.
Step 3 – Processing in SkyeBrowse
After completing the flight, upload your video file to your SkyeBrowse account. The processing is fully automated in the cloud:
- the software performs videogrammetry
- extracts and stitches frames
- performs orthorectification
- generates the orthomosaic and 3D model
Within minutes, your output is ready. After processing, review your results to ensure complete coverage, verify data consistency, and confirm that the map meets your quality requirements.
Step 4 – Export and integration
Once your results are ready, export the 2D orthomosaic as a GeoTIFF file – compatible with any GIS/CAD platform. The 3D model can be exported as OBJ or LAZ using the same workflow. You can then share the link with your team or integrate the files into engineering, surveying, or public safety workflows.
