The difference between aerial and satellite imagery
Understand the differences between aerial imagery and satellite imagery and which is best for use in everyday business decisions with geospatial imagery and data.
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Geospatial mapping and data have come a long way in a short amount of time, providing us with effective ways to study the past and plan our future. Two main players in the geospatial technology game are aerial and satellite imagery. Both offer us a view of the ground from above – but what’s the difference between the two? This article will explain how each type of imagery works, as well as their similarities and what sets them apart.
What is aerial imagery?
With origins tracing back to as early as 1858, aerial imagery is one of the earliest forms of collecting, analyzing and archiving geospatial data. Balloons and kites have been replaced by planes, drones, and some of the most sophisticated camera systems in the world when it comes to gathering this information.
From a technical standpoint, aerial imagery is classified as any image taken from an airborne craft. This imagery provides a birds-eye view of the world below, offering an aerial perspective of varying scales and scopes. Nearmap aerial imagery is captured from fixed-wing aircraft using calibrated camera systems. Pixels are orthorectified to map coordinates so you can measure lengths, areas, and offsets accurately in CAD/GIS workflows. In dense metro coverage programs, capture targets are around 2.2–3 inches per pixel (≈5.5–7.5 cm) with multiple refreshes per year in many major cities.
What are the characteristics of aerial photographs?
The five main characteristics of aerial photographs are time-freezing, 3D perspective, birds-eye view, readily available, and sensitive. These characteristics enable us to take measurements, play with perspective, and obtain an unmatched level of spatial data and detail, including angles, shapes, size and depth. Aerial photographs capture moments in time on the Earth’s surface that are crucial for historical purposes and future projections.
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What are the different types of aerial photography?
The main types of aerial photographs are defined by the angle at which they’re taken. Classic vertical photographs are taken with the camera axis in a vertical position, yielding the direct, overhead result that you often see in mapping. To capture low oblique photographs, the camera axis must be tilted at least three degrees. These photos are useful for taking close-up shots that need more detail. Finally, high oblique photos are shot at about 60 degrees – this covers a larger, wider view to identify geographical features and landmarks.
What are the advantages of aerial photographs?
Aerial photographs have many advantages for businesses. The photographs can capture fine detail and cover wide areas, the process is time and cost-efficient, and the imagery can be used for a whole range of industries. Aerial imagery and its associated geospatial data can be applied to disciplines as varied as construction, insurance, real estate, agriculture, urban planning, environmental studies, and wildlife monitoring.
For example, Nearmap provides users with access to the most clear, accurate and up-to-date aerial imagery covering 88% of the U.S. population. This timely approach to data collection gives users the advantage of gaining truthful insights that are extremely useful in a wide range of industries.
See it in action
Explore high-resolution, frequently refreshed aerial coverage across major metros. Get in touch to learn more.
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What is satellite imagery?
It’s all in the name! Satellite imagery is basically images of Earth collected by imaging satellites – operated by governments and businesses around the world – and accessed through satellite imaging companies and services.
How is satellite imagery captured?
Earth-observing satellites operate in low-Earth orbit (LEO), typically ~160–2,000 km above Earth. Commercial very high-resolution satellites (e.g., Maxar WorldView-3/4) offer panchromatic pixels around 30 cm under ideal conditions, while wide-swath public missions (e.g., Sentinel-2 MSI, Landsat 8/9 OLI/TIRS) provide 10–30 m multispectral data. Satellites enable rapid, repeatable coverage at regional to global scales and are ideal for broad situational awareness and multi-spectral analytics.
What are the three main types of satellite imagery?
The three main types of satellite imagery available are visible, infrared, and water vapor. Visible imagery is what you likely think of when you see imagery of the Earth from afar – the white clouds, dark water and grey-looking earth. Conversely, infrared imagery shows clouds both by day and night, and is useful for determining things like thunderstorm intensity. Finally, water vapor imagery is the kind you see on a weather forecast map, where the different colors signify different moisture levels in the upper atmosphere.
For example:
- Visible: Visible imagery is what you likely think of when you see imagery of the Earth from afar – the white clouds, dark water and grey-looking earth.
- Infrared: Infrared imagery shows clouds both by day and night, and is useful for determining things like thunderstorm intensity.
- Water Vapor: Water vapor imagery is the kind you see on a weather forecast map, where the different colors signify different moisture levels in the upper atmosphere.
What is the difference between a satellite image and a photograph?
Satellite images are just photos of the sky from really far away, right? Not quite. Satellite images are taken using a series of electronic scanners incorporated in satellites that orbit the Earth, as opposed to images captured with a camera like a photograph. These satellites operate at altitudes that cameras can’t reach – we’re talking 60,000 feet up!
What are the benefits of satellite imagery?
Satellite imagery is an important resource, particularly in scientific research fields on a larger scale. As you can tell from the types of satellite imagery discussed above, it serves more niche applications than aerial imagery. Most satellites orbit the Earth regularly, meaning this vital scientific tracking and mapping information is readily available to the industries that need it.
What about drones?
Drone imagery offers the highest resolution for thorough inspections and close-up evaluation of fine details. Specialised and targeted for small areas, drone imagery often requires significant financial and time investments. Further, use of drones is not possible in all situations, such as capturing data in no-fly zones.
What’s the difference?
The gap between aerial and satellite imagery is shrinking every day as technology advances. However, there are two key differences between satellite and aerial imagery – how much area they cover, and their main use cases. Satellite imagery covers a wider area that makes it ideal for larger-scale scientific operations. In contrast, aerial photography is taken at a lower altitude and provides more detail, so it is extremely useful for commercial applications.
Aerial imagery provides the most accurate data and captures, making it the logical choice for most use cases. Nearmap is constantly capturing the highest quality aerial imagery and uploading it to the cloud within days — made possible by our patented camera sensors and the most advanced imagery processing pipelines in the world. Users therefore know they’re seeing the truth on the ground when looking at both current and historical geospatial data.
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Where satellite imagery quality is often compromised by atmospheric and weather conditions, Nearmap aerial imagery gives users a clear and current overview of landscapes all around the U.S. Nearmap takes a holistic approach to aerial imagery, meaning users benefit from the most true-to-life content captured by the best imaging technology available.
Nearmap aerial imagery has become integral to many businesses and government agencies around the world. Instead of heavy jargon and clunky interfaces, Nearmap offers geospatial content as a practical, quality, and easy-to-use service. Whether it’s for a project manager conducting a virtual site visit or a GIS engineer creating specialized maps, Nearmap world-class aerial imagery helps users achieve three things: better decision-making, lower project costs, and more streamlined operations.
When to use aerial imagery
Use aerial imagery when you need parcel-level detail—think roof measurements, asset inspection, and change detection—with single-digit-centimeter ground sample distance (GSD) and frequent refreshes across metro areas. Use satellite imagery when you need regional to national coverage fast, multi-spectral analytics, or frequent time-series monitoring at meter-class resolutions. Best-case commercial satellites (e.g., Maxar WorldView-3) provide ~30 cm (≈12 in) panchromatic GSD; public missions such as Sentinel-2 provide 10 m, and Landsat 8/9 provide 15–30 m. Nearmap aerial programs in covered metros commonly target approximately 2.2–3 inches per pixel (≈5.5–7.5 cm).
Choosing aerial imagery vs. satellite imagery
Aerial Imagery | Satellite Imagery | |
|---|---|---|
Best suited for… | Commercial applications like roof inspections or parcel measurements. Appropriate for industries like, construction, real estate, insurance and urban planning. | Wide-scale scientific operations including state-wide or county-wide imagery. This might include multi-spectral analytics for vegetation, burn scars, or possibly minerals. |
Advantages include… | Higher detail and more accurate. | Wider coverage area. |
Applications for aerial imagery or satellite imagery
Where satellite imagery quality is often compromised by atmospheric and weather conditions, Nearmap aerial imagery gives users a clear and current overview of landscapes all around the U.S. Nearmap takes a holistic approach to aerial imagery, meaning users benefit from the most true-to-life content captured by the best imaging technology available.
Nearmap aerial imagery has become integral to many businesses and government agencies around the world. Instead of heavy jargon and clunky interfaces, Nearmap offers geospatial content as a practical, quality, and easy-to-use service. Whether it’s for a project manager conducting a virtual site visit or a GIS engineer creating specialized maps, Nearmap world-class aerial imagery helps users achieve three things: better decision-making, lower project costs, and more streamlined operations.
Nearmap aerial imagery applications
- Roof/parcel measurements, CAD/GIS drafting — sub-3-inch GSD supports reliable digitizing and takeoffs.
- Post-catastrophe assessment — high-detail, rapidly deployed post-event captures for claims triage.
- Urban change detection & planning — frequent metro refresh; orthorectification enables accurate deltas.
Commercial satellite imagery applications
- Region-to-nation monitoring — rapid coverage and time-series (e.g., crop health via Sentinel-2 NDVI).
- Very high-resolution spot tasking — WorldView-3 for project AOIs where 30 cm detail is sufficient.
Attribute | Aerial Imagery | Satellite Imagery |
|---|---|---|
Resolution (GSD) | ≈5.5–7.5 cm (≈2.2–3 in) | WorldView-3: 30 cm pan (≈12 in); Sentinel-2: 10 m; Landsat 8/9: 15–30 m |
Coverage scale | Metro/urban footprints; multi-city programs; U.S. coverage 88% of population | Regional → global (tasking or archives); daily/near-daily revisit for some constellations |
Typical revisit | Multiple times/year in many metros; targeted post-catastrophe missions | From task-on-demand to near-daily (constellation-dependent) |
Spectral options | RGB (nadir/oblique); 3D/DSM via photogrammetry | Panchromatic + multispectral (VNIR/SWIR/thermal varies by sensor) |
Cloud sensitivity | Flights planned for low-cloud windows | Cloud-affected; rely on cloud masks/QA flags |
Geometry & accuracy | Orthorectified to map coordinates; sub-foot horizontal accuracy targets | Off-nadir angles affect GSD/relief; orthorectification varies by provider |
Curious to learn more?
Explore high-resolution, frequently refreshed aerial coverage across major metros. Contact Nearmap to see current coverage, recent capture dates, and sample tiles for your area of interest.
FAQs
Aerial maps vs satellite mapsOften yes in cities: aerial programs commonly target approximately 2.2–3 inches per pixel, while leading commercial satellites top out near 30 cm (≈12 in). Choose aerial for parcel-level measurement; satellite for wide-area monitoring.
Aerial programs fly metros multiple times per year and on demand after major events; satellites can revisit daily or near-daily but at coarser GSD or with cloud limitations.
Orthorectification removes tilt and terrain distortions so pixels align with map coordinates, enabling accurate measurement and GIS overlay.
Sentinel-2 offers 10–20 m for most bands; Landsat 8/9 offers 15 m panchromatic and 30 m multispectral—great for environmental monitoring, not parcel-level measurements.