It is a fact of the commercial marketplace that the higher the level of clarity, the higher the cost. Figuring that out requires a basic understanding of spatial resolution, a term that defines how much of the real world fits into the frame of a single digital pixel. 

For instance, 50 centimetre resolution means that each pixel in the digital image constitutes a 50 cm x 50 cm area.

Below is a breakdown of some examples of what you can and cannot identify for each of the major commercially-available spatial resolution levels.

5m Resolution

At this resolution you can:

• See general shapes
• Detect natural environment (water, vegetation) from built environment (roads, buildings)

1m Resolution

At this resolution you can distinguish:

• some elements of the built environment (roads, buildings) but it lacks detail; and,
• difference between elements from natural environment and built environment.

50cm Resolution

At this resolution you can distinguish:

• specific elements of the built environment (roads, buildings) with limited clarity;
• elements from natural environment but still can’t distinguish details of the natural environment, such as types of vegetation; and,
• mid-sized elements of the built environment, such as trucks and rail cars but with reduced clarity.

30cm Resolution

At this resolution you can distinguish:

• specific elements of the built environment, such as road type, rail-lines, rail cars, and sidewalks, with improved clarity;
• most elements from natural environment including types of vegetation; and,
• mid-sized elements of the built environment, such as transport trucks, rail cars, and smaller consumer vehicles.

10cm Resolution

At this resolution you can distinguish:

• specific elements of the built environment, such as road type (divided highway, residential street, driveway), rail ines, rail cars (box cars, tanker cars), and sidewalks with improved clarity; (indicated by orange circles)
• details of the built environment, such as vents and boxes on roofs and rail cars; (indicated by green circles)
• most elements from natural environment including types of vegetation and whether they are encroaching on built environment, such tree branches overhanging buildings or transportation routes; (indicated by black circle)
• Mid-sized elements of the built environment, such as transport trucks, rail cars, and smaller consumer vehicles, such as boats, pick-ups and cars; and, (indicated by blue circle)
• people, with limited clarity. (indicated by white circle).

Determining what spatial resolution is best for you is the first step in determining the digital world you want to create and explore.