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.
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