SWISSIMAGE

The orthophoto mosaic SWISSIMAGE is a composition of digital color aerial photographs over the whole of Switzerland and is updated every 3 years.

Different ground pixel sizes from 25 cm to 2.5 m are now available for Switzerland and the surrounding areas. Beginning with the flight season 2005 the Leica ADS  (airborne digital sensor) digital camera has been used to capture most of our imagery. This camera replaces the hitherto used Leica RC30. Thanks to this change, the production process and the final quality of the product has been significantly improved.

Technical data:

• Ground resolution: 0.25 m or 0.5 m, depending on the area, available also in  2.5 m
• Standard deviation for the precision in position: +/- 0.25 m for the ground sample distance of 0.25 m
  (in hilly terrain +/- 3-5 m)
• Data format: RGB TIFF (3 x 8 bit) with TFW (World File)-georeference
• Storage media: DVD, CD-ROM, hard disc

The field of applications of orthophotos is as various as the content of its underlying aerial photographs.

• SWISSIMAGE forms the ideal basis for your survey and documentation tasks. It also reduces your need for field measurement, as you can directly read off distances, and even in conjunction with a digital terrain model, volumes as well.
• Whether in CAD systems, in GIS or in the form of a printed image, SWISSIMAGE provides a clear and simple background plan for all involved. Ideally used in a GIS environment, it enables you to focus on your objective of completing whatever diverse range of plans, maps, vector data or other information may be required.
• In orthophotos often important details are discovered for applications e.g. in the fields of archaeology, soil science, forestry and agriculture, geography, geology, land use planning and ecology, which are not contained in a traditional map.
  
  Besides, orthophotos are suitable as an ideal mapping basis, both for office and for field works.