Satellite Imagery
Layer name:
2004 Natural Color, 2004 Infrared
Group name:
Satellite Imagery
Scale:
Always
Data Currency Status:
This satellite imagery is a composite of two flights over Vancouver — June 8, 2004 and September 19, 2004.
Dept/branch:
Information Technology
Definition:
Satellite imagery is similar to orthophotos, but are taken from a much higher altitude and their resolution is not as good as orthophotos. The Satellite Imagery 2004 is taken by the QuickBird satellite and has 60 cm pixels rather than the 10 cm pixels you are used to for the 2002 and 2004 orthophotos. As such, satellite imagery is not as good as our orthophoto imagery for providing detail, particularly as you zoom in. It degenerates more quickly than the orthophotos because of its resolution.
Satellite imagery has two advantages. Because the satellites are always in the air and the resolution is lower, the imagery is much less expensive and more readily available just by ordering it from a distributor. As such, it may be useful to have between orthophoto flights for examining change. This must be compared with the orthophotos which are of a better quality, but the process from creating the RFP to acquiring and loading the orthophotos takes almost nine months. As well, the satellite imagery that we have obtained contains an infrared version in addition to the natural colour version that allows an analysis of the vegetation and the imperviousness of the land surface. These types of analyses may be of use to some of the departments.
For more information about QuickBird Satellite Imagery, see Digital Globe Product Documents & Papers.
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