GSD (Ground Sample Distance) Calculator

Calculate GSD for drone and aerial photography.

Drone Specs

Flight Altitude (m)

Focal Length (mm)

Sensor Width (mm)

Image Width (px)

Spatial Resolution

Ground Sample Distance2.74 cm/px

Pixel Pitch2.41 µmPhysical size of one pixel on sensor

GSD is the key determining factor for the accuracy and level of detail in orthomosaics and 3D models created from aerial photos.

Overview

GSD measures the distance between pixel centers on the ground. Lower GSD = higher resolution. Essential for surveying, mapping, and ensuring image quality meets project requirements.

💡

Pro Tips

Survey-grade mapping requires 1-5 cm/pixel GSD.
Lower altitude = lower GSD but smaller coverage.
Overlap images 60-80% for photogrammetry.
Consider camera resolution when planning flights.

Fun Facts

"Typical drone GSD: 2-10 cm/pixel at 100-400 ft."
"Google Earth: ~15-30 cm/pixel resolution."
"FAA limits drones to 400 ft AGL maximum."
"RTK/PPK drones achieve survey-grade accuracy."

Formula: GSD = (Sensor Width × Flight Height) / (Focal Length × Image Width)

Used with this

Similar tools that might be useful

Act Score

Calculate act score.

ASCII Converter

Convert text to ASCII codes and back. Useful for programming and data encoding.

Acceptance Rate Calculator

Calculate acceptance rates from applications and admissions data. Visualize selectivity with charts.