Orthophotographs

Orthophotos and their close relative rectified photos offer a unique way in which to present scaled information. Commonly used for aerial applications, orthophoto can now be used efficiently for buildings. Because a 3D surface is produced and the image "draped" onto it, an orthophoto retains the accuracy of a laser scan or photogrammetrically produced drawing.

Projects using the orthophoto technique benefit from a very useful by-product. The image-rendered model can be supplied at little or no additional cost in a wide range of cad formats including dgn, 3ds, vrml and obj.

Rectified photography is not produced in the same way, using a generalised plane onto which to scale the photograph. This method is more time and cost efficient for flat facades but is not recommended for more structurally complex buildings.