Satellite images are essentially the eyes in the sky. Some of the recent satellites, such as WorldView-3, provide images with a spatial resolution of 0.3 meters. This satellite with a revisit time of under 24 hours can scan a new image of the exact location with every revisit.
Spatial resolution explained
Spatial resolution is the size of the physical dimension that can be represented on a pixel of the image. Or in other words, spatial resolution is a measure of the smallest object that the sensor can resolve measured in meters. Generally, spatial resolution can be divided into three categories:
– Low resolution: over 60m/pixel. (useful for regional perspectives such as monitoring larger forest areas)
– Medium resolution: 10‒30m/pixel. (Useful for monitoring crop fields or smaller forest patches)
– High to very high resolution: 0.30‒5m/pixel. (Useful for monitoring smaller objects like buildings, narrow streets, or vehicles)
Based on the application of the imagery for the final product, a choice can be made on the resolution, as labor intensity from person-hours to computing power required increases with the resolution of the imagery.
Commercially available satellite imagery worldwide in 2022, by spatial resolution
(in meters)
Characteristic
Spatial image resolution in meters
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All spatial resolution mentioned here are for a panchromatic image.
Panchromatic: A grayscale image combining information from the red, green, and blue bands of visible light spectrum.
Civilian resolution degraded to 0.5 m maximum for all the image products in many countries.
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AAAS. (March 2, 2022). Commercially available satellite imagery worldwide in 2022, by spatial resolution (in meters) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 01, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293723/commercial-satellite-imagery-resolution-worldwide/
AAAS. "Commercially available satellite imagery worldwide in 2022, by spatial resolution (in meters)." Chart. March 2, 2022. Statista. Accessed September 01, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293723/commercial-satellite-imagery-resolution-worldwide/
AAAS. (2022). Commercially available satellite imagery worldwide in 2022, by spatial resolution (in meters). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 01, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293723/commercial-satellite-imagery-resolution-worldwide/
AAAS. "Commercially Available Satellite Imagery Worldwide in 2022, by Spatial Resolution (in Meters)." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Mar 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293723/commercial-satellite-imagery-resolution-worldwide/
AAAS, Commercially available satellite imagery worldwide in 2022, by spatial resolution (in meters) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293723/commercial-satellite-imagery-resolution-worldwide/ (last visited September 01, 2024)
Commercially available satellite imagery worldwide in 2022, by spatial resolution (in meters) [Graph], AAAS, March 2, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293723/commercial-satellite-imagery-resolution-worldwide/