GSD Calculator

Your details

Select a common drone camera to auto-fill sensor specs, or choose Custom to enter your own.
Physical width of the image sensor in millimetres. Found in the camera spec sheet.
mm
Physical height of the image sensor in millimetres. Found in the camera spec sheet.
mm
True (actual) focal length in millimetres - not the 35mm equivalent. Found in camera spec sheet.
mm
Horizontal pixel count of each captured photo.
px
Vertical pixel count of each captured photo.
px
Height above ground level (AGL) at which the drone flies. Lower altitude = smaller GSD = sharper imagery.
m
Optional: enter a desired GSD and the calculator will compute the required flight altitude.
cm/px
Ground Sample DistanceSurvey-grade (<= 3 cm/px)
2.19cm/px

Size of one pixel measured on the ground (worst-case axis)

GSD (width axis)2.19cm/px
GSD (height axis)2.19cm/px
Image footprint width120m
Image footprint height80m
Coverage area per image9,600m2
Altitude for target GSD73
Altitude unitm
Resolution qualitySurvey-grade (<= 3 cm/px)
2.19 cm/px
High precision<1.5Survey grade1.5-3Mapping grade3-5Inspection5-10Low resolution10+

GSD: 2.19 cm/px - Survey-grade (<= 3 cm/px)

  • At 80 m AGL, each pixel represents 2.19 cm of ground - classified as Survey-grade (<= 3 cm/px).
  • Each frame covers approximately 120.0 m x 80.0 m on the ground, a total of 9600 m2 per image.
  • To achieve your target GSD of 2 cm/px, fly at 73.0 m AGL.
  • 1.5-3 cm/px is survey grade and sufficient for topographic mapping, cadastral surveys and detailed 3D models of small sites.

Next stepTo reduce GSD (improve resolution), fly lower, switch to a longer focal length, or choose a camera with a larger sensor or higher megapixel count.

 = Powered by OnlyCalculators