Getting Started
The Drone GSD Calculator helps you determine the Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) for your drone mapping projects. Follow these steps:
- Select your drone model from the dropdown menu
- Enter your flight altitude
- Adjust the camera angle if needed (0° is straight down)
- View the calculated GSD results
What is GSD?
Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) is the distance between pixel centers measured on the ground. It represents the real-world size of a single pixel in your drone imagery. Lower GSD values mean higher spatial resolution.
Visual explanation of Ground Sampling Distance (GSD)
How GSD is Calculated
The GSD calculation uses the following formula:
Units and Conversions
The calculator supports both metric and imperial units:
- Metric: GSD in cm/pixel, altitude in meters
- Imperial: GSD in inches/pixel, altitude in feet
Camera Angle Effect
As the camera angle increases from nadir (0°), the GSD becomes larger due to the oblique viewing angle, reducing the effective resolution. This is accounted for by the cosine factor in the formula.
What GSD should I aim for?
The ideal GSD depends on your project requirements:
- 1-2 cm/pixel: Detailed inspections, 3D modeling of small structures
- 2-5 cm/pixel: Standard mapping, agricultural analysis
- 5-10 cm/pixel: Large area surveys, basic topographic mapping
Why does my drone not appear in the list?
We include the most common mapping drones. If your drone isn't listed, you can use the "Custom Drone" option and enter your camera specifications manually.
How does altitude affect battery life?
Higher altitudes generally allow covering more area per battery but result in lower resolution (higher GSD). Lower altitudes provide better detail but require more flight lines to cover the same area.
Can I use this for video footage?
This calculator is optimized for mapping photography. For video, the principles are similar, but you would need to consider the video resolution rather than photo resolution.
Ground Sampling Distance (GSD)
The distance between pixel centers measured on the ground - the real world size represented by each pixel.
Nadir
The point directly below the camera, representing a straight-down view (0° camera angle).
Focal Length
The distance between the camera lens and the image sensor when focused at infinity, measured in millimeters.
Sensor Size
The physical dimensions of the camera's image sensor, typically measured in millimeters.
Orthomosaic
A detailed, accurate photo representation of an area, created by stitching together many photos that have been corrected for perspective and terrain.