Photogrammetry Ground Grid Coverage Planner

Method, formula and assumptions

Center spacings equal measured footprint x (1 - overlap). The first footprint covers its full length; subsequent centers add one spacing. Calculate whole positions independently along and across the site.

Input definitions and supported units

• Site length (m): Measured or assumed numerical value, from 0.1 to 100000; must be positive.
• Site width (m): Measured or assumed numerical value, from 0.1 to 100000; must be positive.
• Image ground footprint along pass (m): Measured or assumed numerical value, from 0.1 to 10000; must be positive.
• Image ground footprint across passes (m): Measured or assumed numerical value, from 0.1 to 10000; must be positive.
• Along-pass overlap (%): Measured or assumed numerical value, from 0 to 99; zero is supported where the stated method permits it.
• Across-pass overlap (%): Measured or assumed numerical value, from 0 to 99; zero is supported where the stated method permits it.

Worked example with answer

200 x 100 m site, 50 x 40 m footprints, 60% along overlap and 50% side overlap give 20 m spacings on both axes. Nine images per pass and four passes produce 36 images.

How to use the results

This is a two-dimensional ground coverage plan using entered footprints, not a focal-length/FOV or flight navigation calculator.

Results retain full precision internally and display up to four decimal places. Very small nonzero results use scientific notation rather than appearing as zero. Check the labels before comparing values across units.

Limitations and references

Not a drone flight or aviation-safety plan. Combined grid count must not exceed 9,007,199,254,740,991 images, the exact JavaScript integer limit. Terrain, legal permissions, positioning error, blur, edge reserves and oblique footprints can require more coverage.

The method is a self-contained arithmetic, geometric or explicitly stated mathematical model. There are no imported tariffs, empirical presets or equipment specifications; measured values and allowances must come from your own process.

Related planning tools

• Stereo Disparity Depth Geometry Calculator
• Panorama Angular Coverage Planner

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