Aerial Progress

Understanding Orthomosaics, Point Clouds, and 3D Models from Drone Data

When you fly a drone over a site and capture hundreds of overlapping photos, the real value lies in what you can build from those images afterward. Raw photos are useful for quick visual checks, but to measure distances, calculate volumes, or inspect terrain in detail, you need processed data products. Three of the most common outputs are orthomosaics, point clouds, and 3D models. Each serves a different purpose, and understanding the differences helps you choose the right t