Contents of this page may be automatically translated, we take no responsibility for the accuracy of the translation. Feel free to contact our customer support centre if you have any questions.
An aerial photograph is a central projection, without correction for the shape of the terrain or camera rotations. This means that the scale in the image varies. The product name in Swedish is Digitala flygbilder. The product name in Swedish is Flygbilder Nedladdning.
About this product
Aerial photographs are available across the whole of Sweden. Approximately 30 % of Sweden is photographed every year, with intervals and resolutions according to the national image provision programme.
Aerial photographs with a resolution of 0,15 meters/pixel are available in the southern part of the country, along the northern coast and over the larger urban areas (in total approx. 44% of the country).
Over large areas in the inland of Norrland the aerial photographs have a resolution of 0,37 meters/pixel. Before 2019, the resolution of the aerial images was 0,24 meters/pixel and 0,48 meters/pixel respectively.
Read more about the National Image Supply Program.
With this product orientation data are available, to enable positioning of the image in a coordinate system. The images are photographed with an overlap allowing stereo processing, for instance 3D measurement.
More examples of the use of digital aerial photographs:
- Updating of Lantmäteriet’s cartographic data bases using photogrammetric methods (measurement in 3D models)
- Production of orthophotos
- Mapping for production of plans, maps, land use information, contours/terrain models, 3D models, etcetera.
- Interpretation of vegetation and analyses for e.g. forestry purposes, by using the infrared colour images.
Documentation
For a more detailed description of the content, see the product descriptions in Swedish or English:
Plans and outcomes
Here you will find information about planned and completed aerial photography. The plans are subject to change based on weather and other conditions.
- Plans and outcomes for aerial photographs (new window)
The webbmap shows in which areas this season’s aerial photographs are ready for delivery, this season’s aerial photography plan and the long-term aerial photography plan. It also shows municipalities and their names as well as index tiles and their designations. - Flygfotoplan (pdf)
Aerial photography plan, showing the areas planned to be photographed during the production season, which normally starts in the middle of April. - Flygfotoplan i shapeformat (zip)
Corresponding plan as above, containing two files;
- this seasons plan for 0,15 m and 0,37 m resolution.
- localities within areas with 0,37 m resolution, but photographed with 0,15 m resolution. - Flygfotoutfall (pdf)
Areas where this seasons (april-september) aerial photographs are available for ordering. The outcome is continously updated. - Flygfotoutfall i shapeformat (zip)
Corresponding content as above, in shape of image exposure points (including metadata for each aerial photograph). The outcome is continously updated. - Tidigare flygfotoutfall i shapeformat, uppdelat årsvis fr.o.m. 2006 (zip)
Previous years outcomes in shapes of image exposure points (including metadata for each aerial photograph). This can be used as metadata in combination with orthophotos or for selecting older aerial photographs for ordering. - Långsiktig flygfotoplan (pdf)
Long term aerial photography plan. - Långsiktig flygfotoplan i shapeformat (zip)
Corresponding plan as above.
Delivery information and metadata
A digital aerial photograph with a resolution of 0,37 m/pixel covers an area corresponding to 9,8 x 6,3 km on the ground, while an aerial photograph with a resolution of 0,15 meters/pixel covers an area of 4,0 x 2,6 kilometers.
Digital aerial photographs can be ordered with optional cut-out and a resolution equal to or lower than the original.
The aerial photographs are adapted to the coordinate system applied during the production, but deliveries can be made in any coordinate system.
Delivery format
Digital aerial photographs are as standard delivered in JPEG or uncompressed TIFF format. Aerial photographs in 4 channels can however only be delivered in uncompressed TIFF format.
PatB (.ori-file) and project file for Match-AT (.prj-file). You can instead of these files also obtain refined orientation data for the ESPA-system or for the Summit-project, or ready-to-use model files for these.
Files in the delivery
The file name, i.e. the image identity, normally contains information about year of photography, photo area, flight altitude, flight line number and image number.
Examples of image identity:
- 07i48ce50_13~2007-06-07_101807_39
- 09b48zx08_35~2009-04-25_104838_66
The orientation file (ori-file) contains image number, camera position and camera orientation (rotation matrix).
The project file for Match-AT (.prj-file) also contains, apart from orientation, camera settings and inner orientation for the images.
Metadata
All aerial photographs can upon request be supplied together with information regarding the camera, flying altitude, negative scale, exposure point, flight line number and image number.
All exposure points, including metadata for each photograph, are available in shape format for each year from 2006 onwards. You can download the files from this page under the heading Image exposure points.
What does the information mean?
| MetBILD_ID | Examples and explanations |
| BILD_ID | Image ID; a unique identity for the aerial photograph, e.g. 15a448mi37_12 ~ 2015-08- 15_085754_5000 |
| PROJEKT | Designation of the photography project, e.g. 15a448 |
| OMR_BET | Area designation, e.g. 15A448 |
| STR | Flight line number (a serial number), e.g. 12 |
| BILD_NR | Image number within the flight line (a serial number), e.g. 5000 |
| X | X coordinate for the exposure position, e.g. 6600891 |
| Y | Y coordinate for the exposure position, e.g. 1343532 |
| HOJD | Flight altitude above ground, in meters, e.g. 7400 |
| N | N-coordinate of the exposure position in the coordinate system SWEREF 99 TM, e.g. 6597260 |
| E | E-coordinate of the exposure position in the coordinate system SWEREF 99 TM, e.g. 389163 |
| OTIS | Image overlap (in %) between adjacent images in the same flight line, e.g. 60 |
| OTMS | Side overlap (in %) between adjacent flight lines, e.g. 26 |
| SKUGGL | Relative shadow length in the image, e.g. 1.3 |
| KAMERA | Camera type, e.g. Vexcel UCE 37 |
| KAMERAK | Camera constant (distance between the lens center and the projection center of the image, e.g. 79.8 |
| BILDTYP | Image type; specifies the spectral type of the aerial photograph, e.g. rgb |
| LEVERANT |
Supplier of the image, i.e. Lantmäteriet |
| DATUM | Actual date of photography, e.g. 20150815 |
| TID | Actual time (Swedish summertime) of photography, e.g. 10:57:54 |
| PIXELST | Resolution in micro meters (width and length of a pixel in the image), e.g. 5.2 |
| PIXEL_MARK | Resolution in meters on the ground (the width and length on the ground that a pixel in the image corresponds to), e.g. 0,48 |
| UTBREDNING | The approximate coverage area on the ground for the aerial photograph, in km x km, e.g. 9,6 x 6,3 |
| FILNAMN | The file name for the image, e.g. 15a448mi37_12 ~ 2015-08-15_085754_5000 |
| FLYGR | Flight direction in degrees, e.g. 359 |
| FLYGARCY | Flight year, e.g. 2015 |
Demo data
Please note that the demo files are very large and the download may take a long time.
Demo data can be freely downloaded for testing and evaluation. For commercial use or re-distribution to third party, a user fee must be paid, and a User Agreement must be signed with Lantmäteriet.
Information about fees and terms and conditions for use of digital aerial photographs can be obtained from any of Lantmäteriet's resellers of geodata or from Lantmäteriets geodatasupport.
Download the desired demo files directly from the product links on this page or go to bundled demo data (new window) alternatively collected demo data on the FTP site (new window).
| Demo files | Image type |
|---|---|
| Demofiles (4 GB) | Aerial photographs in 4 channels, with orientation data in Match-AT format. |
| Demofiles (4 GB) |
Aerial photographs in 4 channels, with orientation data in ESPA |
| Demo files | Image type |
|---|---|
| Demofiles (zip 2,3 GB) | Aerial photographs in RGB (colour), with orientation data in Match-AT format |
| Demofiles (zip 2,2 GB) | Aerial photographs in IR (infrared) with orientation data in Match-AT format |
| Demofiles (zip 2 GB) | Aerial photographs in RGB (colour), with orientation data in ESPA |
| Demofiles (zip 1,7 GB) | Aerial photographs in IR (infrared), with orientation data ESPA |
Test data
Test data have been produced for product development purposes. The data may be used according to the license terms below.
License terms for test data
The Licensee acquires a non-exclusive, non-transferable right, for test and evaluation, to store and process the test data.
The Licensee also acquires the right to make a limited number of analogue copies/prints containing elements of test data for external distribution, e.g. to be included in a report or presentation.
The Licensee also has the right to publish the results of the evaluation, including parts of the test data, on the Internet, provided that the published products cannot be re-distributed or further processed via the publication.
The right to use the data for test and evaluation does not include the right to make test data available for any other purposes, either within the Licensee’s own organization nor externally.
The Licensee is entitled to use the test data without charge in exchange for Lantmäteriet to be given access to and be able to present results and experiences from the Licensee's tests and evaluations on Lantmäteriet’s website.
We welcome your feedback on the test data via anvandarsynpunkt.geodata@lm.se
Test data from combi sensor
During the late summer of 2021, Lantmäteriet tested a combined laser scanner and flight camera. The purpose was mainly to increase knowledge about the collection of laser data. A combination sensor of the type Leica Terrainmapper-2 was used to collect various test cases. A selection is published here as test data, laser data with four color bands as well as aerial images and orthophotos.
Lasertest 2021 (opens in a new window)
Test data is also available via FTP (ftp)
Product variant/test files
Via the link below, there are pictures from test flights 2018 with different flight altitudes from parts of Gothenburg.
Kamerakalibrering
Here you can find a list of all calibration protocols for the cameras and lenses used in Lantmäteriet’s aerial photography operations.
Search Service
In GeoLex (opens in new window), you will find information regarding metadata for aerial photographs and orthophotos.
Order product
Order from Lantmäteriet
To order aerial photographs or orthophotos please use the Order form or contact our Geodata support.
Telephone: 026-63 36 00
Open weekdays 09-12
E-mail: geodatasupport@lm.se
Order from resellers
Do you need help with customization and processing of our products and services? Contact any of our resellers.
Copyright and publication
In some cases you need permit to distribute geographic information. Read more on the page Copyright and publication of Lantmäteriet's geographical information.