Orthophoto

About this product

Orthophotos are produced from digital aerial photographs with different resolutions, depending on location. In the southern part of Sweden, along the east coast and over a few localities in the northern interior of Sweden (in total about 44% of the country) orthophotos are produced from aerial photographs with a resolution of 0,15 m/pixel (before 2019 the resolution was of 0,24 m/pixel). In the rest of the country the aerial photographs have a resolution of 0,37 m/pixel (before 2019 the resolution was 0,48 m/pixel).

The aerial photographs are geometrically corrected and assembled into large mosaics with correct scale; orthophotos. The result is image files in raster format in 4 channels (from 2019), colour, IR (infrared), or black and white, with a resolution in which each pixel on the ground corresponds to 0,16 m or 0,4 m depending on location (before 2019 0,25 m or 0,5 m).

Orthophotos are primarily used as a basis for production of maps, but the images are also used in other applications, such as:

• urban planning, such as planning of new roads and residential areas
• monitoring of environmental changes
• planning and monitoring of land use
• as background for other information and in GIS systems.

Maintenance and update frequency

Updating of orthophotos is carried out in accordance with a long-term aerial photography plan and covers approximately 30% of the country each year. The photography interval for a specific area can be between 2 and 10 years, depending on location (see link below to the the aerial photography program for further information).

The south of Sweden and areas along the east coast are photographed with 0,15 m resolution (prior to 2019 with 0,24 m resolution) every other year, alternating before and after leafing. The larger localities in other parts of the country are also photographed with 0,15 m resolution, with an interval of 2-4 years.

Read more about The national image provision programme, which is the basis for our production of orthophotos.

Search Service

In GeoLex (opens in new window), you will find information regarding metadata for aerial photographs and orthophotos.

Documentation

For more detailed information of the content, see the product description in English or Swedish.

• Ortofoto (pdf, new window)
• Orthophoto (pdf, new window)

Delivery information and metadata

Delivery information

Orthophotos can be ordered in:

• 4 channel images (from year 2019), colour, IR or b/w.
• Resolutions of 0,16 m, 0,25 m, 0,4 m, 0,5 m or 1,0 m, depending on location and year of photography.

Files in the delivery

The file name for a 5x5 km tile and a 2,5 x 2,5 km tile can consist of the designation of the tile according to the index system, or the coordinates for the lower left corner of the tile, or the corners of the circumscribing rectangle (minN_minE_maxN_maxE), followed by the year of the orthophoto with four digits.

The file name for an arbitrary cut-out can consist of the coordinates for the lower left corner of the area, or the corners of the circumscribing rectangle (minN_minE_maxN_maxE), followed by the year of the orthophoto with four digits. If the orthophoto consists of parts from orthophotos from different years, it is the year of the main part of the area that is indicated in the file name.

If an index tile is delivered in a SWEREF local zone and the file name consists of the designation of the tile, a zone prefix is also added first in the file name, for example 1200_.

Average file sizes for different product variants in LZW-compressed GeoTIFF. However, the size may vary between images.

• b/w with 0,5 m resolution = 85 MB
• b/w with 1 m resolution = 21 MB
• colour/IR with 0,5 m resolution = 202 MB
• colour/IR with 1 m resolution = 50 MB
• b/w with 0,25 m resolution = 85 MB
• colour/IR with 0,25 m resolution = 202 MB
• colour/IR with 0,4 m resolution = 250 MB
• colour/IR with 0,16 m resolution = 400 MB
• 4-channel with 0,4 m resolution = 320 MB
• 4-channel with 0,16 m resolution = 520 MB

Delivery format

Orthophotos are delivered in LZW-compressed GeoTIFF or JPEG format. 4-channel orthophotos can however only be delivered in LZW-compressed GeoTIFF-format. Separate WORLD-files are always included in the delivery. Orthophotos can be delivered in SWEREF 99 TM and in SWEREF local zones.

Meta data

For each orthophoto there are associated metadata files, also adjusted to the chosen coordinate system, that show which orthophotos they are comprised of and their spread, together with information regarding the included aerial photos. Together with orthophotos from 2010 onwards the seamlines and time of flight for each included aerial photo are delivered, seamlines are shown in the shape of polygons.

For orthophotos, exposure position files in shape format, containing information about time of flight for every aerial photo, can be downloaded and matched against the orthophotos. Further information can be found HERE under the heading Image exposure points.

Plans and outcomes

The areas that the orthophoto plan is based on are the areas included in the aerial photography plan: Flygfotoplanen (pdf).

Below you can find information regarding this season’s orthophoto plan and outcome as well as outcomes from previous years. The outcome is updated every day. Please note that the information in some PDF files are displayed with several clickable layers, which is not supported by all web browsers. If so, you can save the file on your computer and then open it in Acrobat Reader.

• Plans and outcomes for orthophotos (new window)
  The webbmap shows in which areas this season’s orthophotos are ready for delivery and this season’s orthophoto plan. It also shows municipalities and their names as well as index tiles and their designations.
• Ortofotoutfall (pdf)
  This season’s (june-december) orthophoto plan and areas where this seasons orthophotos are available for ordering.
• Ortofotoutfall i shapeformat (zip)
  Corresponding content as above. 
• Årliga ortofototäckningar från 2006 och framåt; 0,25 m/0,5 m t.o.m. 2018 och 0,16 m/0,4 m fr.o.m. 2019 (pdf)
  Coverages of orthophotos from previous years.
  To be able to see this pdf-file with all layers correctly you have to download it to your own computer. After you have downloaded the file, open Acrobat Reader and thereafter open the pdf-file you have downloaded to your computer.
• Årliga ortofototäckningar i shapeformat (zip)
  Corresponding content as above.
• Polygoner för högupplöst ortofoto över tätorter fr.o.m. 2006 uppdelade årsvis; 0,25 m t.o.m. 2018 och 0,16 m fr.o.m. 2019 i shapeformat (zip)
  Polygons for high resolution orthophoto over localities from 2006, divided on every year; 0,25 m up to 2018 and 0,16 m from 2019 onwards. Updated every year.

Demo data

The orthophotos are presented in SWEREF 99 TM. The file name of an orthophoto index tile (5 x 5 km or 2.5 x 2,5 km) consists of the designation of the tile according to the index system, followed by the year of the orthophoto with four digits. Metadata is attached in three different GeoJSON files.

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).

Test data

Test data have been produced for product development purposes. The data may be used according to the license terms below.

What data that is available for testing and evaluation may vary. We appreciate your feedback regarding our 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)

Test files

Here are images from test flights with different altitudes covering parts of Gothenburg.

The test images are not taken with the camera used in the aerial image production during 2019.

Gothenburg 2018 (opens in new window)

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.