How can you tell if an aerial photo accurately reflects reality? In this one-on-one course, you’ll learn how to use orthorectification to convert distorted aerial images into accurate, georeferenced maps. You’ll receive personalized guidance and work hands-on with aerial photos, ground control points, and elevation models to take your GIS projects to the next level.
Aerial photos are a great source of information for anyone working with geodata. But to make them truly usable for maps and analyses, they must first be accurately corrected. This is called orthorectification.
Aerial photos often suffer from distortion because they are taken with a camera that operates according to the so-called pinhole model. All light rays pass through a single point, which can make objects appear skewed or out of proportion. And when you factor in the terrain’s relief, you end up with an image where the scale varies from place to place. As a result, standard transformations in GIS software—such as first-, second-, or third-order transformations—usually don’t work well enough.
To properly correct an aerial photo, you need a few things:
With this data, you can accurately align, correct, and georeference the aerial photos. This creates a scale-accurate, reliable dataset that you can seamlessly use in a GIS project or map application. That makes orthorectification an indispensable skill in any geospatial environment.
In this course, you’ll learn how to convert aerial photos into accurate maps that you can use immediately in a GIS environment. You’ll discover how photogrammetry works: a technique that allows you to extract spatial information from ordinary aerial images. You’ll also get hands-on experience with aerial photo correction, learning how to identify and correct distortions using ground control points and digital elevation models.
You’ll work with the Orthophoto.io platform, where you’ll learn step by step how to create an account and prepare your data. You’ll also learn which parameters are important for correct processing and how to configure them. Next, you’ll discover how to enter points into the system and how to add ground control points with known coordinates, ensuring your image is accurately georeferenced.
An important part of the training is evaluating your results. You’ll learn how to verify that your image is geometrically correct and that all elements are in the right place. This ensures your dataset is reliable and ready for use in spatial analyses or geoinformation projects.
Blended learning combines independent online learning with practical, interactive sessions, so you gain both theoretical knowledge and technical skills in aerial photo correction and georeferencing. The online modules give you the freedom to learn at your own pace. They include interactive lessons on photogrammetry, orthorectification, and the use of digital elevation models. You’ll discover how to use ground control points, how to prepare aerial photos for processing, and how to integrate accurate imagery into your GIS projects.
During the hands-on online sessions, you’ll apply your knowledge immediately. You’ll work with real aerial photos and learn how to identify, correct, and verify image distortion using tools like Orthophoto.io. You’ll receive guidance from geo-experts and discover how to convert raw images into reliable, scale-consistent geodata. In the process, you’ll learn not only how to set parameters and enter points, but also how to evaluate the accuracy of your final result.
The combination of flexible online learning and hands-on training ensures that you not only understand how orthorectification works, but also how to apply it effectively in real-world projects. After this course, you’ll be able to independently correct, georeference, and use aerial photos for spatial analysis, enabling you to make better-informed decisions in your field.
You’ll receive 1-on-1 guidance. After signing up, our course coordinator will contact you to schedule your first session.
After completing this course, you will be able to:
Do you have questions about the course content? Or are you unsure whether the course aligns with your learning goals or preferences? Would you prefer an in-house or private course? We’d be happy to help.
