Orthoimage

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A geometrically adjusted image taken from an aerial perspective that allows for consistent scale representation throughout the photograph
2. A rectified aerial or satellite image designed to eliminate distortions for precise distance and area measurement
3. A precisely corrected image sourced from an aerial view that maintains uniform scale across its entirety for accurate geographic analyses

Etymology: "Ortho-" comes from Greek "orthos", meaning "straight," "upright," or "correct," and it appears in English in many technical coinages where precision matters. Attached to "image," it describes a picture that has been geometrically corrected so that distortions from the camera's tilt and the terrain's relief are removed. The result is a map-like picture in which distances and positions can be measured reliably across the whole frame. The second element, "image," comes from Latin "imago," meaning "likeness" or "copy," which entered English through Old French. The compound itself is a modern technical formation, built from familiar parts to name a specific product of aerial surveying and photogrammetry rather than an older everyday term.

Synonyms: orthophoto, corrected image