True Ortho aerial photographs provide new impulse for energy and infrastructure research

The University of Groningen recently acquired razor-sharp True Ortho aerial photographs: high-resolution images that provide a geometrically highly accurate representation of the Netherlands without any 'distortion'. These high-quality, perpendicular aerial photographs enable researchers to perform analyses that are more reliable and accurate. This makes it ideal for numerous research applications, from energy transition and climate adaptation to AI and health and the living environment.

Traditional aerial photographs suffer from perspective distortion, which makes buildings, for example, appear to lean to one side (the tilt effect). With a True Ortho photo, the high overlap and tilt correction result in razor-sharp aerial photographs. The absence of perspective distortion ensures that objects are exactly in the right location, which is essential for creating accurate spatial analyses and maps.

Research into climate adaptation

According to Allard Roest, climate adaptation researcher at Hanze University of Applied Sciences and also affiliated with the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, the new True Ortho images provide an important basis for his research on climate adaptation in urban areas. “In our research into climate adaptation, we often encounter the problem that although public spaces in the Netherlands has been well mapped, the accuracy is limited. By using orthophotos and infrared images, we are able to take a closer look at how roofs, gardens, and businesses contribute to the climate resilience of a city. This ultimately enables us to better explain to policymakers and residents how they can become climate-adaptive by installing green roofs or promoting green gardens.”

Applicable to various disciplines

The True Ortho data opens doors to research that was previously difficult or even impossible. The accurate, distortion-free aerial images provide a foundation on which researchers from various disciplines can ask new questions and provide more informed answers. Such as:

• Energy and Climate – The data enables detailed analysis of roofs, allowing realistic estimates to b made of of solar potential and energy-saving measures. This contributes directly to research into sustainable energy and climate-resilient cities.
• Digital Innovation and AI – Thanks to the uniform, geometrically accurate dataset, the images are ideal for machine learning and AI applications: automatic object detection, ecological monitoring, and the development of digital twins for urban planning.
• Health and Environment – ​​Because obstacles such as cars have been largely removed from True Ortho aerial photographs, researchers can analyse infrastructure, traffic safety, and the relationship between the built environment and health much more accurately.
• Spatial Economy – True Ortho makes economic processes visible. Researchers can analyse business parks, real estate developments, and urban dynamics, thereby developing new insights into the relationship between space, value, and social issues.

Access to the data

The images are freely accessible to University of Groningen staff and students via the university's GIS platform. You can log in with your University of Groningen account. If you need assistance, please contact geodienst rug.nl or visit the Geodienst website for more information.