Point Clouds vs. Orthomosaics

What’s the Difference and When Should You Use Each?

Drone technology has transformed the way we perform surveying, inspections, and project monitoring. Two of the most important outputs from drone photogrammetry are orthomosaics and point clouds. At first glance, they may seem similar, but they each offer unique insights and applications. This article explains the difference clearly and practically, and helps you decide when to use which.

What Is an Orthomosaic?

An orthomosaic is a true-to-scale, high‑resolution 2D map created from hundreds or thousands of drone images. Advanced software corrects each image for:

• perspective

• geometric alignment

• precise geolocation

The result is a sharp map with centimeter‑level accuracy.

When to Use an Orthomosaic:

• construction progress reporting

• comparison with design drawings

• agricultural field inspection

• monitoring erosion, vegetation, or natural areas

• documentation of heritage or conservation sites

Orthomosaics provide consistent coverage and clear detail, making them ideal as a reliable visual base map.

What Is a Point Cloud?

A point cloud is a full 3D representation of an area. Instead of a flat map, it consists of millions of points, each with an exact x, y, and z coordinate. This produces a highly detailed three‑dimensional model of terrain, buildings, or infrastructure.

When to Use a Point Cloud:

- accurate volume measurements (mining, stockpiles)

- detection of terrain or structural changes

- deformation analysis in infrastructure projects

- engineering, design, and BIM workflows

- digital terrain and surface modeling

If height, volume, or shape matters, a point cloud is the preferred tool.

Orthomosaic or Point Cloud: Which Do You Need?

Both can come from the same drone flight, but they serve different purposes.

Use an orthomosaic when you need:

• a clear visual base map

• consistent documentation

• comparison with project plans

Use a point cloud when you need:

• precise 3D measurements

• volume calculations

• deformation or structural analysis

In many cases, combining both offers the strongest results: the orthomosaic delivers overview, while the point cloud provides depth and measurement accuracy.

Orthomosaics and point clouds are powerful, complementary outputs that bring unique value to surveying and mapping workflows. Understanding their strengths helps you make better decisions, work more efficiently, and gain deeper insights from your drone data.

If you’d like help choosing the right data product for your project, feel free to contact us, we’re happy to advise you.