Category: Foundations
Spatial Resolution
Spatial resolution describes the ground detail an image can represent, commonly expressed as meters per pixel.
Also known as: ground resolution, meters per pixel
Expanded definition
Spatial resolution is often simplified to “pixel size” (for example 10 m). Higher spatial resolution means finer detail, but it does not automatically mean better information for every task.
Resolution has practical tradeoffs: file size, processing cost, noise sensitivity, and revisit availability. Some sensors provide frequent coverage at moderate resolution, while very high resolution sensors may revisit less often or cost more.
When comparing datasets, you should check whether the product has been resampled. A 10 m output can be created from coarser native data, which looks sharper but does not add real detail.
Related terms
Pixel
A pixel is the smallest unit in a raster; it represents the sensor’s measurement over a ground area.
Resampling
Resampling changes the pixel grid of a raster, for example when reprojecting or changing resolution.
Revisit Time
Revisit time is the typical time between observations of the same location by a sensor or constellation.