🚁 GSD Calculator – Ground Sample Distance
Enter your camera and flight parameters to calculate ground sample distance (GSD).
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What GSD measures
Ground Sample Distance (GSD) is the real-world size that one pixel represents in an aerial or drone photo. It is calculated as GSD = (Sensor Width × Altitude × 100) / (Focal Length × Image Width in Pixels), giving a result in centimeters per pixel.
A smaller GSD means higher resolution imagery — more real-world detail packed into each pixel — which matters for mapping, surveying, and photogrammetry work where measurement accuracy depends on flight altitude and camera settings.
Last reviewed August 2026