Imagery Layers Tab Overview

The imagery layers section is a collection of aerial imagery collected by Vexcel, and other information. What you see in the layers list depends on your service agreement. The imagery layers tab is open by default when the layer tool is selected from the toolbar.

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The imagery layers list is divided into three sections:

• Base Maps

• Ortho Layers

• Oblique Images

Hover over the info icon on each layer for additional information regarding individual layers in the list.

Base Maps and Ortho Layers

The ortho layers work in conjunction with the base map to overlay cohesive imagery on the map. Ortho layers are displayed on the map above the selected basemap:

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Understanding Ortho Layers

An “ortho” image is one that has been taken looking straight down at the ground and has been corrected for distortion. Ortho in the imagery layer list stands for “orthomosaic.” An “orthomosaic” is many ortho images that have been stitched together into a single, cohesive layer covering an area much larger than a single image. Therefore, the ortho layers show different “orthomosaics,” as shown in the screenshot above.

The ortho layers are called “layers” because they are cohesive expanses of data that can be stacked on top of one another like the layers of a cake. The higher the layer is in the list, the closer to the top of the cake it is.

Oblique Images

The Oblique images section contains collections of unique, individual images (“discrete images”) placed over the area they represent. Oblique image collections can only be viewed one at a time.

Understanding Oblique Images

The oblique images collections contain unique, standalone images that are not part of an orthomosaic. Therefore, if you zoom out as much as possible when viewing an oblique image or pan far enough, you will see the edge of the image. This is not an error. It is caused because you’ve reached the edge of the image. To see the next one, pan the map in that direction, and the next image will appear. For larger-scale panning and navigating on the map, it is recommended to switch back to ortho layers.

Oblique Image Orientations

Once you select an oblique images collection from the list, a menu appears in the lower right corner of the viewer. This menu allows you to view different image orientations available within that collection. Orientation options are:

• V: Vertical, ortho image (looking straight down, default view)

• N: North (angled and looking toward the north)

• S: South (angled and looking toward the south)

• E: East (angled and looking toward the east)

• W: West (angled and looking toward the west)

• CIR: Color infrared imagery (looking straight down) Color infrared imagery, though not an “orientation,” is included here because it is visualized as individual images and is not part of an orthomosaic.

Note that certain orientations in the menu may be grayed out if they’re not available in the oblique images collection you’re viewing.

Using the Imagery Layers

Layer Status

The layers and oblique collections will have different statuses depending on the location you are viewing.

• Active layers are toggled on and available. Active layers show in highlighted text with the checkbox selected.

• Inactive layers are toggled off, but they are available. Inactive layers show as plain black text with the checkbox de-selected.

• Unavailable layers are not available in a given situation. Unavailable layers show as grayed out in the list, with the checkbox unavailable.

  • Ortho layers in the list will be grayed out when there is no coverage for that layer available within the field of view on your screen.

  • Oblique layers may be grayed out for one of two reasons. Either (1) there is no coverage for that layer available within the field of view on your screen, or (2) you are too zoomed out to use the collections.

Toggling Layers: Active/Inactive

Toggling Ortho Layers

You can have multiple ortho layers active at a time. Toggle an ortho layer as active or inactive by selecting or deselecting the check box next to the layer name in the list.

Since ortho layers are overlaid on the basemap, you will see them in the order they are listed in your layer list. The highest active layer in the list will be displayed on the map and the lower active layers in the list will be displayed under it on the map.

If you’d like to see the lower ortho layers in the list show higher on the map, you can deactivate a higher layer by deselecting the check box next to the layer name. This toggles the layer to be inactive and allows lower active layers to show through. You can also drag those layers to the top of the list (see “Reordering Layers” below).

Toggling Oblique Images

Only one oblique images collection can be viewed at a time. To change which collection you’re viewing, select the button next to the desired collection in the list.

To return to viewing the ortho layers, re-activate the basemap.

Reordering Layers

Entries in the ortho layers section can be reordered to change which layer you’re seeing on top. To reorder, select the layer you want and drag it into the desired position within the list. Any ortho layer, whether it is active, inactive, or unavailable, can be reordered.

Oblique images collections cannot be reordered because only one dataset can be viewed at a time, so there is no need to reorder them.