What is an orthophoto?
An orthophoto or orthophotograph is an aerial photograph that has been geometrically corrected ("orthorectified") such that the scale of the photograph is uniform, meaning that the photo can be considered equivalent to a map. Unlike an uncorrected aerial photograph, an orthophotograph can be used to measure true distances, because it is an accurate representation of the earth's surface, having been adjusted for topographic relief, lens distortion, and camera tilt.

What does the resolution mean?
The resolution used to describe orthophoto is the amount of ground distance each pixel of the image covers. The smaller the resolution the more detail in the image. For example in a 15cm resolution image you would be able to identify man hole covers, catch basins and people.

What are MrSid and ECW files and which format should I download?
MrSid and ECW are compressed file formats that are optimized for aerial imagery. These formats allow us to provide clients high-resolution georeferenced imagery without sacrificing disc space or bandwidth. The file format depends on the application used, ESRI products (ArcMap) support MrSid while most AutoCAD applications support ECW. Both MrSid and ECW have a variety of plug-ins that can be downloaded.

For more details see:

MrSid - http://www.lizardtech.com

ECW - http://www. erdas.com

ECW Plug-ins - http://www.erdas.com/tabid/84/currentid/2508/default.aspx

MrSid Plug-ins - http://www.lizardtech.com/download/dl_options.php?page=third

How long will it take to process my order?
Within ten minutes of completing your order, you will be notified via email that your data is ready for download. Every ten minutes the MapWarehouse runs an automated process that collects all the data for pending orders and aggregates them into a single zip file.

How can I add First Base Solutions imagery to a report or presentation when I don’t have any GIS software?
To add First Base Solutions imagery to a document / presentation you convert an ECW file to a JPEG image. First locate, purchase and download an orthophoto tiles in ECW format from the MapWarehouse. Download and install ER Viewer. This free application allows you to view and convert ECW files to JPEG images. To do this start ER Viewer and open your ECW file and then simple save the file as a JPEG.

ER Viewer
http://www.ermapper.com/ProductView.aspx?t=161

How do I download my purchased data?
Once you have been notified that your data is ready for download, you can log into the MapWarehouse and navigate to MyAccount -> Order History using the drop downs in the menu bar. The Order History page will appear providing you with a list of your past orders. Each order will have a "download" option that you can click to initiate the download of your zip file.