You have to buy such a large area to get your area of interest that it's not economical. The future availability of 1-meter satellite imagery will change this equation to some extent, said Williams. Both factors will make 1-meter satellite imagery more competitive with aerial imaging. The imagery providers contend, however, that the differences between the two leave open plenty of market opportunity for satellite and aerial. Satellites maintain an advantage for covering some international targets, said Stringham.
Poor infrastructures make refueling and other logistics difficult.
Satellites' positioning may give them worldwide coverage benefits, but it also has a downside. The fact that aerial imagery aircraft fly low not only enable them to offer higher resolution, but it means that the aircraft have more flexibility than satellites when it comes to cloud cover. Stringham said that whereas satellites will always be above the clouds, which could keep them from taking pictures, aircraft can often fly below the clouds at 25,000 feet or lower. Customers that need imagery to occur within specific timeframes could be out of luck with satellite imagery, if cloud cover prevails, said Stringham. Aerial imagery gives customers the option of contracting for coverage when they choose, as opposed to going with satellites, which have set fly-over schedules, or depending on stock satellite images, which could be out of date.