新一代甚高分辨率卫星， 能提供分辨率达１ ｍ 的图像。因为最近对销售这种图像进行控制的法律已经放宽， 工程师可以几乎完全自由地获得比航片更快更灵活和更便宜的图像。典型的航片成本是３０００ 英镑／ｋｍ ２， 而新一代卫星的图像成本预计可低于２０ 英镑／ｋｍ ２， 来自卫星的“地球观察”数据目前在地图绘制、输油管路走线、地质测绘和大地沉陷观测等土木工程上已开始应用。 A new generation of very high resolution satellites, can provide images up to 1 m resolution. Because of the recent relaxation of laws that control the sale of such images, engineers have almost complete freedom to get faster, more flexible and cheaper images than aerial photos. The cost of a typical aerial is £ 3,000 / km 2, while the cost of a new generation of satellites is estimated to be less than £ 20 / km 2. “Earth observation” data from satellites are currently in mapping, pipeline routing, geological mapping and Earth subsidence observation and other civil engineering has begun to apply.