GeoTIFF
Overview
GeoTIFF is a raster file format that includes geographic metadata, allowing for the storage and sharing of georeferenced imagery and spatial data in a GIS. GeoTIFF extends the standard TIFF format with geospatial tags that define the coordinate reference system, extent, and pixel resolution.
Key Concepts
GeoKey is metadata tags storing coordinate system information. ModelTiepoint defines the relationship between pixel and ground coordinates. ModelPixelScale specifies the pixel size in ground units. ModelTransformation is an affine transformation matrix for complex georeferencing. EPSG code is embedded CRS identifier.
GeoTIFF Tags
| Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| GTModelTypeGeoKey | Geographic or Projected CRS |
| GTRasterTypeGeoKey | Pixel interpretation (area or point) |
| GeographicTypeGeoKey | Geographic CRS code |
| ProjectedCSTypeGeoKey | Projected CRS code |
| ProjLinearUnitsGeoKey | Linear unit of measure |
Appendix
Created: 2025-12-13 | Modified: 2025-12-13
See Also
- Raster
- Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG)
- Coordinate Reference System (CRS)
- Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL)