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GeoTIFF and COG

GeoTIFF stores raster pixels plus georeferencing information such as CRS and spatial transform inside a TIFF-compatible file.

A Cloud Optimised GeoTIFF is still a GeoTIFF. Its internal tile/overview layout is organised so HTTP range requests can retrieve only required portions without downloading the entire object.

Use GeoTIFF/COG for​

  • orthophotography
  • DEM/DSM
  • classified rasters
  • analytical satellite bands
  • derived hillshade/slope products

Keep metadata outside too​

A raster can know its CRS while still lacking the human research facts you need: capture date, sensor/survey, vertical datum, licence and processing lineage. Keep those in project metadata.

LINZ publishes public imagery/elevation COG collections in cloud storage. See LINZ aerial imagery and LINZ elevation.

Last reviewed: 26 August 2026

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