What type of imagery would be most useful for urban planning showing building details?

Oblique imagery is the most beneficial for urban planning focused on building details because it captures images at an angle, providing a three-dimensional perspective of structures and their contexts. This angled view allows planners and developers to visualize the height, shape, and relationship of buildings to their surroundings more effectively than traditional straight-down views.

Such imagery can highlight architectural details, roof structures, and the overall topography of urban landscapes. It can also reveal the interaction between buildings and the street layout, important aspects in making informed decisions about zoning, development, or renovations.

In contrast, ortho imagery provides a top-down view with accurate measurements but may lack the dimensional perspective needed to assess building details thoroughly. Low-resolution thermal imagery is primarily used for assessing temperature variations and is not focused on structural details. Synthetic aperture radar imagery is effective for capturing ground details and changes but does not provide the visual clarity needed for detailed building assessments. Therefore, oblique imagery stands out as the ideal choice for urban planning that requires an in-depth analysis of building characteristics.