Choose an Order Type: Polygon, Tile, or Minitile
All three order types support the same models, cadence options, and historical or recurring behavior. The key difference is how the AOI is defined and how pricing is applied.
Quick Comparison
| Order type | AOI definition | Typical pricing factor vs polygon baseline | Best when | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polygon | Submit Wkt or GeoJson geometry | 100% baseline | You need exact boundaries | Higher cost per km2 than tile or minitile modes |
| Tile | Select predefined tile GUIDs | 20% of polygon baseline | You monitor large, contiguous regions over time | Fixed grid footprint |
| Minitile | Select predefined minitile GUIDs | 50% of polygon baseline | You need finer grid selection than full tiles | Still grid-based, not fully freeform |
Polygon Ordering
Use polygon ordering when boundary accuracy is the priority.
- Draw or upload the exact AOI geometry you want to order.
- Best for irregular fields, project-specific boundaries, or one-off custom extents.
- Geometry validation and minimum billable area rules apply.
See Define an Area with Polygon Ordering.
Tile Ordering
Use tile ordering when scale and cost efficiency are the priority.
- AOI is defined by fixed tile GUIDs (most tiles are 5120 x 5120 pixels, with edge-zone exceptions).
- Tile orders use a strong cost multiplier (80% discount vs polygon baseline).
- Fixed grid makes it easy to expand coverage later by adding adjacent tiles.
See Define an Area with Tiles and Minitiles Ordering.
Minitile Ordering
Use minitiles when you want grid-based ordering but need tighter selection than full tiles.
- Minitiles are smaller fixed units (typically 320 x 320 pixels, with edge-zone exceptions).
- You can combine full tiles and minitiles in the same order.
- Useful for trimming edges around a tile-based program without switching back to polygon mode.
See Define an Area with Tiles and Minitiles Ordering.
Recommended Decision Pattern
- Irregular or exact boundary requirement: start with polygon ordering.
- Large, repeated monitoring program: start with full tiles.
- Large base area plus edge refinement: use tiles plus selected minitiles.
For detailed cost impact, see Tile and minitile discounts and Model pricing.