If a satellite image is orthorectified and clipped out, must it be georeferenced again to be used in a GIS project?

The statement that orthorectified and clipped satellite images do not need to be georeferenced again to be used in a GIS project is accurate. When an image is orthorectified, it undergoes a process that corrects distortions caused by the camera angle, terrain, and curvature of the Earth. This ensures that the image accurately represents the Earth's surface, with correct geographic coordinates assigned to every pixel.

When the orthorectified image is then clipped, the process involves selecting a specific area of interest from the image while retaining its spatial integrity. Clipping does not alter the georeferencing; it simply reduces the extent of the image to focus on the desired area. As a result, the coordinates and spatial references established during orthorectification remain intact.

For GIS applications, georeferencing is necessary only when working with images that lack inherent geographic coordinates or when significant transformations to the image's spatial relationship are made. Since the orthorectified and clipped image already possesses accurate geospatial information, it can be directly utilized in GIS projects without the need for further georeferencing.