ArcGIS Drone2Map system requirements
Before installing or upgrading ArcGIS Drone2Map on a virtual or physical machine, ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements to run it. Also, learn about the resources that are recommended for the best performance.
Scan your computer for compatibility
In addition to comparing your machine's compatibility with the requirements below, you can download an app that will scan your machine and generate a compatibility report: Verify that your computer can run the software.
The app refers to ArcGIS Pro but works for this software too.
Supported imagery
ArcGIS Drone2Map uses imagery collected from drones to generate 2D and 3D products.
The following imagery types are supported:
|
Extension |
Description |
|---|---|
|
.jpg and .jpeg |
JPEG images |
|
.tif and .tiff |
Monochromatic TIFF Multiband TIFF (RGB/infrared/thermal) 1 layer (no pyramid, no multipage) 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, and 16-bit integer, floating point |
Note:
Imagery that is more than 105 megapixels is not supported.
When assigned a Professional or Professional Plus user type there are no limits to project imagery size.
Otherwise, combined project imagery size is limited to 300 gigapixels. This can be calculated by multiplying the number of images by image megapixel size and dividing by 1,000.
For example, a project with 400 13-megapixel imagery is (400 x 13)/1,000 = 5.2 gigapixels.
Note:
Drone2Map supports a wide range of thermal cameras; however, some DJI thermal cameras may require an optional installation that can be done when installing Drone2Map 2025.1 and later. To learn more, see: Thermal camera support.
GPS
ArcGIS Drone2Map requires GPS data for the location of the camera for each photo. For JPG images, this is usually stored in the EXIF header of each image file and is read automatically by Drone2Map. For TIFF images, the GPS data is often stored in a summary text file, with x,y,z position typically reported for each image in GCS coordinates (latitude-longitude, decimal degrees) for x,y and height in meters for z. The height for z can be either orthometric (height above sea level) or height above launch point. Drone2Map checks the EXIF header for GPS information during project setup. If no GPS information is found, you are prompted for a GPS text or .csv file.
Supported operating systems
The software is supported on the Microsoft Windows operating systems listed below, as long as the operating system is also currently supported by its provider for general or public use.
|
Operating system |
Latest update or service pack tested |
|---|---|
|
Windows 11 Home, Pro, and Enterprise (64 bit) |
April 2026 update |
|
Windows Server 2025 Standard and Datacenter (64 bit) |
April 2026 update |
|
Windows Server 2022 Standard and Datacenter (64 bit) |
April 2026 update |
|
Windows Server 2019 Standard and Datacenter (64 bit) |
April 2026 update |
Note:
Prior and future updates or service packs for these operating system versions are supported unless otherwise stated. The operating system version and updates must also be supported by the operating system provider.
The Desktop Experience option is required on all versions of Windows Server.
Hardware requirements
The minimum and recommended requirements necessary to run ArcGIS Drone2Map are listed below. Minimum requirements support the application but may not perform well. The best performance is gained using the recommended system requirements.
Features that use Deep Learning Libraries require a dedicated GPU as specified in recommended system requirements.
Minimum system requirements
|
Item |
Description |
|
|---|---|---|
|
CPU |
6 cores, 12 threads |
|
|
Memory/RAM |
RAM requirements based on dataset size:
Available memory is used dynamically to improve performance. For optimal performance, the amount of memory must be double the number of CPU threads, for example, 12 core CPU = 24 threads and requires a minimum of 48 GB RAM. |
|
|
GPU |
A GPU with 4 GB of VRAM for display NVIDIA GPU with a CUDA compute capability of 7.5 or higher and 8GB of VRAM is required for deep learning dependent features. NVIDIA GPU driver: Version 570 or later is required. |
|
|
DirectX |
DirectX 12, feature level 12.0, Shader Model 6.0 |
|
|
OpenGL |
OpenGL 4.3 with the ARB_clip_control and EXT_texture_compression_s3tc extensions |
|
|
Storage |
Internal Hard Drive Disk |
|
|
Screen resolution |
1024x768 |
|
Recommended system requirements
|
Item |
Description |
|---|---|
|
CPU |
24 cores, 48 threads or higher |
|
Memory/RAM |
RAM requirements based on dataset size:
Available memory is used dynamically to improve performance. For optimal performance, the amount of memory must be double the number of CPU threads, for example, 24 core CPU = 48 threads and requires a minimum of 96 GB RAM. |
|
Dedicated GPU |
NVIDIA GPU with a CUDA compute capability 8.9 or higher and 16 GB of VRAM. NVIDIA GPU driver: Version 570 or later is required. |
|
Storage |
Solid-State Drive (SSD) |
* 20 megapixel image size at 10 MB per image
Note:
If DirectX requirements are not met, OpenGL is automatically used. You can also manually change to OpenGL, such as when you suspect an issue with the DirectX driver.
Cloud storage services, such as Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive, are not supported unless stated otherwise in the documentation about specific tools and functionality.
Software requirements
The following software must be installed separately before installing ArcGIS Drone2Map:
|
Software |
Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
|
Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime |
Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime 10.0.0 or a later patch release (10.0.1 and so on), using a Windows x64 installer, is required. Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime is updated frequently. It is recommended that you install the latest patches as they become available. However, installing .NET 9 or any later version doesn't fulfill this software requirement. |
|
WebView2 Runtime |
Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime version 132 or later is required. If it is not already installed on the machine, use the Evergreen Bootstrapper or Evergreen Standalone Installer from Microsoft. Note:A per-machine installation (the default) of ArcGIS Drone2Map requires a per-machine installation of WebView2 Runtime. To do this, right-click the WebView2 installer and click Run as administrator. |
Virtualization
ArcGIS Drone2Map can run in many on-premises and cloud virtual desktop environments, and requires GPU acceleration. In a properly configured, GPU-enabled environment, Drone2Map behaves much like a local workstation, allowing smooth map navigation, visualization, and analysis. GPU support is also necessary when working with maps, scenes, or large datasets.
Virtualization allows Drone2Map to be accessed from shared infrastructure or remote systems, but performance depends on how the environment is configured and sized for your workload.
On-premises virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
|
Platform/Product |
Supported environment/GPU option |
Performance notes |
|---|---|---|
|
VMware vSphere + NVIDIA vGPU |
vSphere/ESXi 8.x with supported NVIDIA GPUs |
Good balance of performance and scalability for shared GIS desktops. |
|
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops |
GPU-enabled virtual desktops |
Suitable for full desktop delivery of Drone2Map. |
|
Microsoft Hyper-V Server |
GPU pass-through or partitioning |
Provides strong performance when a dedicated GPU is assigned. |
Additional VDI guidance:
GPU acceleration greatly improves map navigation, rendering, and 3D performance.
Avoid environments that do not provide GPU support.
Application virtualization or layering technologies may work, but performance and reliability can be limited.
Match system sizing to workload—Heavy 3D and analysis workflows require more resources.
Cloud infrastructure
Cloud platforms allow ArcGIS Drone2Map to run on GPU-enabled virtual machines or managed desktops. Choosing the right instance type ensures smooth navigation and analysis performance.
Most GPU-enabled cloud platforms support scalable instance sizing, allowing you to start with a smaller configuration and increase CPU, memory, or GPU resources as workload demands grow.
Scaling primarily affects how smoothly large datasets render, how quickly scenes load, and how responsive analysis workflows feel.
|
Cloud infrastructure |
Instance type/GPU option |
Performance notes |
|---|---|---|
|
AWS EC2 |
G4dn instance family |
Scalable GPU desktops suitable for everyday mapping and moderate GIS workflows. |
|
AWS EC2 |
G5 instance family |
Higher-performance, scalable GPU desktops for advanced visualization and analysis. |
|
AWS EC2 |
G6/G6f instance families |
Scalable, next-generation GPU options designed for complex 3D scenes and large datasets. |
|
AWS WorkSpaces |
Managed GPU desktops |
Managed desktops that can be sized for different GIS workloads. |
|
Google Cloud Platform Compute Engine |
GPU-enabled VM instances (NVIDIA T4, L4) |
Instance sizing can be increased for more demanding GID workflows. |
|
Microsoft Azure virtual machines |
NVads_A10 v5 series |
Scalable, GPU-enabled desktops supporting 2D and 3D GIS workflows. |
|
Microsoft Azure virtual machines |
NCasT4_v3 series |
GPU-enabled, scalable machines suitable for compute and visualization workloads. |
|
Microsoft Azure Cloud PCs (Windows 365) |
Managed cloud desktops with GPU-enabled options |
Cloud desktops that can be configured to match GIS workload requirements. |
Additional cloud guidance:
Most cloud GPU environments allow scaling as workloads grow.
AWS EC2 example: start with a smaller G4dn instance and scale to G5 for heavier work.
Azure VM example: start with smaller NVads_A10 sizes and scale as needed.
Larger datasets and 3D scenes benefit from higher GPU capacity.
Increasing instance size typically improves responsiveness.
GPU-enabled environments support smoother visualization and analysis workflows.
Cloud application streaming and virtualization
Some platforms allow ArcGIS Drone2Map to be delivered through streamed sessions or virtual desktops instead of a traditional workstation install. While application streaming is possible, a full desktop presentation provides the best ArcGIS Drone2Map experience.
Full desktop environments offer better GPU access, system resource availability, and session stability, resulting in smoother navigation and more predictable performance.
|
Platform/Product |
Deployment model |
Performance notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) |
GPU-enabled, full virtual desktops |
Recommended approach. |
|
Amazon AppStream 2.0 |
Application or desktop streaming |
Works for many workflows, but full desktop delivery typically provides better responsiveness. |
Portal type and functionality
ArcGIS Enterprise portal version and functionality (licensing and sharing) information is listed in the following table. See the note below for configuring sharing with earlier Enterprise portals.
|
ArcGIS Enterprise version |
Licensing |
Sharing |
|---|---|---|
|
12.1 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
12.0 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
11.5 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
11.4 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
11.3 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
11.2 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
11.1 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
11.0 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
10.9.1 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
10.8.1 |
No |
Yes* |
Note:
ArcGIS Online is fully supported for licensing and sharing.
ArcGIS Enterprise portals with self-signed certificates are not supported as valid licensing portals in Drone2Map. For more information, see Enable HTTPS on your web server.
For more information about sharing to portal versions 10.9 and earlier see the Use ArcGIS Drone2Map v2022.1 (and later) with ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 and earlier Technical Support article.