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Create a project

A Drone2Map project must be created before you begin working in Drone2Map. Projects are created using processing templates, which apply preconfigured, optimized settings to produce the selected output product or products. These templates are the basis for any imagery processing in Drone2Map, and you must define a template before a project is created. Processing templates can support the processing of multiple types of input imagery and the generation of multiple types of imagery products.

Configure project parameters

Selecting the appropriate processing template initially determines what types of products will be created. Each template has automatically predetermined processing options to create 2D or 3D products. Certain templates may also prioritize rapid processing of imagery over creating full-resolution products. These template options can be modified once the project is created.

On the new project page, the following settings must be configured:

  • Processing Template—A template is automatically chosen that defines the project processing options. The default selected template can be configured to any of the available options, including custom templates.

  • Add images—Images are added as either individually selected files or as a folder. Image folders can also be dragged into the window to be added.

  • Project location—A location must be selected to store the project, by default this is the documents folder. The browse button can be used to navigate to a different folder location on your local file system where you want the new project to be stored.

Additional settings can also be configured when creating a project to ensure alignment and accuracy of imagery, such as the following:

  • Image Coordinate System—Adjusting the image coordinate system updates the horizontal and vertical coordinate system of the source imagery. This defines how the images are positioned on the map before processing begins.

  • Project Coordinate System—Adjusting the project coordinate system updates the horizontal and vertical coordinate system of the 2D and 3D maps and defines the coordinate systems for output products.

  • Import control—The Import control option appears once imagery has been added to a project. Importing control adds ground control point data to the project to increase the absolute accuracy of the project.

Use cases for projects

For example, utility companies often plan maintenance on infrastructure like high voltage towers in difficult to reach areas with rough terrain. It can often be difficult to reach those areas in person and perform the inspections. Collecting drone imagery for each site instead makes the process more cost effective and safer for utility crews, while still providing highly detailed imagery to reference. The crew needs a 3D view of the tower from different perspectives to share this information with other teams to prioritize any repairs that may be needed and to improve safety. With Drone2Map, they can create 3D products to view within a 3D scene and share this information through ArcGIS Online to other teams. This ensures everyone is working with the same up to date information, saving money and quickly prioritizing areas for repairs.

For another example, a coastal management agency is monitoring a stretch of coastline that has been affected by erosion, causing the shoreline to retreat and threaten nearby homes. They have flown a drone over the affected areas and collected imagery to assess the speed of the erosion. The imagery can be processed with a 2D template to create a True Ortho and DSM that can help visually identify shoreline areas for signs of erosion like significant elevation changes. Using these products, the agency can help provide up-to-date information on high-risk areas and better focus on their monitoring efforts.

For a final example, disaster response agencies react to evolving situations and typically require rapid reaction when responding in emergency situations. Processing imagery with the Rapid template helps ensure the fastest processing times when time management is critical. Using the Rapid template in Drone2Map allows for the quick generation of 2D and 3D products, prioritizing processing time over high resolution. This allows disaster response agencies to quickly get results that can provide crucial information and help determine where resources must be deployed.