DroneMapper

We have adjusted our policy for new account set-up, effective today. For a new account to be opened we will require a pre-payment of $50. This payment will be credited to the client's account to be used for processing client's imagery, with a few conditions:

• If the imagery and associated data follow the guidelines (geo-tags, overlap requirements, etc.) posted on our site then the pre-payment will be used to process your data. When the initial job cost is less than $50 you have the choice of a refund for the remainder or the balance remains in your account for a future job. If you have any questions or need clarifications on our guidelines please do not hesitate to contact us.
• If you have an existing account and have received satisfactory processing from us then the pre-payment is waived.
• If the imagery or associated data does not follow the posted guidelines then the pre-payment will be used to cover our costs incurred by initial processing, reviewing and determining what the issues are with your data. Again, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or clarifications on the guidelines. Help us help you in providing processed results the first time as affordably and quickly as possible.

Please view the following documentation for Aerial Data Collection guidelines and processing requirements:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/DroneMapper_US/documentation/DroneMapper_AerialDataCollectionGuidelinesPlanning.pdf

Please view the following documentation for Ground Control Point (GCP) information and required files for processing:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/DroneMapper_US/documentation/DroneMapper_GCP.pdf

If you would like to send us a job for processing outside of the web application, we need the following information:

• Ground Sample Distance (GSD)
• Area Covered in Square Kilometers
• Number of Images and Mega Pixel of Sensor
• UTM Zone and Hemisphere of Data
• If using GCP, 2D and 3D files in txt format. 3D GCP file is required in WGS84 UTM projection.

DroneMapper provides precision geo-referenced orthomosaics, DEMs, DSMs and 3-D point clouds for a multitude of purposes throughout the world. However, we cannot process random photos, obliques, missing geo-tags, erroneous ground control points, flight controller-camera unknown time offsets, etc. effectively. We will continue to strive to give you the best customer service we can and ask that you verify your data for processing. Thank you very much, the DroneMapper Team

A new version of DroneMapper Tools is available. We've added a Geo-Tag tool and a camera time offset calculator. The camera time offset calculator is useful for sensors without an on-board GPS. The on-board camera GPS allows for easy syncing of image DateTimeOriginal EXIF tags to log file entries. Using the offset tool you can quickly calculate the time difference from your camera to GPS time and use this delta to apply geo-tags using tools like GeoSetter or exiftool (command line). Currently the Geo-Tag tool works with CSV files only, we plan to add more flight log controller support in the future. Once we add additional flight controller logs, the time offset that is calculated will be used to automatically geo-tag your imagery. In order to use the CSV based geo-tagging, you should generate a CSV file in the following format:

IMAGE NAME,LON,LAT,ELE
IMG_1613.JPG,-113.1009951,52.88523841,1006
IMG_1614.JPG,-113.0994724,52.88540228,1007
IMG_1615.JPG,-113.0982547,52.88524987,1008
IMG_1616.JPG,-113.0966351,52.88535518,1006
IMG_1617.JPG,-113.09516,52.88524758,1004
IMG_1618.JPG,-113.0938281,52.88525892,1008
IMG_1619.JPG,-113.0922831,52.88526133,1008

There needs to be a 1 to 1 relationship with the CSV log file and the number of images. In other words, if you have 71 images, the CSV file should have 71 data rows. 72 rows total including header. The order of the columns is important and header should be included. File extension is .csv.

If anyone has a set of imagery and corresponding flight controller logs they'd like to submit, please let us know. We will add support for these type of files. 

Notes for consideration:
* 2D GCP Tool only accepts geo-tagged imagery.
* A new directory is created in your 'workdir' named 'Geo-Tag', this is where the newly tagged imagery is stored.
* Time Offset Tool is only useful to calculate offset at this point. Helpful for tools like GeoSetter and exiftool.
* Compiled for x64 Windows.
* Flight QA Tool will be added in the future to check imagery coverage in the field over cached Bing Maps.

2D Ground Control Point Generation Tool:

CSV Geo-Tagging Tool:

Camera Time Offset Calculator:

Download Link: http://s3.amazonaws.com/DroneMapper_US/DMT_v0.05.zip

Please let us know if you have a flight controller you'd like supported or if you have any suggestions.

We have released a test / alpha version of the 2D GCP generation tool for Windows. You may experience a bug or two but overall it should be functional. Let us know if you have problems working with the 2D GCP utility or have additional feature requests. 

Essentially, you want to create a list of images that the GCP appear in and load them into the tool. The images must be geo-tagged. Once, you've loaded all the images you can navigate between the imagery to add the 2D GCP locations. The GCPs appear in a small text box on the lower left side. When you've completed all the GCP you can save this list as the 2D GCP text file. The 2D GCP file is one half of the required GCP data needed for our processing chain.

Download v0.05 from post above.

Let us know if you have any questions. 

Instructions for use:

ZOOM IN – Control Up Arrow or Mouse Scroll Wheel
ZOOM OUT – Control Down Arrow or Mouse Scroll Wheel
ADD GCP – Hold Shift Key and Click GCP Target
PAN – Right Click on Mouse and Drag (or use scroll bars)
NEXT IMAGE – Next Button
PREV IMAGE – Previous Button
SAVE 2D GCP – Save GCP Button or File -> Save
CLEAR 2D GCP – Clear GCP Button or File -> New

We will add additional features and fixes as needed. Best regards,
JP

(Office View from 6700 ft Elevation of Grand Mesa, Colorado)

DroneMapper has completed its relocation to the beautiful Grand Mesa. The last few weeks were a little hectic with the move and setting up the infrastructure for processing services. We thank all of you for your patience during the relocation. Our new office is located on Main Street, within the Columbine Mall, in Delta, CO. Please give us a call and stop by whenever your travels bring you to the Western Slope of Colorado.

• We have made a few policy changes on how we will conduct our services for the future:
• For large area (> 50 sq. Km) collections at lower resolutions (> 20 cm GSD) our pricing has been discounted to $10/sq. Km,
• Smaller area collects at higher resolutions will start at $20/sq. Km and could go higher depending on sensor format and actual GSD used for processing,
• For the last year we have taken the risk of performing processing prior to invoicing for services. That policy has been changed to payment prior to processing. As has always been the case, should you be dis-satisfied with our results (submitted in writing) your payment will be refunded.
• For our contract clients there will be no change to our current working relationship.

We look forward to serving your image processing needs!
With best regards, JP & Pierre, DroneMapper.com

(Sunset in Paradise)

February 22nd, 2013

DroneMapper will be moving its corporate office from Boulder, CO to the Grand Mesa, CO on or before March 22, 2013. To all of our valued clients – we will be making all efforts possible to relocate quickly and minimize service disruption. If you have image processing requirements during this next month that needs immediate attention please contact us as soon as you know of them. In the meantime, please check our news section for updates on the actual timing of the relocation. Thank you!