Getting Started with 3Dsurvey
Importing Images with Telemetry and GCP Orientation
Welcome to 3Dsurvey tutorials.
This tutorial shows how to start your project and demonstrates the workflow from importing images and telemetry files, GCP orientation and geo-referencing, all the way to calculating an orthophoto.
This scenario applies if you’re using images captured by drones, such as C-Astral Bramor, MAVinci Sirius Pro, eBee RTK, or any other telemetry-capable cm-grade accuracy UAS.
Opening a New Project
Launch a New Project
Begin by selecting a new project on the welcome screen.Importing Images
Navigate to your folder, select all images, and click “Open.” In the telemetry importer window, choose your UAV model (e.g., Phantom 4) and select EXIF data if applicable.Coordinate System Selection
Pick your project’s coordinate system and click “Import.” You’ll see a table displaying coordinate and offset data.
Bundle Adjustment
Running the Adjustment
Choose between global or incremental adjustment. For larger datasets, select “Global” and set the highest flight height.Confirm Bundle Completion
After the calculation completes, verify that all images have been bundled and are ready for orientation.
Adding Ground Control Points (GCPs)
Import GCP Data
Load your GCP coordinate file and ensure the correct coordinate systems are set.GCP Selection
Choose at least three ground control points using the right-click function. Double-check selections using the “Next” and “Previous” buttons.Fine-tuning Targets
Adjust target diameter as needed and use the scroll to refine target sizing.
Reconstruction and Orientation Summary
Offset Verification
Check the Telemetry-to-GCP offset, specifically on the Z-axis, to see if adjustments like geoid height inclusion are necessary.Review Estimated Errors
Review the summary table and click “Finish” if errors are satisfactory.
Generating Dense Point Cloud
Setting Reconstruction Parameters
Use a minimum overlap setting of 3. The reconstruction process may take several hours based on data size.Viewing the Point Cloud
Once created, examine your point cloud for accuracy by rotating and panning.
Creating the Digital Surface Model (DSM)
Terrain Classification
Select a terrain point, and 3Dsurvey will automatically classify terrain based on initial parameters.Refining the DSM
Click “Delete Other” to remove non-terrain data and proceed with surface model calculations.
Orthophoto Generation
DSM Calculation
Choose “DSM > Calculate New” with average point calculation settings for smooth results.Calculating the Orthophoto
Go to “DOF > Calculate New” to generate a high-resolution, georeferenced orthophoto.
Conclusion Now you have a complete orthophoto and point cloud! For further customization, check out additional tutorials on volume measurement, contour line creation, and reporting.