Editing the camera model

Drone2Map includes an internal camera database that stores supported cameras and their optimal parameters. When a project is created, Drone2Map reads the EXIF information from the images and applies the appropriate camera model. For cameras not in the internal camera database, Drone2Map attempts to compute the optimal internal camera parameters during processing.

In addition to the internal camera database, Drone2Map includes a user camera database. The user camera database is used to store copies of camera models that have either been created during processing or have been edited by the user. When detecting the camera to be used for processing, Drone2Map will default to the camera model stored in the user camera database, and then fall back to the internal camera database if that model is not found.

Drone2Map allows you to edit existing camera models that are found in either the internal or user camera databases. When a camera is available to edit, the Edit Camera button becomes active. Once the Edit Camera tool is open, there are options to manually edit a camera or import camera parameters from a previous project or an export from the Edit Camera tool.

Once changes are made to the camera model and saved, the new camera model is stored in the user camera database and will be the default camera used for future projects.

By updating the camera parameters and storing them in the user database, Drone2Map skips the internal camera calibration step, therefore speeding up processing.

Edit camera manually

If you have optimized camera parameters that you want to use by default for a specific camera, you can manually enter them using the Edit Camera window.

To edit the camera model values manually, complete the following steps:

1. Create a Drone2Map project and add images.
2. On the Flight Data tab, in the Manage group, click the Edit Camera button .
3. Input the optimized values for the following:
   • Focal length (mm)
   • Principal Point X (mm)
   • Principal Point Y (mm)
   • Radial Distortion R1
   • Radial Distortion R2
   • Radial Distortion R3
   • Tangential Distortion T1
   • Tangential Distortion T2
4. Click Save to add or update the user camera database with your values and keep the edit camera window open or OK to update the user camera database and close the edit camera window.

   If you click Save, the Source text box in the upper right corner of the window changes from Internal Camera Database to Edited. If you clicked OK in the previous step to close the edit camera window, then reopen it, you will notice the source now reads Edited. Edited indicates the changes are saved to the user camera database. In future projects, the camera model will default to the values stored in the user camera database unless the edits are removed.

5. To remove camera edits from the user database, click the Remove camera edits from user database button , then Yes to confirm.

Export camera parameters

If you manually input new camera parameters, you have the option to export the updated values to an external file.

To export your updated camera values, complete the following steps:

1. On the Flight Data tab, in the Manage section, click the Edit Camera button .
2. Import or enter the new values in the appropriate boxes.
3. Click Export.
4. Browse to a location on disk and click Save.

Import camera parameters

The Import tool allows you to import edited camera values from a previous export, or from a completed Drone2Map project.

To import edited camera values, complete the following steps:

1. On the Flight Data tab, in the Manage section, click the Edit Camera button .
2. Click Import.
3. Browse to the camera export file or a Drone2Map project .d2mx file and click OK.

   The edit camera window is updated with the imported values. Optionally, clicking Save will store the updated values in the user database for use in subsequent projects.

Rolling shutter optimization

In a rolling shutter readout, the sensor is exposed and read line by line rather than the entire sensor being exposed at once. This can lead to distortions when capturing fast-moving objects or when capturing the image while moving at a high speed.

The rolling shutter effect becomes significant when flying the drone fast or when flying at a low altitude. In these cases, it is recommended that you use rolling shutter optimization to achieve better results.

To use rolling shutter optimization, complete the following steps:

1. On the Flight Data tab, click the Edit Camera button .
2. Check the Rolling Shutter Optimization check box.
3. Click Save.
4. Verify the Source has changed to Edited.
5. Click OK.