Prepare imagery

Importing imagery

ArcGIS Flight supports two methods to import imagery from your drone, wireless import and SD card.

Wireless

Wireless import allows you to transfer images directly onto an iPad from a drone. Use wireless import for a single mission, or for multiple missions with less than 200 total images. To import images wirelessly, follow the steps below:

Note:

Transfer speed is dependent a stable connection between the drone and controller. Ensure the antennas on the controller are in direct line of sight to the drone. The iPad must be connected to the controller during the image transfer.

1. Tap Missions, and tap the Pending tab.

   See Missions to learn more.

2. To select a mission, tap the mission name.

   To select multiple missions, do the following:

   1. Tap the Mission list actions menu.

      See mission list actions to learn more.

   2. Tap Import Images.
   3. Select the missions you want to include from the list of missions.
3. Tap Import Images and select Wireless Import.

   The drone status and total number of images appear. Site Scan users will also see upload options.

4. Ensure that the drone status is Connected, and tap Import.

   If you are a Site Scan user, tap Import & Upload, and do the following:

   1. Turn on Upload to Site Scan After Importing or Quick Upload Copy of Mission to automatically upload imagery to your Site Scan organization.

      Quick Upload Copy of Mission creates a copy of the mission or selected missions and compresses the associated images at the upload stage. Full quality images remain stored in ArcGIS Flight for later upload. Both Upload to Site Scan After Importing and Quick Upload Copy of Mission will start when all imagery has successfully been imported from the selected missions. If the internet connection is inadequate, the upload will not occur, but the images will remain imported in ArcGIS Flight. After the import is complete, the imagery will automatically begin upload to Site Scan. Once the upload is complete, processing will automatically begin in Site Scan.

SD card reader

Use an SD card reader to quickly import multiple missions by following the steps below:

Note:

ArcGIS Flight locates all imagery that corresponds to the selected mission or missions from the connected drone.

1. Remove the SD card from the drone and insert it into an SD card reader that is compatible with the iPad.
2. Connect the SD card reader to the iPad.

   A notification appears when the Apple supported adapter detects that the SD card was inserted.

3. Tap Continue.
4. Tap Missions, and tap the Pending tab.

   See Missions to learn more.

5. Tap on a mission to select it.

   To select multiple missions, do the following:

   1. Tap the Mission list actions menu.

      See mission list actions to learn more.

   2. Tap Import Images.
   3. Select the missions you want to include from the list of missions.
6. Tap Import Images and select Memory Card Import.
7. Navigate to the root folder of the SD card and select Open.
8. Tap Import.

   If you are a Site Scan user, tap Import & Upload, and do the following:

   1. Turn on Upload to Site Scan After Importing or Quick Upload Copy of Mission to automatically upload imagery to your Site Scan organization.

      Quick Upload Copy of Mission creates a copy of the mission or selected missions and compresses the associated images at the upload stage. Full quality images remain stored in ArcGIS Flight for later upload. Both Upload to Site Scan After Importing and Quick Upload Copy of Mission will start when all imagery has successfully been imported from the selected missions. If the internet connection is inadequate, the upload will not occur, but the images will remain imported in ArcGIS Flight. After the import is complete, the imagery will automatically begin upload to Site Scan. Once the upload is complete, processing will automatically begin in Site Scan.

Merge imported missions

You can combine and upload images from multiple missions. To merge multiple imported missions, follow the steps below:

1. Tap Missions, and tap the Imported tab.

   See Missions to learn more.

2. Tap the Mission list actions menu.

   See mission list actions to learn more.

3. Tap Merge Missions.
4. Select the missions you want to merge.

   Checkmarks appear next to the highlighted missions.

5. Tap Merge Missions.

   The New Mission window appears.

6. In the New Mission Name text box, provide the name of the mission.
7. Tap Save.
8. If you are a Site Scan user, tap Upload Images.

Export geospatial log files

ArcGIS Flight can record GPS data and camera orientation during a video flight. This information is stored in a Geospatial Video Log (GVL) file in CSV format. The log file is used to manage, view, and analyze the video. To export geospatial video log files, follow the steps below:

Note:

Raw video files are stored on the drone's SD card as .mov files.

1. Tap Missions, and tap the Pending tab.

   See Missions to learn more. GVL files can also be found in Settings.

2. Tap the Mission actions menu.

   See Mission actions to learn more.

3. Tap Geospatial video logs.

   The Geospatial video logs window appears with a list of captured video logs. The file names include the video name and the date and time for the start of the video file, similar to the following: DJI_0038_YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS_videolog.csv.

4. Tap the Share icon to transfer the video logs to your computer.

Note:

See Use geospatial log files from video flights captured with ArcGIS Flight to learn how to use the Video Multiplexer geoprocessing tool for Full Motion Video in ArcGIS Pro.