The first step is to create a project and upload your drone images for cloud processing.
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Create a new project or open an existing one.
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Go to the Cloud Processing page in the project.
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Select the correct coordinate system for the project and optionally a geoid model if it should be used.

Cloud processing can be performed using coordinate systems in:

If you need to use coordinate systems for other countries, contact SkyMap support.

For projects in Sweden, select the correct SWEREF coordinate system and optional geoid model if this has not already been configured under Settings.
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The height system will be the same as the one used for your measured ground control points (usually RH2000 in Sweden). It is important that the coordinate system and height system are correct for the final result to be accurate.
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Click New Cloud Processing to create a new upload of drone images.
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When the page for a new cloud processing job opens, you can choose between the following packages:
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Generates:

The result becomes available in SkyView.

You can also add a GCP file containing coordinates for measured ground control points. The GCP file can also be imported later in the process.
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Generates:

The result becomes available in SkyView.

You can also add a GCP file containing coordinates for measured ground control points.
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Generates:

The result becomes available in SkyView.
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Generates:

Premium provides a more detailed and visually enhanced 3D model, especially at higher zoom levels.
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The following is also included:

You can also add a GCP file containing coordinates for measured ground control points.
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Confirm that you accept the charges and click Select under the desired package.

Here you will find the Swedish standard price list for cloud processing.

Here you can enter information about the flight and configure advanced settings.
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Enter a name or description for the flight.
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The text entered here will be displayed as the cloud processing name in the list, as well as a description in the timeline in SkyView.
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The text can also be changed later under Timeline in the project.
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If you want to change the name shown in the list of cloud processing jobs, this is done in the Inspect and Manage Cloud Processing view.

A suggested value of 0.02 gives a pixel size of 2 × 2 cm for the TIF file. For smaller areas of approximately 2 hectares, the file size is usually manageable in most third-party applications.
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For larger areas, 0.08 (pixel size 8 × 8 cm) is commonly used as a standard that most applications, such as Autodesk Civil 3D, can handle efficiently.
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The lower the value you enter here, the larger the orthophoto file size becomes. This can be important when using the orthophoto in certain applications.

Enable this option if the images were captured using a rolling shutter camera.
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If you are unsure, we recommend leaving this option disabled.

If you have selected the Premium package, you can specify the maximum number of triangles for the OBJ export.
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The higher the value:

This setting only affects the exported file and does not affect the result shown in SkyView.

By default, this feature is disabled.
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When the feature is disabled:

When the feature is enabled, you can:

By default, this feature is disabled.

If the option is enabled:

Here you can add a GCP file containing coordinates for measured Ground Control Points (GCPs).

These points are later used to connect the ground control points to corresponding positions in the flight images, improving the accuracy of the final generated data.

Select Choose files or drag and drop the file into the dialog.

If the columns are interpreted incorrectly during import, you can easily remap them in the import dialog.

If you do not have a GCP file, you can:

The Orthophoto package does not include this step.

If you want to limit which area should be included in the result, you can upload one or more georeferenced boundary polygons.

The following file formats are supported:

Boundary polygons only affect the final result and not the actual calculation.

If you want to use inner or outer boundary polygons, this is configured later during the GCP adjustment.

Select Choose files or drag and drop the polygons into the dialog.

Here you select the images that should be uploaded for the cloud processing.

Select Choose files or drag and drop the images into the dialog.

Processing time depends on:

As a guideline, an upload containing approximately 200 images normally takes around 40 minutes to process.

Here you can select additional add-ons for the cloud processing.

Here you can find the standard price list for add-ons:
​Standard price list for cloud processing

Generates a terrain model in DXF format based on the classified point cloud.

The terrain model is generated using AI and may contain deviations. Contact SkyMap support if you require manual quality control.

The terrain model automatically becomes available in SkyView.

Save time by letting SkyMap’s partner perform the GCP adjustment for you.

You only need to:

When the work is completed, you will receive a confirmation by email and the result will become available in SkyView.

You can also perform the GCP adjustment yourself using AI assistance.

The system creates AI-estimated marker positions that you:

The image below shows examples of ground control points and how the AI handles these markings.

In Step 2, we read a file containing coordinates for surveyed ground control points, also known as Ground Control Points. These points will later be matched to corresponding points in the aerial images to increase the accuracy of the generated data.
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If you don't have a GCP file, you can proceed directly to step 5.

When the images have been uploaded and prepared, you will receive an email containing a link to the GCP adjustment page.

You can also open the page by clicking the drone icon next to the cloud processing job in the list.

If you have uploaded boundary polygons, they are displayed:

You can:

Click:

Upload the GCP file using the Upload GCP File icon under the GCP section.

If the file was already uploaded in step 1, the points are displayed automatically.

Select a CSV file containing coordinates for your ground control points.

The coordinates in the GCP file must use the same coordinate system as the project.

Example:

When the file is imported, the Map columns dialog is displayed.

Here you can:

This is useful if, for example, the N and E coordinates have been placed in the wrong order.

Example of a correctly formatted GCP file.​
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When the file has been imported, the following will be displayed:

You are now ready to start placing markers.

If the GCP file was imported incorrectly, you can:

All associated markers will then also be removed.

Once the file has been imported, information about your ground control points will be displayed in the GCP section on the right side and represented as pink points with corresponding names in the overview.

You are now ready to place your first markers and perform your first optimization.

Once the GCP file has been imported, you can match the first ground control points with the images.

This is done by placing markers in the form of crosses in the images. This improves the accuracy of the final generated data.

Initially, you need to place at least 3–4 markers for 3–4 of the GCP points.

After the first markers have been placed manually, the Optimize function can automatically estimate the positions of the remaining markers, simplifying the remaining GCP adjustment work.

Start by selecting 3–4 GCP points, preferably in the outer corners of the area.

This makes it easier for the system to estimate the positions of the remaining points.

If you use AI-assisted marker estimation, you can instead start by reviewing and accepting the AI suggestions, which will be explained later.

Select a GCP point by:

Click an image close to the GCP point to find a photo containing the ground control point.

Locate the ground control point in the image.

You can:

If the image is blurry, you can disable it using the Disable photo button.

There are also functions for:

If the system has found estimated markers during the initial alignment, blue markers will be displayed. These are estimated positions for the GCP points that need to be confirmed or adjusted if necessary.

You can also press the spacebar to toggle between attached and detached markers if the estimation is sufficiently accurate.

If the marker needs adjustment, left-click in the center of the cross to place the marker (green).

The image below shows an example of a correctly placed marker.

You can attach a marker by:

You can remove a marker by:

When using AI-assisted marker placement, a yellow cross with the text Suggestion is displayed.

To accept the suggestion:

The marker will then turn green and be marked as accepted.

Note that the image where you placed a marker is also displayed in the marker list on the right under the Markers section.

Using the Next button in the image view, you can quickly navigate to the next suggested image based on the viewing angle in order to create a good spread, which affects the deviation values.

You can also use:

to switch between images.

You can return to the overview at any time by:

Place markers in at least three images for the same GCP point.

Repeat the process for additional GCP points.

If you are using AI-assisted marker placement, it is recommended to accept approximately 6–8 markers per point.

Repeat the process of placing at least three markers for the remaining GCP points as well.

If you are using AI estimation, you do not need to run optimization immediately and can instead proceed directly to accepting 6–8 markers per GCP point.

Once you have placed at least three markers for all corner points, you can click the Optimize button to start the optimization.

When you click Optimize, the system attempts to find a common geometry between:

You can view the sparse point cloud by switching the view in the horizontal toolbar to Perspective View.

This view can be useful for previewing the data before starting the processing.

The optimization uses the coordinates of the markers you have already placed to automatically estimate approximate positions for the remaining markers in all images.

While the optimization is running, the GCP adjustment page remains open, but no changes can be made.

The optimization time may vary, but it normally takes only a few minutes.

You can follow the optimization status in the lower-left corner of the screen.

When the optimization is complete, deviation values are displayed in the list on the right under the GCP section for the points where markers have been placed.

The deviation values show the difference between:

Blue flags will also appear in the list on the right, representing estimated marker positions.

If no deviation values are displayed, it means that the image alignment may have failed.

In that case:

There are also more advanced functions available.

Under the Images section, you can choose whether RTK data should be used for the photos.

This function is only available for photos that contain stored GPS data.

Using the selection column together with the Update images icon, you can access the option to disable GPS positioning.

You can also disable GPS positioning directly when viewing a photo in the overview.

Under the Images section, you can also:

The Markers section lists all photos together with:

Under the Legends section, you can choose which information should be displayed for all images in the overview, such as:

Also note that some images in the overview are displayed in blue or green to indicate which images contain markers.

Depending on which GCP point is selected, a network connected to the GCP point is displayed, showing:

You have now completed step 3.

In step 4, the goal is to place markers in additional images.

If step 3 was successful, you should now have several images containing blue markers. These blue markers are estimated positions for the GCP points that need to be confirmed and adjusted if necessary.

The goal is for each GCP point to have 6–8 green markers when this step is completed.

Select one of the GCP points under the GCP section to filter the Markers section to only show images containing markers for the selected GCP point.

The images contain either:

Select an image in the overview containing a blue cross or select an image from the Markers section, then zoom in on the ground control point.

Adjust the marker if necessary by left-clicking to place it correctly, or press the spacebar to confirm the position.

When the marker is confirmed, it is displayed as a green cross.

You can also press the spacebar again to toggle between confirmed and unconfirmed status.

To completely remove a marker:

If you are using AI estimation, right-click and select either:

On some computers, you may need to enable or disable “FN Lock” in order to use the Page Up and Page Down keys.

Press Page Down to move to the next image, or click the next image in the list.

The image view automatically remembers your zoom level while the filter tool is active.

Adjust or confirm the marker positions.

Continue by selecting the next GCP point and repeat the GCP adjustment process for that point as well.

Repeat the procedure for all remaining GCP points.

When each GCP point has 6–8 markers, the GCP adjustment is complete.

If you have many GCP points and do not want to mark all of them, we recommend marking each GCP point several times (at least 5) in multiple images rather than marking many GCP points in only a few images.

When all markers have been placed, run the optimization one more time and then review the deviation column in the GCP list.

In general, you want the deviation values to be as low as possible. Values below 0.025 (2.5 cm) are generally considered good.

If you click the Column options icon under the GCP section, you can display additional columns to view more detailed deviation information.

If the value is very high, for example 0.1 or higher, this may indicate that:

If the value cannot be reduced further, it is recommended to remove all markers for that GCP point and exclude it from the adjustment.

If the value is extremely low, for example 0.003 or lower, this may indicate that too few markers have been placed for the GCP point.

For example, if only one marker is placed for a point, there is no margin of error to calculate because there is only a single marker available for comparison.

Once you are satisfied with the deviation values and have placed the desired number of markers, you can start the processing that generates data for SkyView.

Click Start process.

After confirming the process in the dialog window, the data will be generated for SkyView. Depending on the selected processing package, this may include:

Once the processing has started, you can close the dialog and continue working elsewhere in the system.

You can follow the status of the ongoing processing on the project’s Cloud Processing page.

When the processing is complete, you will receive an email containing a direct link to SkyView.

On the Cloud Processing page, you can:

Currently, point clouds can be exported in:

Orthophotos can be exported in:

The 3D model, point cloud, and orthophoto are automatically created in a new timeline based on the date the images were captured.

On the Cloud Processing page, you can export project data.

To export the flight accuracy report, click Export report.

The report contains information such as:

The report is important for evaluating the accuracy of the model data in SkyView.

Text file containing the measured ground control points used for the flight.

Original images used during the upload.

The file used to limit the processing result.

Georeferenced point cloud (*.las).

Compressed georeferenced point cloud (*.laz).

The Sparse Point Cloud add-on that can be selected during cloud processing. The exported file format depends on the selected settings.

3D model in Cesium 3D Tiles format (*.zip). The visualization is automatically linked to a timeline during the cloud processing.

The Ground add-on that can be selected during cloud processing (*.dxf, *.laz, or *.las).

3D model of the flight (*.obj). Only available with the Premium package.

Orthophoto of the flight (*.tif) using the selected GSD value.

Transformation file associated with the TIF file using the selected GSD value.

Orthophoto of the flight with GSD 0.1 (*.tif).

Transformation file associated with the TIF file using GSD 0.1.