# Determine Height of Obstacles in Field
**URL:** https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176
**Category:** Agriculture
**Created:** [May 16, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176 "2024-05-16T15:27:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@fishin85ag](https://community.pix4d.com/u/fishin85ag)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/1 "2024-05-16T15:27:37Z")
In Pix4Dfields is there a means of determining the height of various items in a field (trees, windmills, towers, etc.)? It would be nice to know this for setting RTH and connection route altitudes.
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### Author:  [@Julius\_Petri](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Julius_Petri)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2024, 5:32am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/2 "2024-05-17T05:32:21Z")
Yes you need to use the DSM layer ,there you can place points and you will see the height of the objects ,it works better with the DSM from the Accurate Processing option.
The height of the dsm is the height above the EGM96 Geoid or the Wgs84 elipsoid depending on the drone and if you fly with or without RTK.
So you need to place also a point at your drone take of location and subtract that value from the other values to get the AGL height you need for RTH. But please be careful and double check !
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### Author:  [@fishin85ag](https://community.pix4d.com/u/fishin85ag)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/3 "2024-05-17T21:20:02Z")
Thank you @Julius_Petri. That is exactly what I was looking for.
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### Author:  [@lowaltitude](https://community.pix4d.com/u/lowaltitude)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 10:52am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/4 "2024-06-03T10:52:21Z")
Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a relevant question; is there a way to define and remove layers on the ortho, and then run an index on the required layer?
For example; I only want to see values for plants that are 1m or over in height. By creating a layer of ‘things’ below 1m, I can completely remove them from the orthomosaic and when I run a vegetation index, all of the not-required vegetation is removed and it will not effect the index values. I know I would need to use the DSM as a starting point!
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### Author:  [@Julius\_Petri](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Julius_Petri)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2024, 11:25am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/5 "2024-06-03T11:25:57Z")
Hi,
if your field is flat, you can use thresholding via the histogram and then select the visible parts of the DSM with the Magic Tool. The annotation from the MagicTool could then be used to trim your index layer.
If you field is sloped you would need a baseline elevation to subtract from the DSM, that can only be done outside of PIX4Dfields with QGIS for now.
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### Author:  [@harry](https://community.pix4d.com/u/harry)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2024, 8:57am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/6 "2024-09-09T08:57:01Z")
As a further question is it possible to export the DSM layer as a single band file?
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### Author:  [@Julius\_Petri](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Julius_Petri)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/7 "2024-09-09T12:43:28Z")
Yes if you export via Export (Top Right) → Layers and Select .data.tif
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### Author:  [@harry](https://community.pix4d.com/u/harry)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/8 "2024-09-10T16:35:00Z")
Appericiate that, but doesn’t that still export all the bands?
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### Author:  [@Julius\_Petri](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Julius_Petri)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2024, 11:31am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/9 "2024-09-11T11:31:25Z")
Not if you select the DSM layer to be exported. This will be a single band geotiff.
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### Author:  [@harry](https://community.pix4d.com/u/harry)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2024, 12:44pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/10 "2024-10-28T12:44:59Z")
Hi Julius,
Sorry getting back to this, where can that be found based on your previous screencap?
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### Author:  [@Julius\_Petri](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Julius_Petri)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/11 "2024-10-28T14:29:22Z")
Here is how to get there:
Export (Top right) → Layers → Select the DSM (on the right sidebar) → Export as \*.data.tif
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### Author:  [@harry](https://community.pix4d.com/u/harry)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/12 "2024-10-28T14:46:05Z")
Thanks Julius, last question would be can you generate a DTM file as well or will that have to be done with other software?
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### Author:  [@Julius\_Petri](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Julius_Petri)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/determine-height-of-obstacles-in-field/30176/13 "2024-10-28T14:50:54Z")
PIX4Dfields can only generate a DSM.
For DTM you would need PIX4Dsurvey or PIX4Dmapper or a 3rd party tool.