How to use a GeoLocation Summary from Geodetics UAV

PIX4Dmapper PIX4Dmapper Questions/Troubleshooting
1

We use a UAV equipped with the Geodetics Point & Pixel system.  This system allows us to accurately geo-tag the photos taken during the flight.  Once the photos are geo-tagged a “GeoLocationSummary.txt” file is created along with the new accurately geotagged photos.  A sample of the GeoLocationSummary looks like this:

 

DSC00957.JPG, 22:18:38.5039, 48.293196955, -116.572120035, 630.722, -140.9275, -2.5646, 131.5318
DSC00958.JPG, 22:18:40.5202, 48.293211194, -116.572098213, 631.192, -138.5756, -2.7195, 132.3664
DSC00959.JPG, 22:18:42.5077, 48.293195626, -116.572117161, 631.425, -139.9435, -3.1159, 132.3749

 

It seems to me this is in the format of FILENAME, GPS TIME, LAT., LONG., ELEV. and then YAW, PITCH, ROLL?

Can we use this .txt to take advantage of “Accurate Geolocation and Orientation”, during Step 1?  When starting a new project, Pix4D reads the EXIF data of the geo-tagged photos, but does not fill in the whole table, just Lat., Long., and Elev.  In “Image Properties” under “Geolocation and Orientation” we try the “From File” option.  This prompts us to tell Pix4D what format the geolocation and orientation file is in.  We have tried several of of the import options.  The result is usually an error from Pix4D expecting a different format.  Can I reformat the information in the “GeoLocationSummary.txt” to a format accepted by Pix4D?

 

 

2

Hello Kristopher,

I am not an expert on the software you mention so I cannot know whether the angles are omega,phi,kappa or yaw,pitch,roll. I guess there should be some documentation or header indicating what is exported.

In order to use that information in Pix4D, there are two ways:

  • The information can be written in the EXIF/XMP tags embedded in the JPEG files and Pix4D will take it automatically when importing the images. If that is the case, you have to use yaw, pitch, roll.

  • A txt file with the precise data can be imported and the geolocation taken from the images will be overwritten. If that is the case, omega, phi, kappa have to be provided. Just click on “From file…” and import it:

1141×526 25.1 KB

 

Please note that when using RTK/PPK systems, the default accuracy (5/10 m) that Pix4D assigns to this data should be changed to a few cm.

The format of the file can be checked here

 

Once everything has been properly imported, you can use the Accurate Geolocation and Orientation pipeline. More information can be found here.

Regards.