Overview
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are marked points on the ground with known coordinates that ensure your map aligns with real-world measurements. This guide covers how to use the Smart Uploader to process drone imagery with GCP data.
How to use the Smart Uploader for GCPs
Follow these steps to upload and process your ground control data.
Navigate to the Upload tab of your project and click New Upload.
Drag or choose your images into the Uploader pop-up.
Click the menu button under More Options to the right of your map and select Add GCPs.
Upload your CSV file. If you do not have a formatted file, use the templates available at the bottom of the page. Designate points as checkpoints by including the term "checkpoint" in the GCP Label column.
Verify the coordinate system. If the system is incorrect, select the correct one from the drop-down menu. Ensure your GCPs appear in the correct positions on the map.
Click Start Upload. Keep the browser tab open until the upload finishes.
Tagging workflow
Once the upload completes, a pre-processing phase begins. This usually takes between 15 minutes and a few hours.
Open the email notification stating your GCPs are Ready for Review and click the link.
In the Map View, select each GCP to verify the center is precisely clicked. Ground Control AI automatically locates targets, but you can fine-tune the position manually.
Recommend at least 7 tags per GCP for optimal accuracy.
Click Preview to check the tags one last time.
Click Continue to Processing in the top right corner. You will receive an email when the final map is ready.
Key features
Ground Control AI: Automatically detects and tags GCP targets to streamline the workflow.
Media Markers: GCP locations populate on the completed map as markers within the Map Analysis section.
Project Level GCPs: Save GCP files in Project Settings to reuse them across multiple uploads in the same project.
Limitations
Browser Dependency: You must keep the browser tab open during the initial upload phase.
Merge Constraints: Once GCPs are added to a plan, you cannot merge additional images into that plan.
Manual Overrides: If you use non-conventional targets, the Ground Control AI may require manual tagging.
FAQs
Q: Who receives the GCP tagging emails? A: Both the plan creator and the data uploader receive these notifications by default.
Q: Can I change a GCP to a checkpoint after uploading? A: Yes. You can switch point types during the review process or in the Map View.
Q: What if my CSV has an error? A: Correct the error in your file and re-upload it to the project.
v2.2