REST: Tile Template API

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The Tile Template API allows you to embed map tiles directly into your own applications. Use this API to fetch and access map tile data from existing DroneDeploy maps, primarily for displaying tiles in external mapping or CAD applications.

Overview

You can request various tile layers through this API, including:

  • 2D orthomosaic

  • Elevation

  • Plant health

  • 3D mesh

  • Point cloud

The API provides template links compatible with Mapbox or Leaflet frameworks.

Availability: Who has access?

  • Enterprise subscriptions * Users with a valid API Key

Getting started

Before using the Tile Template API, you must generate an API key.

  1. Navigate to Account Preferences in the DroneDeploy dashboard.

  2. Click Generate to create a new key.

  3. Click Copy to save the key to your clipboard.

For more details on authentication, see our REST: API Key article.

Get tile templates

To retrieve tile templates for a specific plan, send a GET request to the tiles endpoint. You must obtain a plan_id by first listing your plans using the Plan API.

Request: GET /v2/tiles/{plan_id}

Response Details: The API returns a JSON object containing:

  • Map location data

  • Template links for 2D layers (orthomosaic, crop health, and elevation)

  • Links for tiled 3D layers (mesh and point cloud)

curl "https://public-api.dronedeploy.com/v2/tiles/580fd790d5d264a5d8515a73?api_key={api_key}"
{
"location": {
"lat": 37.771793,
"lng": -122.407400
},
"templates": {
"orthomosaic": "https://public_tiles_test.dronedeploy.com/v1/tiles_images/580fd790d5d264a5d8515a73/orthomosaic/{z}/{x}/{y}?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwibmFtZSI6IkpvaG4gRG9lIiwiYWRtaW4iOnRydWUsImp0aSI6IjBjZmY5YzJkLTg1OTgtNDVjZi05MjRlLWRjNjJmYjkwMDkyNSIsImlhdCI6MTUwMTE5OTkwMywiZXhwIjoxNTAxMjAzNTAzfQ.wTcZ8WjBVeywS0fZELbCXmilJW10k4cUS7iCLnnpioU",
"crop-health": "https://public_tiles_test.dronedeploy.com/v1/tiles_images/580fd790d5d264a5d8515a73/crop-health/{z}/{x}/{y}?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwibmFtZSI6IkpvaG4gRG9lIiwiYWRtaW4iOnRydWUsImp0aSI6IjBjZmY5YzJkLTg1OTgtNDVjZi05MjRlLWRjNjJmYjkwMDkyNSIsImlhdCI6MTUwMTE5OTkwMywiZXhwIjoxNTAxMjAzNTAzfQ.wTcZ8WjBVeywS0fZELbCXmilJW10k4cUS7iCLnnpioU",
"elevation": "https://public_tiles_test.dronedeploy.com/v1/tiles_images/580fd790d5d264a5d8515a73/elevation/{z}/{x}/{y}?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkwIiwibmFtZSI6IkpvaG4gRG9lIiwiYWRtaW4iOnRydWUsImp0aSI6IjBjZmY5YzJkLTg1OTgtNDVjZi05MjRlLWRjNjJmYjkwMDkyNSIsImlhdCI6MTUwMTE5OTkwMywiZXhwIjoxNTAxMjAzNTAzfQ.wTcZ8WjBVeywS0fZELbCXmilJW10k4cUS7iCLnnpioU",
"Tiled 3D Mesh": "https://3d-tiles-test.dronedeploy.com/{map_id}/mesh_tileset/tileset.json?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJhcGlfdGVzdC5kcm9uZWRlcGxveS5jb20iLCJleHAiOjE2NjkyODE5MDcsImlhdCI6MTY2OTEwOTEwNywiYXVkIjoiZHJvbmVkZXBsb3lfM2RfdGlsZXNfdGVzdCIsInN1YiI6IjYyOTA4ZGZiMWJiNTU1ODU1NTdjNzVmYiIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly8zZC10aWxlcy10ZXN0LmRyb25lZGVwbG95LmNvbS82MjkwOGRmYjFiYjU1NTg1NTU3Yzc1ZmIvIn0.q24W1Ild30JAkrcED21oYSusPjQNqiIs5vDk5QRakCeFwyi1JfW4z3Q1KPM4qneApAPzK8U81wJa6WxQVE_zsJYQa6T0ITuCdGfOGrTbTeW0dMqOizecDLVG0UGjeIlDA3F3j63YWiyp6Px9of2XRGaZGdL6HNwWEYnGUhC4ZGIN0og9PCCqbuKcRa77c2sEyA76AHyExqbAsXHkoB4jgOWhOnov_Exjnp34xEWIbjpRRX4pj3oGYu_3WjGDtStKq7fgwjeCPWatQM1NgmTLs4g-whuHBzMpqzkKlgL_yKd15K8-3-hDrDMeffCf4d1-jqGDakzQcBDzvEvP4wow3lJeDnPonppH-27Fql5T8QR3HT6j_njanNqltiXQK7F0CunNN-0flqfqjtv-J-EqwWqqXj3ZRWW0R1cK3qlzI3RCheX1zrWV5pVYR-pJ6refJ34Cbvt0SKwD27jtXn_RKsG1sI-0xNe7VYwrks_u-4XYq7jCAwfR9ksiIRbv768lj6S0jcioUJqFSFUXObyZ506-1",
"Tiled 3D Point Cloud": "https://3d-tiles-test.dronedeploy.com/map_id/point_cloud_tileset/tileset.json?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJhcGlfdGVzdC5kcm9uZWRlcGxveS5jb20iLCJleHAiOjE2NjkyODE5MDcsImlhdCI6MTY2OTEwOTEwNywiYXVkIjoiZHJvbmVkZXBsb3lfM2RfdGlsZXNfdGVzdCIsInN1YiI6IjYyOTA4ZGZiMWJiNTU1ODU1NTdjNzVmYiIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly8zZC10aWxlcy10ZXN0LmRyb25lZGVwbG95LmNvbS82MjkwOGRmYjFiYjU1NTg1NTU3Yzc1ZmIvIn0.q24W1Ild30JAkrcED21oYSusPjQNqiIs5vDk5QRakCeFwyi1JfW4z3Q1KPM4qneApAPzK8U81wJa6WxQVE_zsJYQa6T0ITuCdGfOGrTbTeW0dMqOizecDLVG0UGjeIlDA3F3j63YWiyp6Px9of2XRGaZGdL6HNwWEYnGUhC4ZGIN0og9PCCqbuKcRa77c2sEyA76AHyExqbAsXHkoB4jgOWhOnov_Exjnp34xEWIbjpRRX4pj3oGYu_3WjGDtStKq7fgwjeCPWatQM1NgmTLs4g-whuHBzMpqzkKlgL_yKd15K8-3-hDrDMeffCf4d1-jqGDakzQcBDzvEvP4wow3lJeDnPonppH-27Fql5T8QR3HT6j_njanNqltiXQK7F0CunNN-0flqfqjtv-J-EqwWqqXj3ZRWW0R1cK3qlzI3RCheX1zrWV5pVYR-pJ6refJ34Cbvt0SKwD27jtXn_RKsG1sI-0xNe7VYwrks_u-4XYq7jCAwfR9ksiIRbv768lj6S0jcioUJqFSFUXObyZ506-1"
}
}
Note: 3D Mesh and point cloud Tile layers use the 3D Cesium tile spec.
 
Please check out our API explorer page and our developer page for our new, more robust GraphQL based APIs.

Key features

  • Layer Variety: Access 2D and 3D data formats in a single request.

  • Framework Compatibility: Use these links confidently in applications based on Mapbox or Leaflet.

  • Token Security: 2D layer links include a token with an 18-month expiry.

Limitations

  • 3D Expiry: Links for 3D mesh and point cloud layers have a short 2-day expiry.

  • Legacy Status: This is a REST-based legacy API. DroneDeploy recommends using the GraphQL API for more robust development needs.

FAQs

Q: Does DroneDeploy plan to decommission the REST API? 
A: There are no plans to decommission the REST API at this time.

Q: Can I use these tiles in CAD software? 
A: Yes, the Tiles API is primarily used to display DroneDeploy map tiles in other mapping or CAD applications.

V2.2

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