REST: Export API

The DroneDeploy REST Export API allows you to programmatically generate and download existing map data exports. This legacy API supports various data layers, including Orthomosaics, Elevation models, and Point Clouds, for seamless integration into your third-party workflows.

DroneDeploy recommends using our more robust GraphQL API for most modern development needs. The REST API is primarily maintained for legacy image transfers.

Availability: Who has access?

• Available for Enterprise subscriptions.

• Access requires an API Key, which Enterprise admins can generate in the Account Preferences section of the DroneDeploy dashboard.

• Specific export formats (e.g., LAS, SHP) depend on your individual or organizational subscription tier.

Before you begin

Before making requests, ensure you have the following:

• Your unique API Key.

• The Plan ID for the specific map you wish to export.

• A clear understanding of the Layer Type and File Format you require.

Exports for a specific plan

POST /v2/exports
Allows you to create an export with a request containing a body with the plan_id and a parameters object structured the way shown below.

{
  "plan_id": "2809195646cfba1719655b85",
  "parameters": {
    "email": ["test@dronedeploy.com", "example@dronedeploy.com"],
    "file_format": "jpg",
    "layer": "Orthomosaic",
    "merge": true,
    "projection": 4326,
    "resolution": 20
  }
}

{
  "plan_id": "2809195646cfba1719655b85",
  "parameters": {
    "email": ["test@dronedeploy.com", "example@dronedeploy.com"],
    "file_format": 'jpg',
    "layer": "Orthomosaic",
    "merge": true,
    "projection": 4326,
    "resolution": 20,
    "webhook": {
        "url": "https://www.webhook.com/exports"
    }
  }
}

• plan_id can be obtained by listing your plans
• email parameter is an array containing the emails that will be notified when the export is finished
• file_format is the file format for the export. Defaults to geotiff.
• layer is the layer type that you would like to export. Defaults to Orthomosaic.
• merge is an option for a single TIFF / JPG or broken into 4096 separate TIFF / JPGs. This value should only be false if the export is unusually large. Defaults to true.
• projection is the EPSG code for the desired projection/coordinate system. Defaults to 4326.
• resolution is the centimeters per pixel for the export where 0 is the maximum resolution. Defaults to 0 centimeters.
• (FOR CONTOUR EXPORTS) A contour_interval property may be specified for contour exports on the parameters object. Refers to the spacing between contours in meters. Defaults to 1 meter.
• (OPTIONAL) A webhook object with a url property may be specified on the parameters object. Refers to custom webhooks to be called when the export object is complete.

Certain file formats can only be exported for certain layer types, as shown by the table below. The string in the parentheses next to the specified layer and file format refers to the values that can be used for the layer and file_format parameters in the parameter object.

Returns JSON - An object containing the ID of the created export.

curl -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST -d '{"plan_id": "2809195646cfba1719655b85", "parameters": {"layer": "Orthomosaic", "projection": 4326, "file_format": "jpg", "merge": true, "resolution": 20, "email": ["test@dronedeploy.com", "example@dronedeploy.com"]}}' "https://public-api.dronedeploy.com/v2/exports/?api_key={api_key}"

{
    "id": "390a149585149e0001208cb2"
}

GET /v2/exports?plan_id=<planid>

• The plan_id can be obtained by listing your plans

Returns JSON - List of all exports and associated metadata and links for the given Plan

curl "https://public-api.dronedeploy.com/v2/exports/?plan_id=5605c0e5752afc005a000004&api_key={api_key}"

[
  {
    "username": "vlad@dronedeploy.com",
    "status": "complete",
    "plan_id": "587c3d9ede30475fde10ec09",
    "parameters": {
      "layer": "Elevation Toolbox",
      "map_id": "587c3f62fd955a00015b7bdf",
      "projection": "4326",
      "file_format": "demtiff",
      "url": "https://tiles_prod.dronedeploy.com/unsafe/smart/filters:dem(45,315,{setting_min},{setting_max},{setting_cmap},{setting_light_intensity}):format(png):crop('{setting_crop_polygon}')/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com/drone.deploy.tiles/{url}/{z}/{x}/{y}.tiff?jwt_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJlbnZpcm9ubWVudCI6InByb2QiLCJ1c2VybmFtZSI6InZsYWRAZHJvbmVkZXBsb3kuY29tIiwiZXhwIjoxNDg3NTI0OTI1fQ.BQur1I_jRVzspIzWWOTgGIwdCuztlGDe3gG_eYG62oPFM-cEQi56jSXKIx5p5cbjk2f7gMBM4QX9GA5nJgF70w",
      "merge": true,
      "env": "prod",
      "resolution": "5",
      "email": [
        "vlad@dronedeploy.com"
      ],
      "view": "588254252a17060001508ede"
    },
    "download_size": 801445.0,
    "download_path": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/drone-deploy-exports/1484537246_WATYAO_CE1OPENPIPELINE/ThaioilMap_ElevationToolbox_FriJan20181720.zip?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAISEWUBLV6Q6M3S3A&Expires=1487528253&Signature=lFmBcmWdNsh3HTfwV0SMEwaETLg%3D",
    "date_creation": 1484936229138,
    "id": "588254252a17060001508edf"
  },
  {
    "username": "vlad@dronedeploy.com",
    "status": "complete",
    "plan_id": "587c3d9ede30475fde10ec09",
    "parameters": {
      "layer": "Orthomosaic",
      "map_id": "587f5631cad8bf000164e122",
      "projection": "4326",
      "file_format": "geotiff",
      "url": "https://tiles_prod.dronedeploy.com/unsafe/smart/filters:crop('{setting_crop_polygon}')/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com/drone.deploy.tiles/{url}/{z}/{x}/{y}.png?jwt_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJlbnZpcm9ubWVudCI6InByb2QiLCJ1c2VybmFtZSI6InZsYWRAZHJvbmVkZXBsb3kuY29tIiwiZXhwIjoxNDg3NTI0OTI1fQ.BQur1I_jRVzspIzWWOTgGIwdCuztlGDe3gG_eYG62oPFM-cEQi56jSXKIx5p5cbjk2f7gMBM4QX9GA5nJgF70w",
      "merge": true,
      "env": "prod",
      "resolution": "5",
      "email": [
        "vlad@dronedeploy.com"
      ],
      "view": "58801fa2d2c0ce00013cadfc"
    },
    "download_size": 344315051.0,
    "download_path": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/drone-deploy-exports/1484693787_HOVERVISIOOPENPIPELINE/MooserCreek61stNtoI44_Orthomosaic_ThuJan19020847.zip?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAISEWUBLV6Q6M3S3A&Expires=1487385701&Signature=rRzjIZWNBSQT0gyOr7sMYnIYsxg%3D",
    "date_creation": 1484791714887,
    "id": "58801fa2f26a3600010f811d"
  }
]

List all exports

GET /v2/exports
In case you simply want to list all exports available in your account, we support the ability to send a GET request to /v2/exports without specifying a plan ID.

Returns JSON - List of all exports and associated metadata for all plans

All requests that return a list of results are paged. To request more, see API Pagination

Export Objects

Exports listed from either of the GET requests described above are returned as a list of JSON objects with the following fields:

• date_creation (Number) The timestamp the export was created
• download_path (String) The full URL of the export
• download_size (Number) The size, in bytes, of the export
• id (String) The export's unique id
• parameters (JSON object) The parameters used to create the export (see above)
• plan_id (String) The unique id of the plan this data was exported from
• status (String) new | processing | complete | failed
• username (String) The email address of user that created the export

{
    date_creation: 1567615744143,
    download_path: "https://exports.dronedeploy.com/5413aeda66_EXAMPLE/ExampleExport.zip",
    download_size: 3000369,
    id: "5d6feb0072cdb100012dd12e",
    parameters: { ... },
    plan_id: "5c7e0140c7e948effb14662c",
    status: "complete",
    username: "example@dronedeploy.com"
}

Limitations

• Redundancy: Avoid repeatedly exporting the same large datasets. Record your export IDs to track existing files.

• Redirects: Programmatic clients must follow HTTP redirects to download files successfully. If using curl, include the --location option.

• Link Expiration: Download links provided in export emails expire after 30 days.

• Subscription Changes: If you recently upgraded your subscription, older maps may require reprocessing to access new export formats. Contact the Support team for assistance.

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 automate exports for all new maps?
A: Yes. If you require a standard export type for every new map created in your organization, contact the Support team to enable this workflow.

Q: Is there a file size limit?
A: Exports can be very large. If you encounter issues with unusually large files, set the merge parameter to false to receive the data in manageable tiles.

v2.2