Overview
You can import photos directly from your device's camera roll into a Ground App project - without capturing them in the app. The app uses the GPS metadata embedded in each photo to place it in the correct location on your map. Photos without GPS are placed at the crosshair instead.
This works on both exterior maps and interior floor plan levels and supports up to 20 photos per import.
Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| App version | v2.270+ |
| Permissions | Editor or higher on the project |
| Photo limit | 1 - 20 photos per import |
| Supported map types | Exterior maps and interior floor plan levels |
| Device permission required | Camera roll / Photos library access must be granted to the Ground App |
How to upload photos from your camera roll
- Open the project and navigate to the exterior map or interior level where you want to add the photos.
- Position the crosshair over the location you want to use as the default placement point. Any photos without GPS metadata will be placed here.
- Tap the camera roll icon in the bottom capture toolbar.
- Your device's photo library opens. Use the Photos or Collections tab to find the images you want. Select up to 20 photos.
- Tap Select Items (or your device's equivalent confirm button) to proceed.
- A confirmation dialog appears. The message and button options depend on the GPS metadata in your selected photos - see What happens based on GPS metadata below.
- Confirm your import. The app processes the photos and places them on the map.
What happens based on GPS metadata
The Ground App reads the GPS data embedded in each photo at import time. The confirmation dialog adjusts based on what it finds.
All photos have GPS
Every selected photo has usable GPS coordinates.
All photos are placed at their GPS locations on the map.
No photos have GPS
None of the selected photos has usable GPS coordinates.
All photos are placed at the crosshair location. Make sure to position the crosshair before importing.
Some photos have GPS
A mix of photos with and without GPS coordinates.
Import with GPS - GPS photos placed by location; non-GPS photos placed at the crosshair.
Import at crosshair - all photos placed at the crosshair, GPS ignored.
Troubleshooting
I don't see the camera roll icon in the toolbar
Check that you're on a supported app version NEEDS CONFIRM and that you have Editor or higher permissions on the project. The icon appears in the bottom capture toolbar when you're in the map view.
The app is asking for photo library access
The first time you use this feature, iOS will prompt you to allow the Ground App to access your photos. Tap Allow Access to All Photos (or Select Photos to limit access). If you previously denied access, go to Settings → Privacy → Photos → DroneDeploy Ground and update the permission.
My photos aren't appearing at the right location on the map
This usually means the GPS metadata in those photos is missing or inaccurate. Check whether the photos were taken with location services enabled on your device. If not, use Import at crosshair and position the crosshair first, then use Move a media marker to fine-tune individual pin locations after import.
I can only select up to 20 photos
The import limit is 20 photos per batch. To add more, repeat the import process after the first batch finishes processing.
The photos were imported, but I can't find them on the map
If the photos had GPS coordinates from a different location than your current project, the pins may have been placed far from your map view. Zoom out or check the full exterior map to locate them. You can then use Move a media marker to reposition any pins that landed in the wrong place.