Overview
Use the Overlay tool to import, overlay, and view design plans against your orthomosaic maps in DroneDeploy. Overlays help you plan and analyze your maps, visualize design surfaces for cut and fill functionality, and import data from integrations such as Procore and ACC.
Availability: Who has access?
Exterior Overlays are available to all DroneDeploy users
Specific integration overlays (e.g., Procore, ACC) may require an Enterprise add-on subscription.
Supported overlay formats
| File Type | Visible Location | Use-Case | Subscription Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | 2D | Design plan, Site maps | Individual, Enterprise |
| 2D | Design plan, Site maps | Individual, Enterprise | |
| Shapefile (lines and polygons) | 2D | Design plan, Site maps, Contours | Individual, Enterprise |
| DXF | 2D, 3D | Design plan, Cut, Fill, and Volume Analysis | Enterprise |
| IFC | 3D | Design Analysis and Comparison | Enterprise |
| GeoTIFF | 2D, 3D | Cut, Fill, and Volume Analysis | Enterprise |
| XML | 2D, 3D | Cut, Fill, and Volume Analysis | Enterprise |
| Web Layer | 2D | Feature, Map, and Tile Layers | Enterprise |
How to add an overlay to your map
Follow these steps to add a design plan or utility map to your project:
-
Access the Overlay tool.
From the Explore tab, click the + option in the Overlays section. You can also add files directly from the Overlays panel.
-
Select the file source.
Choose the file type from the pop-up window for local files.
-
Align and process the file.
For non-georeferenced files (PNG, PDF), align the file to your site using the provided alignment tools immediately after the upload.
For georeferenced files, the system begins processing automatically. You will receive an email once the overlay completes processing.
The system organizes all files in the Overlays tab in the left panel. Use this panel to create overlay folders, toggle layers on and off, rename files, and change layer colors.
EPSG code selection
Setting the EPSG code for uploaded design files—including DXF, GeoTIFF, and XML—ensures accurate alignment with your map.
Set the desired coordinate system for the project and all future uploaded design files in Project Settings.
Upload a design file from the Add Overlays menu.
Uploaded design surfaces inherit the EPSG code set in Project Settings. If you do not set an EPSG code, the system uses the file's native coordinate system or infers the best system based on the project location.
Limitations
The map viewer does not support rotating or moving PDF files after they are processed.
PDFs are initially rasterized at low resolution for positioning. A high-resolution version replaces it once background processing finishes.
Shapefiles for overlays must contain lines or polygons. Point shapefiles are not accepted.
FAQs
Q: Does the overlay appear for all project members? A: Yes, anyone with access to the project can see the enabled overlays.
Q: Can I use an overlay in multiple projects? A: Yes. You can save a layer at the organization level to make it available across multiple projects.
Q: What should I do if my PDF appears faded? A: If the high-resolution PDF looks faded, try converting and uploading the file as a PNG.
Related Articles:
- Uploading and Aligning PNG and PDFs
- Uploading Design Files for Cut/Fill (DXF, TIFF, XMLs)
- Upload a 3D DXF for Visualization & Cut/Fill analysis
- ESRI Web Layers
- Uploading Custom Web Overlays