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ArcGIS & Pix4D - Ground Control Points & 3D Model Rendering - Oct. 27th, 2025

Overview

ArcGIS Earth, and software like Pix4D, are essential to utilize in conjunction with drones. Incorporating these into the normal workflow can help create a better mission flow and more well-rounded deliverable at the end of the day. During this lab, learning the applications of these tools, really helped me understand a little bit more of what is actually out there as a resource. I’m excited to continue to become more involved and versed in software packages like these to make me more well-rounded!

Data Collected

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Skydio (S2+) - 3D Object Scanning - Sept. 16th, 2025⁠

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ArcGIS

Overview

The basis of utilizing this software was to get an understanding of GCP placement within a given area, and how it correlates to the entire data set. Once we created the boundary and GCP’s in ArcGIS, we exported it as a file to the mobile app and walked it in person. Find the points based on GPS was very interesting because it would shift depending on when you took the point. This was a great lesson to learn for future flight or processing techniques in the future.

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Fig. #1: Project Creation

Fig. #1: Project Creation

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Fig. #2: Boundary & GCP Layers

Fig. #2: Boundary & GCP Layers

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Fig. #3: Finalized Map

Fig. #3: Finalized Map

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Fig. #4: Example Real World GCP

Fig. #4: Example Real World GCP

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Fig. #5: Example Real World GCP

Fig. #5: Example Real World GCP

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Fig. #6: Real World GCP & Boundary Placement

Fig. #6: Real World GCP & Boundary Placement

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Pix4D

Overview

This software is currently the most popular when it comes to constructing general point clouds from data sets. The generated information that is gathered after the initial processing number of calibrated images, number of tie points, and reprojection error. This is important because it provides the basis for all subsequent processing, so that if the initial processing fails or is incomplete, things like the point cloud, DSM, orthomosaic will fail. Below you will find a light pole and car that was scanned and the process the software takes to finalize a particular model.