Skip to content
Week 13 - Processing UAS Data with Drone2Map
This lab focused on processing previously collected UAS imagery using Esri’s Drone2Map software to generate standard mapping products. Using Mavic 2 Pro imagery collected earlier in the semester, the goal was to move from raw images to finished raster products that could later be used for analysis and cartographic layout.
The imagery was imported into Drone2Map using the 2D Products processing template. After image alignment and dense matching, elevation and imagery products were generated and reviewed directly within the software. Once processing was complete, the outputs were opened in ArcGIS Pro for visualization and map creation.
One of the main products created was a Digital Terrain Model (DTM). This map represents the bare-earth surface by removing objects such as vegetation and buildings, which made subtle terrain changes across the Turf Farm easier to see.
Figure 1. Shaded Digital Terrain Model (DTM) with transparent DTM overlay
A Digital Surface Model (DSM) was also generated from the same imagery. Unlike the DTM, this product includes buildings, trees, and other objects, making it useful for visualizing surface features and height differences across the site.
Figure 2. Shaded Digital Surface Model (DSM)
The final product created was an orthomosaic map. This raster provided a true-to-scale aerial image of the area and was used to evaluate image quality across different surfaces. Flat areas such as paved lots and grass fields appeared sharper, while areas with vegetation and building edges showed reduced quality.
Figure 3. Orthomosaic map with detailed inset views
Overall, this lab demonstrated the full workflow of processing UAS imagery in Drone2Map and highlighted how different raster products represent the same area in different ways depending on whether surface objects are included or removed.
Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ··· in the right corner or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.