Introduction
Project Administrators and Account Administrators can upload stitched drone 360° panoramas directly to a project through the Project Admin Center. Uploading through the Project Admin Center processes drone captures faster than the standard processing path. Once uploaded, the panoramas are auto-aligned and appear in the project's Capture viewer and SiteView.
Note: Uploading drone 360° panoramas through the Project Admin Center requires a Unified license and Project Administrator or Account Administrator permission.
Note: 360° panoramas must be stitched before uploading. Supported file formats are .jpeg and .tiff. Most drone flight apps stitch the panoramas on the mobile device during capture. See the FAQ for stitching software options.
Upload Drone 360° Panoramas
- Log in to your CupixWorks account and open the Project Admin Center.
- Select the Capture tab, then click New Capture.
- Select the date the drone capture was performed, then click Save.
- Double-click the newly created capture date.
- Click Upload 360° Files.
- Add an Area name (optional), then click Next.
- Select the level to upload the images to, then click Next.
- Click Upload 360° photos for auto-alignment.
- Click Add Files to choose your 360° image files in the file explorer, or drag and drop the files, then click Next.
- Confirm the details, then click Submit.
The files upload to the system for processing. You can track progress under the Processing Status column.
FAQ
How long does it take for drone captures to appear in a project's SiteView?
Processing takes 48 hours or less on average. Uploads submitted over weekends and holidays may take longer. For faster processing, use the admin upload method described above.
My drone doesn't automatically stitch the 360° panoramas. What software can I use to stitch them?
PTGui Pro (batch processing and image enhancement) and DJI Media Maker (free) are two options. Most drone flight apps stitch the panoramas on the mobile device during capture.
Can I capture indoor 360° panoramas with a drone and upload them to my project?
Yes.
Can I attach a 360° camera to a drone to perform a Cupix capture instead of walking?
No. Cupix does not support drone-mounted 360° cameras. Use the drone's native onboard camera for aerial captures. 360° cameras are for ground-based walking captures only.
I have a DJI Air series drone. Is the Insta360 Sphere camera supported for Cupix video captures?
Yes. Contact Cupix Support to confirm your setup before purchasing.
Will aerial 360° panoramas create a 3D dollhouse like indoor or ground-level Cupix captures?
No.
Can I take measurements from aerial 360° panoramas?
No. You can take measurements on 2D orthomosaics in the Plan viewer, but not on aerial 360° panoramas in the Capture viewer.
Can Cupix ingest aerial 360° panoramas from drones that are not listed as supported?
Most likely, yes. Contact Cupix Support to confirm. Refer to the Supported Drones for SkyMap article for the current list of supported drones.
Do I need to be an FAA-certified drone pilot (Part 107) to capture drone data?
Yes. For commercial operations, the FAA requires pilots to follow Part 107 guidelines, which include passing the knowledge exam to become certified. Refer to the FAA Part 107 resources for details.
Note: Cupix advocates full compliance with all local, state, and federal guidelines, regulations, and laws concerning commercial drone operations.
Related Articles
- Upload Drone Photos for SkyMap
- Supported Drones for SkyMap
- Drone Capture Best Practices for SkyMap
- SkyMap Overview