365Mesh DTStudio User Guide
Getting Started
Welcome to 365Mesh DTStudio! This guide will help you get started with photogrammetry and 3D reconstruction.
What is 365Mesh DTStudio?
365Mesh DTStudio is a user-friendly, web-based application for processing aerial drone imagery into 3D models, point clouds, and orthophotos. It's built on top of OpenDroneMap, an open-source photogrammetry toolkit.
Prerequisites
- Aerial drone images (typically 70-80% overlap)
- Images should be in JPG, PNG, or TIFF format
- GPS coordinates in image metadata (EXIF) are recommended
- Web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
Projects
Projects are the main organizational unit in 365Mesh DTStudio. Each project can contain multiple tasks and helps you organize your photogrammetry work.
Creating a Project
- Click the "New Project" button on the dashboard
- Enter a descriptive name for your project
- Optionally add a description
- Click "Create Project"
Project Settings
- Name: A descriptive name for your project
- Description: Additional details about the project
- Public: Make the project accessible to anyone with the link
- Permissions: Control who can view and edit the project
Tasks
Tasks represent individual processing jobs within a project. Each task processes a set of images to create 3D models and other outputs.
What is a Task?
A task is a single processing run within a project. This is where you upload a specific set of drone images, set options, and launch the generation of 3D models, maps, and measurements.
- A task is like clicking "Process" for one dataset
- You can create multiple tasks in a project to try different settings or dates
- Each task can have different processing parameters and options
Creating a Task
- Navigate to your project
- Click "New Task"
- Press the "Select Images and GCP" button, or drag and drop some images into a project
- Configure processing options
- Click "Create Task"
Image Requirements
- Minimum Images: You need at least 5 images, but 16-32 is typically the minimum
- Overlap: Images must overlap by 65% or more. Aim for 70-72%
- 3D Quality: For great 3D, images must overlap by 83%
- GCP File: Optional, but can increase georeferencing accuracy
- Format: JPG, PNG, or TIFF
- Resolution: Higher resolution = better quality results
- GPS: EXIF GPS coordinates improve accuracy
Task Parameters
When starting a task, you can choose from several processing options to customize your results. You can leave most settings as default and still get great results.
Core Processing Options
- Fast Orthophoto: Quick preview generation (faster but lower quality)
- 3D Model: Enable generation of a full textured 3D mesh
- DTM/DSM: Choose whether to create Digital Terrain or Surface Models
- Contours: Generate elevation contour lines
- Crop Area: Limit processing to a drawn or uploaded boundary
- Use GCPs: (If provided) Align outputs to survey-grade control points
Advanced Parameters
| Parameter | Type / Input | Example / Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
3d-tiles |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Generates 3D Tiles output for Cesium viewers |
auto-boundary |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Automatically defines the area of interest |
auto-boundary-distance |
Positive float | 0 | Distance buffer around the computed boundary |
bg-removal |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Removes background (e.g., sky) from images |
boundary |
JSON file | No file chosen | Custom boundary file for processing area |
camera-lens |
Dropdown | auto | Type of lens used in camera (auto, perspective, fisheye, etc.) |
cameras |
JSON file | No file chosen | Camera calibration file |
crop |
Positive float | 3 | Crops the orthophoto edges by specified pixel count |
dem-decimation |
Positive integer | 1 | Reduces DEM resolution by averaging pixels |
dem-euclidean-map |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Generates Euclidean distance map |
dem-gapfill-steps |
Positive integer | 3 | Number of steps for DEM gap filling |
dem-resolution |
Float | 5 | Resolution of generated DEM in cm/pixel |
dsm |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Generates DSM (Digital Surface Model) |
dtm |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Generates DTM (Digital Terrain Model) |
end-with |
String | odm_postprocess | Processing stage to end at |
fast-orthophoto |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Quick orthophoto generation (lower quality) |
feature-quality |
Dropdown | high | Quality of feature detection |
feature-type |
Dropdown | dspsift | Type of feature detection algorithm |
force-gps |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Force use of GPS data even if inaccurate |
gps-accuracy |
Positive float | 3 | Estimated GPS accuracy in meters |
gps-z-offset |
Float | 0 | GPS Z-axis offset correction |
ignore-gsd |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Ignore ground sampling distance calculations |
matcher-neighbors |
Positive integer | 0 | Number of neighbors for feature matching |
matcher-order |
Positive integer | 0 | Order of feature matching |
matcher-type |
Dropdown | flann | Type of feature matcher |
max-concurrency |
Positive integer | 8 | Maximum number of concurrent processes |
merge |
Dropdown | all | Merge strategy for multiple datasets |
mesh-octree-depth |
Integer (1–14) | 11 | Level of detail for mesh reconstruction |
mesh-size |
Positive integer | 200000 | Maximum mesh size in triangles |
min-num-features |
Integer | 10000 | Minimum number of features required |
no-gpu |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Disable GPU acceleration |
optimize-disk-space |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Optimize disk space usage during processing |
orthophoto-cutline |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Generate orthophoto cutline |
orthophoto-resolution |
Float > 0 | 5 | Resolution of orthophoto in cm/pixel |
pc-classify |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Classifies point cloud into ground/non-ground |
pc-filter |
Positive float | 5 | Point cloud filtering threshold |
pc-quality |
Dropdown | high | Quality of point cloud reconstruction |
pc-rectify |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Rectify point cloud |
pc-sample |
Positive float | 0 | Point cloud sampling rate |
pc-skip-geometric |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Skip geometric point cloud filtering |
primary-band |
String | auto | Primary band for processing |
radiometric-calibration |
Dropdown | none | Radiometric calibration method |
rerun-from |
String | - | Processing stage to restart from |
rolling-shutter |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Enable rolling shutter correction |
rolling-shutter-readout |
Positive integer | 0 | Rolling shutter readout time |
sfm-algorithm |
Dropdown | incremental | Structure-from-Motion algorithm used |
sfm-no-partial |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Disable partial SfM reconstruction |
skip-3dmodel |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Skip 3D model generation |
skip-band-alignment |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Skip band alignment |
skip-orthophoto |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Skips orthophoto generation step |
skip-report |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Skip report generation |
sky-removal |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Remove sky from images |
sm-cluster |
String | None | Simple Morphological Filter cluster |
sm-no-align |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Skip SMRF alignment |
smrf-scalar |
Positive float | 1.25 | SMRF scalar parameter |
smrf-slope |
Positive float | 0.15 | SMRF slope parameter |
smrf-threshold |
Positive float | 0.5 | SMRF threshold parameter |
smrf-window |
Positive float | 18 | SMRF window parameter |
split |
Positive integer | 999999 | Split processing into chunks |
split-overlap |
Positive integer | 150 | Overlap between split chunks |
texturing-keep-unseen-faces |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Keep unseen faces during texturing |
texturing-single-material |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Use single material for texturing |
texturing-skip-global-seam-leveling |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Skip global seam leveling |
tiles |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Generates tiled map outputs |
use-3dmesh |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Use 3D mesh for processing |
use-exif |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Use EXIF data from images |
use-fixed-camera-params |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Use fixed camera parameters |
use-hybrid-bundle-adjustment |
Enable (Checkbox) | Checked / Unchecked | Use hybrid bundle adjustment |
video-limit |
Positive integer | 500 | Number of frames to extract from input video |
video-resolution |
Positive integer | 4000 | Maximum video resolution for processing |
Processing
Once you create a task, 365Mesh DTStudio will process your images using various photogrammetry algorithms.
Processing Pipeline
- Feature Detection: Identifies key points in images
- Feature Matching: Matches points between overlapping images
- Structure from Motion: Reconstructs camera positions
- Dense Reconstruction: Creates dense point clouds
- Mesh Generation: Generates 3D surface models
- Texture Mapping: Applies image textures to models
Processing Options
- Quality: Fast, Medium, High, or Ultra
- Feature Quality: Low, Medium, or High
- Mesh Octree Depth: Controls mesh detail level
- Orthophoto Resolution: Output resolution for orthophotos
Viewing Results
After processing completes, you can view and explore your results in various formats.
Available Outputs
- 3D Models: Interactive 3D mesh models
- Point Clouds: Dense point cloud data
- Orthophotos: Georeferenced aerial imagery
- Digital Elevation Models: Height data
- Reports: Processing statistics and quality metrics
Navigation Controls
- Mouse: Rotate, pan, and zoom
- Touch: Pinch to zoom, drag to rotate
- Keyboard: Arrow keys for rotation, +/- for zoom
Output Artifacts
After processing a task, 365Mesh DTStudio provides several downloadable results that you can use for analysis, reporting, or further processing.
Downloadable Results
- Orthophoto (GeoTIFF): A high-resolution, top-down photo map
- 3D Model (OBJ/PLY): A textured 3D surface of the area
- DSM / DTM: Elevation maps of the surface or terrain
- Contours: Vector lines representing elevation levels
- PDF Report: Summary of processing and image statistics
- Point Cloud: A dense set of 3D points representing the scene
File Formats
- Raster: GeoTIFF, PNG, JPG for orthophotos and elevation models
- Vector: GeoJSON, Shapefile for contours and boundaries
- 3D: OBJ, PLY, LAS for 3D models and point clouds
- Reports: PDF for processing summaries and statistics
3D Models
3D models are one of the primary outputs of 365Mesh DTStudio processing.
Model Types
- Mesh Models: Surface models with textures
- Point Clouds: Dense point representations
- Wireframe: Simplified structural models
Model Controls
- View Modes: Switch between different rendering modes
- Layers: Toggle different model components
- Measurements: Take distance and area measurements
- Annotations: Add notes and markers
DTStudio Viewer
365Mesh DTStudio includes an interactive 3D viewer called DTStudio Viewer, built into each task. This lets you explore your data in three dimensions with powerful visualization tools.
What Can You Do with DTStudio Viewer?
- Navigate in 3D: Zoom, rotate, and fly through your data
- Measure: Distances, areas, and volumes directly on the 3D surface
- Visualize contours: See elevation changes and terrain features
- Switch views: Top, Side, Perspective orientations
- Compare terrain: Visually compare across different tasks
- Share links: Share specific views for collaboration
Key Features
- No installation required: Runs right in your web browser
- High performance: Optimized for large datasets
- Interactive controls: Intuitive mouse and keyboard navigation
- Measurement tools: Built-in distance, area, and volume calculations
Maps
365Mesh DTStudio provides powerful mapping capabilities for viewing your processed data.
Map Features
- Base Maps: Various map tile providers
- Overlays: Your processed data as map layers
- Measurements: Distance and area calculations
- Export: Save maps as images or PDFs
Map Controls
- Zoom: Mouse wheel or zoom controls
- Pan: Click and drag to move around
- Layers: Toggle different data layers
- Search: Find specific locations
Tips & Tricks
Here are some helpful tips to get the best results from 365Mesh DTStudio.
Image Capture Tips
- Maintain consistent altitude and overlap
- Avoid shadows and harsh lighting
- Include ground control points if possible
- Use high-resolution cameras when available
Processing Tips
- Start with medium quality for testing
- Use high quality for final outputs
- Monitor processing progress regularly
- Check processing logs for any errors