I really like WebODM, specially for someone getting started in mapping. The 3d of objects are a lot better than I expected. Would like more information about this software. Thank you Rich for all you do. I've learned a lot, (a saying in KY is I've learned a ton, in this case I would say I've learned 2 ton). A little KY humor for the day. Thank you again for all you do, we greatly appreciate it.
I'm glad this one was useful for you. When I tried WebODM 2 years ago I ran into some issues. Most likely user error combined with the tools available at the time. I'm pretty amazing trying it out on the Mac Mini M1.
This was helpful. I know the very basics of 3D modeling and don't want to commit to an expensive application before I know how to use it, or worst - learn on the go. I'm flying an Autel Evo II 8k and it has a ton of options that will make mapping and modeling an attractive possibility to add to my small drone business. Thanks for re-sharing ODM, I'll get some more training/education on mapping and modeling and then (likely) purchase the system. Less than $60 is a very good price!
I've been pleasantly surprised with WebODM since I started really using it. It's not only a good starting point for beginners, the output from the application lines up nicely with my Metashape models as well. Don't forget, before you buy anything most of the modeling software applications allow for a test period. You can try out Metashape, Pix4D, and a few others for free. I always suggest trying out only one at a time. That will give you time to learn and test for a good while. Oh, forgot to mention, I have a friend with the Evo and he's generated some nice models with it as well.
@@AZ-Drone Excellent, thanks for that. I'm starting simply, and will add more as I learn and become comfortable. I've become comfortable with setting up and flying mapping missions, and downloading the images. I'm not in any hurry to create survey-grade 3d models yet - just a basic model, so I'm going to hold of on investing in GCP's. I'll get GCPs after I figure out the general 3d modeling piece (I hope). Learning about 3D modeling with drones from TH-cam is a little like trying to get a sip from a firehose! So, I'm trying to avoid the 'overwhelm'.
Same boat here, flying the Evo and wanting to add mapping to my drone biz offerings, at low cost up front. Good to hear it’s a promising option for us Autel operators!
We will be doing some more in the series. The plan was a few more videos last week, but I got hit with some kind of winter bug. Hopefully this coming week I'll be back to normal operations.
Thank you for making this video. I am really looking forward to your tutorials. Web ODM looks like a great opportunity to learn mapping in a more cost effective way. I was really interested on how to get started and how it compared to other processing options so this video was really useful. Thanks also for speaking from a Mac perspective as well and not just windows.
I'm going to be investigating the differences as well with the other modeling apps. I've actually spent my entire morning testing, and getting WebODM on my 2015 video game tower (8GB of RAM). It now runs on that Windows machine, and handled the 335 image model nicely. I do have an issue on Windows right now. I can't tweak the CPU, RAM, Swap space due to an issue with my machine. Docker did let me get a small install file to allow running on the Windows box, but now I'm stuck with what the system determines. Honestly given how old that computer is I was happy to see it run at all. I'll be keeping folks up to date with the experimenation.
It’s not about RAM. It’s about CPUs. The built in resource charts show that it maxes out my 8 CPU Dell i7 16GB laptop (with 6 CPUs available to WebODM) on the CPU chart, but RAM averages about 3 or 4 GB when processing.
i love these videos i want to learn how you do the progression, are you using a saved waypoint and running that over and over for every time you visit?
I used saved waypoint missions for most of my work. Whether it's a video flight path showcasing a construction site, time lapse video, time lapse stills, or flights for Orthomosaic maps. For the ortho's and models we use Drone Harmony & Map pilot pro. For video flights and stills we use Litchi. Check out our classes to see several project examples. classes.azdrone.net/p/drone-construction-progression-example-a-full-construction-project
@Rich Charpentier thankyou ! Def going to check them out ... very grateful you are showing examples of this type of work its some pf the best ive seen thanks !
We use several different autonomous flight apps to capture the images. Map Pilot Pro and Drone Harmony are used for those captures. There are plenty of other apps that will work as well (Drone Deploy, Pix4D, Measure Ground Control). Each image that you capture includes your GPS location at the time of the image capture. If you upload your images to WebODM, Metashape, or any other modeling application that information will be in the image files for the creation of the orthomosaic.
@@AZ-Drone My intended use case is to map a given area and run an image segmentation model on the photos to estimate tree coverage. Do you think the GPS coordinates in the pictures would be accurate enough to ensure that the only trees "counted" are those within the area? Any recommendations?
I'm unsure how I would approach documenting the tree coverage. If you generate images for an orthomosaic, and render the ortho (as a geotiff for instance), you can overaly it into a GIS platform. I'll need to do some reading on this, as I'm sure other drone operators are doing similar things. Definitely an application that would be valuable for forestry purposes.
Looking forward to the deeper dive into WebODM. I've just begun trying my hand at mapping/modeling and WebODM is the only software I've tried so far. I've been setting up my flights with Copterus, but I've just downloaded Drone Harmony and Map Pilot Pro. I've been very frustrated with ODM so far, however with tenacity and Google I have learned enough to finally start putting together some maps/models. Most of the areas I'll be flying have a lot of verticality (Redwood trees mostly). and so far my models are coming out like a poorly rendered Minecraft screen. I've been flying with the gimbal at 90 degrees, so I'm going to try 65 of 70 degrees on my next flight. Is it possible to do multiple flights for one model? For example; 1 flight at 90 degrees, 1 flight at 65 degrees and a final (orbital perhaps?) flight at en even lower gimbal angle? I'm flying a Mavic Air 2, if that makes a difference. Thanks for the channel!
Sorry to hear there's some frustration going on with your testing so far. There are a few things you can do to improve model quality overall. Before touching on that, don't get rid of your earlier model flights. Hang on to them and use them to test out Pix4D and Metashape. Never toss data sets, they might come in handy for practice. Forested areas are tougher. You've got to consider overlap more. On Map Pilot Pro when you get into the mission planner check out their overlap guidance. 80% overlap = Terrain, structures, and trees. 90% overlap = Detailed rendering of heavy trees. So Map Pilot would suggest a lot of overlap in the scenario you're interested in. 2nd item. You said you've been testing WebODM. Have you tried their forested setting? Under the "Options" if you click the drop down you'll see "Forest". After selecting that option take a look at the settings WebODM suggests. Might give you a better idea of what functions they felt would work better for "Forest." Finally, doing multiple flights for a single model is fine. Just try to get all the flights done as quickly as you can so major changes in ambient light don't cause troubles for you. I've often done Grid Missions (camera straight down), and then followed up with an orbit mission as well (gimbal around 70 degrees instead of 90). You have tough surroundings to work with. Quick question. You said the models look like a mine craft screen. Did you click the checkbox under "Textured Model" in the 3D viewer? Hope this was helpful!
@@AZ-Drone Thanks very much for the detailed reply. Yes... my Minecraft comparison was is reference to (what I now know is) the point cloud. However, the textured version isn't much better. I thought I might need to do multiple flights, but I honestly wasn't sure if the software would be able to differentiate the data. The property I'm doing this test on is about 5 acres. At the center is a large single story home, accompanied by a corral, stables, paddocks, etc - with trees here and there. The rest of the property (and the surrounding land) is forested with Coastal Redwoods. The tallest in my flight path is about 230 feet tall, so I can't really fly much lower than 250. I've been setting my overlap to the mid 80s, so I'll crank that up next time. I had noi idea there was a "forested" setting! I will definitely check that out. Thanks also for the suggestion to try Pix4D and Metashape. I assume they at least have a free trial version? You've given me a lot to work with. Greatly appreciated! I'll keep you posted.
How do I make an export of a 3D model to a PNG or JPEG? The only options I can find are 2D (Ortho, Surface and plant health). What export settings do I need to use? Best Regards, Danny
Unfortunately you can't export a 3D model to jpg or png. 3D models are meant to be displayed on software that renders 3D. You can export a point cloud and upload the point cloud to a service like Sketchfab.com. Or you can share the Point Cloud to your clients who have applications that can view point cloud. You can display your Point Cloud in WebODM and take a screen capture of it if you like.
Have been working with WebODM a while ago. I kept having problems with the 3D models. Since i live in the Netherlands, often the height difference in the area i want to map is just 5-15 cm. And with that kind of surface i keep getting the bowl effect in the 3D model: high in the center, and lower at the edges. Tried several ways to calibrate the camera/lens bit so far with no luck. Should give it another try when i have the time. Curious to see if you run against similar problems
While digging into this over the past week I did read a few posts over on WebODMs forums about this issue. There were a few suggested fixes, but I didn't bookmark those links. I'll keep my eyes open for the issue. One question I have. Are you using GCPs for your models and using the GCP upload for your models?
@@AZ-Drone So far i am not using GCP’s I tried some of the suggested fixes (lens calibration, doing a short calibration flight, flying with a camera angle that is not straight down but 5 or 10 degrees off. Didn’t make a difference….
Hi, This interests me. I have to back up to the first step though. (Data collection.) Do you have to collect the data automatically or can you just do it manually? If it can be done manually, what altitude do you fly at? Also how often do you snap pictures? l am assuming you just have your camera pointed straight down.
For the data collection I use several flight apps. DJI Ground Station Pro (iPad only), Drone Harmony, Map Pilot pro. You can setup missions that are repeatable as well. The altitude depends on how much detail you're after. Also the closer to the ground you are, the more images you'll need. And the more elevation added, the fewer images you'll need. Normally you can have the gimbal straight down. If you're looking for 3D modeling as well you can set the gimbal to 70 degrees instead of 90. If you look through my channel search on Ground station pro and Map Pilot. I think I have a few overviews on those.
Many drone operators in the construction space are using the DJI Phantom 4 Pro. That's one of the most popular ones out there for mapping. I also use a Mavic 2 Pro which works well when doing orthomosaic models.
Thanks for putting this up. I am running it on a Windows 11 PC with 32 Gig of RAM. I can run small maps, but run out of memory for anything of a useful size. There are some instructions in Docker, but I can't find the windows files they talked about. That docker sends you to Windows to fix it. If anyone knows what to do, I would appreciate it. In the meantime, I've been playing with 3DF Zephyr Lite. It has a 500 image limit, but will take images automatically from video.
Good morning and sorry for letting your comment slip by. I was recently talking with one of my students who installed the latest version of WebODM for Windows. He couldn't find Docker at all, and contacting WebODM's support he was informed that he's now running WebODM for Windows Native! That version no longer uses Docker. So I have to update my class now to let folks know. :)
I think that if you're on a budget WebODM might be your best choice. It gives you an opportunity to generate nice 2D models, and allows you to play around with 3D models as well. I find the 2D orthomosaics come out nicely. The 3D models / point clouds aren't the best sometimes. But overall its a good platform to start learning on. Keep in mind, many of the 3D modeling applications offer trial periods as well. Pix 4 D, Drone Deploy, Metashape, Maps Made Easy. They all offer you some time to experiment and learn.
After you've purchased WebODM for Windows or Mac you'll be able to process your models directly on your desktop. There are no further charges. Once it's yours, it's yours. You can connect up to the "Lightning Network" for additional processing power (if you're making big models). They do charge for their services there. Right now for me I use WebODM stand alone and I've made models with 600+ images without issue. You'll want to go over your system specs to make sure you're good on drive space, CPU, RAM, etc. If you need to share your 3D models that you generate on WebODM you'd need to use a service like Sketchfab.
In order to use the video in the 3D modeling tools for WebODM I have used a screen capture of the video. There's no way to export the video from WebODM, so my work around is to screen capture the video. I wish they had a video export, that would be amazing.
I look at WebODM as a tool for learning about Photogrammetry. If you're flying large scale jobs I agree, I would be using another platform. But for new drone operators on a budget? It's a good learning tool.
I really like WebODM, specially for someone getting started in mapping. The 3d of objects are a lot better than I expected. Would like more information about this software. Thank you Rich for all you do. I've learned a lot, (a saying in KY is I've learned a ton, in this case I would say I've learned 2 ton). A little KY humor for the day. Thank you again for all you do, we greatly appreciate it.
I'm glad this one was useful for you. When I tried WebODM 2 years ago I ran into some issues. Most likely user error combined with the tools available at the time. I'm pretty amazing trying it out on the Mac Mini M1.
This was helpful. I know the very basics of 3D modeling and don't want to commit to an expensive application before I know how to use it, or worst - learn on the go. I'm flying an Autel Evo II 8k and it has a ton of options that will make mapping and modeling an attractive possibility to add to my small drone business. Thanks for re-sharing ODM, I'll get some more training/education on mapping and modeling and then (likely) purchase the system. Less than $60 is a very good price!
I've been pleasantly surprised with WebODM since I started really using it. It's not only a good starting point for beginners, the output from the application lines up nicely with my Metashape models as well. Don't forget, before you buy anything most of the modeling software applications allow for a test period. You can try out Metashape, Pix4D, and a few others for free. I always suggest trying out only one at a time. That will give you time to learn and test for a good while.
Oh, forgot to mention, I have a friend with the Evo and he's generated some nice models with it as well.
@@AZ-Drone Excellent, thanks for that. I'm starting simply, and will add more as I learn and become comfortable. I've become comfortable with setting up and flying mapping missions, and downloading the images. I'm not in any hurry to create survey-grade 3d models yet - just a basic model, so I'm going to hold of on investing in GCP's. I'll get GCPs after I figure out the general 3d modeling piece (I hope).
Learning about 3D modeling with drones from TH-cam is a little like trying to get a sip from a firehose! So, I'm trying to avoid the 'overwhelm'.
Same boat here, flying the Evo and wanting to add mapping to my drone biz offerings, at low cost up front. Good to hear it’s a promising option for us Autel operators!
i just started experiment with it myself. Looks great, hope you continue the series :)
We will be doing some more in the series. The plan was a few more videos last week, but I got hit with some kind of winter bug. Hopefully this coming week I'll be back to normal operations.
Thank you for making this video. I am really looking forward to your tutorials. Web ODM looks like a great opportunity to learn mapping in a more cost effective way. I was really interested on how to get started and how it compared to other processing options so this video was really useful. Thanks also for speaking from a Mac perspective as well and not just windows.
I just posted a new video on installing WebODM on my Mac Mini M1. Here's the link. th-cam.com/video/ZQSp-N0ZXwk/w-d-xo.html
Thanks looking forward to giving this a go as a complete novice
I just put up a new video showing the full installation on my Mac Mini M1. th-cam.com/video/ZQSp-N0ZXwk/w-d-xo.html
@@AZ-Drone thanks
Definitely piqued my interest. The question will be what capabilities the over-priced applications have that WebODM doesn’t. Looks great so far.
I'm going to be investigating the differences as well with the other modeling apps. I've actually spent my entire morning testing, and getting WebODM on my 2015 video game tower (8GB of RAM). It now runs on that Windows machine, and handled the 335 image model nicely. I do have an issue on Windows right now. I can't tweak the CPU, RAM, Swap space due to an issue with my machine. Docker did let me get a small install file to allow running on the Windows box, but now I'm stuck with what the system determines. Honestly given how old that computer is I was happy to see it run at all.
I'll be keeping folks up to date with the experimenation.
It’s not about RAM. It’s about CPUs. The built in resource charts show that it maxes out my 8 CPU Dell i7 16GB laptop (with 6 CPUs available to WebODM) on the CPU chart, but RAM averages about 3 or 4 GB when processing.
Thanks for that! 😀
I look forward to next tutorial
I just popped up a walk through of installing WebODM on my Mac Mini M1. th-cam.com/video/ZQSp-N0ZXwk/w-d-xo.html
i love these videos i want to learn how you do the progression, are you using a saved waypoint and running that over and over for every time you visit?
I used saved waypoint missions for most of my work. Whether it's a video flight path showcasing a construction site, time lapse video, time lapse stills, or flights for Orthomosaic maps. For the ortho's and models we use Drone Harmony & Map pilot pro. For video flights and stills we use Litchi. Check out our classes to see several project examples. classes.azdrone.net/p/drone-construction-progression-example-a-full-construction-project
@Rich Charpentier thankyou ! Def going to check them out ... very grateful you are showing examples of this type of work its some pf the best ive seen thanks !
How are you capturing the images from the drone? Also, how can I get the GPS coordinates for the constituent photos that make up the orthophoto?
We use several different autonomous flight apps to capture the images. Map Pilot Pro and Drone Harmony are used for those captures. There are plenty of other apps that will work as well (Drone Deploy, Pix4D, Measure Ground Control). Each image that you capture includes your GPS location at the time of the image capture. If you upload your images to WebODM, Metashape, or any other modeling application that information will be in the image files for the creation of the orthomosaic.
@@AZ-Drone My intended use case is to map a given area and run an image segmentation model on the photos to estimate tree coverage. Do you think the GPS coordinates in the pictures would be accurate enough to ensure that the only trees "counted" are those within the area? Any recommendations?
I'm unsure how I would approach documenting the tree coverage. If you generate images for an orthomosaic, and render the ortho (as a geotiff for instance), you can overaly it into a GIS platform. I'll need to do some reading on this, as I'm sure other drone operators are doing similar things. Definitely an application that would be valuable for forestry purposes.
Looking forward to the deeper dive into WebODM. I've just begun trying my hand at mapping/modeling and WebODM is the only software I've tried so far. I've been setting up my flights with Copterus, but I've just downloaded Drone Harmony and Map Pilot Pro. I've been very frustrated with ODM so far, however with tenacity and Google I have learned enough to finally start putting together some maps/models. Most of the areas I'll be flying have a lot of verticality (Redwood trees mostly). and so far my models are coming out like a poorly rendered Minecraft screen. I've been flying with the gimbal at 90 degrees, so I'm going to try 65 of 70 degrees on my next flight. Is it possible to do multiple flights for one model? For example; 1 flight at 90 degrees, 1 flight at 65 degrees and a final (orbital perhaps?) flight at en even lower gimbal angle? I'm flying a Mavic Air 2, if that makes a difference. Thanks for the channel!
Sorry to hear there's some frustration going on with your testing so far. There are a few things you can do to improve model quality overall. Before touching on that, don't get rid of your earlier model flights. Hang on to them and use them to test out Pix4D and Metashape. Never toss data sets, they might come in handy for practice.
Forested areas are tougher. You've got to consider overlap more. On Map Pilot Pro when you get into the mission planner check out their overlap guidance. 80% overlap = Terrain, structures, and trees. 90% overlap = Detailed rendering of heavy trees. So Map Pilot would suggest a lot of overlap in the scenario you're interested in.
2nd item. You said you've been testing WebODM. Have you tried their forested setting? Under the "Options" if you click the drop down you'll see "Forest". After selecting that option take a look at the settings WebODM suggests. Might give you a better idea of what functions they felt would work better for "Forest."
Finally, doing multiple flights for a single model is fine. Just try to get all the flights done as quickly as you can so major changes in ambient light don't cause troubles for you. I've often done Grid Missions (camera straight down), and then followed up with an orbit mission as well (gimbal around 70 degrees instead of 90). You have tough surroundings to work with. Quick question. You said the models look like a mine craft screen. Did you click the checkbox under "Textured Model" in the 3D viewer?
Hope this was helpful!
@@AZ-Drone Thanks very much for the detailed reply. Yes... my Minecraft comparison was is reference to (what I now know is) the point cloud. However, the textured version isn't much better. I thought I might need to do multiple flights, but I honestly wasn't sure if the software would be able to differentiate the data. The property I'm doing this test on is about 5 acres. At the center is a large single story home, accompanied by a corral, stables, paddocks, etc - with trees here and there. The rest of the property (and the surrounding land) is forested with Coastal Redwoods. The tallest in my flight path is about 230 feet tall, so I can't really fly much lower than 250.
I've been setting my overlap to the mid 80s, so I'll crank that up next time. I had noi idea there was a "forested" setting! I will definitely check that out. Thanks also for the suggestion to try Pix4D and Metashape. I assume they at least have a free trial version?
You've given me a lot to work with. Greatly appreciated! I'll keep you posted.
How do I make an export of a 3D model to a PNG or JPEG?
The only options I can find are 2D (Ortho, Surface and plant health). What export settings do I need to use?
Best Regards,
Danny
Unfortunately you can't export a 3D model to jpg or png. 3D models are meant to be displayed on software that renders 3D. You can export a point cloud and upload the point cloud to a service like Sketchfab.com. Or you can share the Point Cloud to your clients who have applications that can view point cloud.
You can display your Point Cloud in WebODM and take a screen capture of it if you like.
@@AZ-Drone Thank you very much for your fast reaction Rich.
Have been working with WebODM a while ago. I kept having problems with the 3D models. Since i live in the Netherlands, often the height difference in the area i want to map is just 5-15 cm. And with that kind of surface i keep getting the bowl effect in the 3D model: high in the center, and lower at the edges.
Tried several ways to calibrate the camera/lens bit so far with no luck.
Should give it another try when i have the time. Curious to see if you run against similar problems
While digging into this over the past week I did read a few posts over on WebODMs forums about this issue. There were a few suggested fixes, but I didn't bookmark those links. I'll keep my eyes open for the issue. One question I have. Are you using GCPs for your models and using the GCP upload for your models?
@@AZ-Drone So far i am not using GCP’s
I tried some of the suggested fixes (lens calibration, doing a short calibration flight, flying with a camera angle that is not straight down but 5 or 10 degrees off. Didn’t make a difference….
Hi, This interests me. I have to back up to the first step though. (Data collection.) Do you have to collect the data automatically or can you just do it manually? If it can be done manually, what altitude do you fly at? Also how often do you snap pictures? l am assuming you just have your camera pointed straight down.
For the data collection I use several flight apps. DJI Ground Station Pro (iPad only), Drone Harmony, Map Pilot pro. You can setup missions that are repeatable as well. The altitude depends on how much detail you're after. Also the closer to the ground you are, the more images you'll need. And the more elevation added, the fewer images you'll need. Normally you can have the gimbal straight down. If you're looking for 3D modeling as well you can set the gimbal to 70 degrees instead of 90. If you look through my channel search on Ground station pro and Map Pilot. I think I have a few overviews on those.
@@AZ-Drone Thanks!
Which drone is best for this type of work?
Many drone operators in the construction space are using the DJI Phantom 4 Pro. That's one of the most popular ones out there for mapping. I also use a Mavic 2 Pro which works well when doing orthomosaic models.
Thanks for putting this up. I am running it on a Windows 11 PC with 32 Gig of RAM. I can run small maps, but run out of memory for anything of a useful size. There are some instructions in Docker, but I can't find the windows files they talked about. That docker sends you to Windows to fix it. If anyone knows what to do, I would appreciate it. In the meantime, I've been playing with 3DF Zephyr Lite. It has a 500 image limit, but will take images automatically from video.
Good morning and sorry for letting your comment slip by. I was recently talking with one of my students who installed the latest version of WebODM for Windows. He couldn't find Docker at all, and contacting WebODM's support he was informed that he's now running WebODM for Windows Native! That version no longer uses Docker. So I have to update my class now to let folks know. :)
What do you think is the best mapping software in the budget real when it comes to quality of models
I think that if you're on a budget WebODM might be your best choice. It gives you an opportunity to generate nice 2D models, and allows you to play around with 3D models as well. I find the 2D orthomosaics come out nicely. The 3D models / point clouds aren't the best sometimes. But overall its a good platform to start learning on. Keep in mind, many of the 3D modeling applications offer trial periods as well. Pix 4 D, Drone Deploy, Metashape, Maps Made Easy. They all offer you some time to experiment and learn.
Any chance of seeing a workflow?
Here's the link to my WebODM play list. th-cam.com/play/PLLG1gQ1mzhLFv4cUnbWby0Y9SK0VXn-X6.html
Hi Rich great video but if I bought the installation how much is it per map after that?????
After you've purchased WebODM for Windows or Mac you'll be able to process your models directly on your desktop. There are no further charges. Once it's yours, it's yours. You can connect up to the "Lightning Network" for additional processing power (if you're making big models). They do charge for their services there. Right now for me I use WebODM stand alone and I've made models with 600+ images without issue. You'll want to go over your system specs to make sure you're good on drive space, CPU, RAM, etc. If you need to share your 3D models that you generate on WebODM you'd need to use a service like Sketchfab.
@@AZ-Drone thanks 😊
hi Rich
is it possible to import the video done on Webodm to my computer
thank you
In order to use the video in the 3D modeling tools for WebODM I have used a screen capture of the video. There's no way to export the video from WebODM, so my work around is to screen capture the video. I wish they had a video export, that would be amazing.
If you do aerial mapping of hundreds or thousands of hectars and only rely on gcp's for accuracy, webodm would be on bottom of my list.
I look at WebODM as a tool for learning about Photogrammetry. If you're flying large scale jobs I agree, I would be using another platform. But for new drone operators on a budget? It's a good learning tool.