Great vid, as always. WebODM is such a useful tool, especially for learning. I paid the $50 just to make it easier to get up and running and haven’t looked back since. They have a pretty good knowledgebase and active community, too.
We've actually done a few "full sized" orthos for clients. Next week I'll be doing a 24 inch x 60 inch print of one job site. I've done a few just for myself to see as well. Sharp, large print....and created with WebODM. Oh, and the customers I've done prints for love them.
Thank you Rich for all the great videos. Always much appreciated! I think WebOdm is absolutely good to work with, it's not the best looking models but precise and reliable. And it's the easiest way to bring the model to clients with low budget once the server is working. I have two questions for Webodm: Is there a possibility to adjust the menu on the left? So hide some of the menu points for example? And if I add some annotation titles in the model is there a way to kind of lock these before sending the URL to a client? I mean that the viewer just can't delete this points by clicking the X.
Sorry to say I haven't found a way on my Mac Studio to adjust the menu on the left. I'll take another look. I'm not sure about locking the annotations, but I'll do a little research this weekend.
For those using the Linus operating system on their computer, WebODM is free. It's even worth having a separate drive to learn Linux due to its inherent stability as an OS which is why so many servers use it. On my home box I can run it for months without rebooting because it is that stable. Linux Mint is really close to Windows so the learning curve is not very steep. I have a dual boot Linux/Win10 system that works great. I have a Windows drive simply because there are some apps and programs that don't yet run on Linux and they may never. A third storage drive allows for easy access to both drives because while Linux can read the Windows structure, Windows can't read the Linux structure or access its file. Sorry for the long diatribe but I've been using Linux Mint for a decade or so and really believe in it. It doesn't hound you to update it constantly and have all kinds of blocks like Windows. Kinda like how Autel doesn't have geofencing while DJI does. Keep up the good work Rich!
Thanks for your comment on this one. "Back in the day" I was a network engineer in telecomm. Our switches were....Unix based. Over the years I've setup Linux installs, but I have yet to try WebODM on Linux. Thanks for reminding us that there is "another option." And I remember "having fun" setting up a dual boot system as well. 😀
@@AZ-Drone I should have added that any given computer will be so much faster running Linux than Windows. I can't speak to IOS since I've never intentionally used them except for specific applications for a customer. I'm not a fan of their proprietary mindset.
Sorry for my delay in response, we've been wiped out by the heat the past few days and avoiding the hot studio. 😀In fact, I do have an introductory course for WebODM. Check out the free previews on the class, and if you have questions feel free to get in touch. Here's the link to the course. classes.azdrone.net/p/beginner-s-guide-to-webodm-open-source-mapping-and-modeling
Hey rich, Thanks for all your info and great videos!! I just want to ask, how do you deliver to your clients? Do they have to have WEB ODM to view the deliverables (2d/3d maps)?
Hey Rich, Thank you for making a great and informative video. I myself regularly use webodm. How do you share the maps and 3d models you get from webodm to clients? Thanks, -Adrian
The maps are shared on a website I built for client display. We host their time lapse videos, maps, and models on the site. I use Sketchfab to share 3D models that I can embed into web pages. Check out seemybuild.com/solstice-project-july-9th-2023/ as an example.
I use Metashape for my 3D models, and then I can post them through Sketchfab. After years of doing this I still haven't had a single client ask for stockpile measurements.
What application you use to plan and take the photos with your Mavic? I am currently using Drone Deploy but changing my drone to Mini 4 Pro. It is not supported so just wondering what App I could use for the route planning and taking the photos automatically.
In my case we're flying the Mavic 2 Pro (many 3rd party apps) and the Mavic 3 Enterprise. On the Enterprise we've been using DJI's Pilot 2 app. I'm waiting to see Litchi for the M3E. For the Mini 4 Pro I don't know if they'll release the SDK or not. I've looked through several forums, some people think the Mini 4 Pro will have an SDK, some people think it won't. Makes it hard to make decisions about which new drones to purchase. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful on this one.
Hello Rich, can you please give me any pointers on how to measure roofs with WebODM? I’m working for a contractor with 8 builders, and I am going to measure roofs for our leads. I’ve just downloaded WebODM, but I’m unsure where to start, and I couldn’t find any online courses on how to learn it. Any advice on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Good morning. First I have a few questions for you. Do you have your Part 107 Certificate from the FAA? You need that before you do any commercial work. Next, what type of drone are you using to collect your roof top data? How are you collecting the data? If you're Part 107, and have a drone that can fly the rooftops, do you have a plan to create consistent flights? Finally, if you're looking to take measurements, I would probably recommend another platform for measurements. I'll watch for your follow up comment.
@@AZ-Drone Hi, thanks for your response. I appreciate it, and I hope this is the beginning of mastering this software. I am from the Netherlands and have obtained the A1/A3 and A2 drone licenses. I’m using the DJI Air 3. ChatGPT mentioned several times that I can use this drone with WebODM, so I hope that’s possible. I’m not entirely sure what you mean, but I believe I am not collecting data. I’m not familiar with all the platforms available, but I chose WebODM because it fits my budget for now. The first thing I want to learn is how to measure roofs for a construction company. I’m looking forward to your reply!
Good afternoon. Sorry for my delay in response. Your question has a long answer, I'll try to keep it as short as I can. WebODM can process images from any drone but there's more to it than collecting a few images. For best results doing Orthomosaic models (what you're trying to do for your roof tops) you'll want a drone that can use flight applications that can create consistent paths. The images should overlay each other to get more detail. Then you can feed those images into WebODM. If you're wanting to do measurements you'll want a very accurate drone designed for mapping and modeling, and you'll probably want to do an RTK setup as well. You won't be able to do that type of setup with the Air 3. If you're serious about offering measurements of roof tops I think you need to lear more about Photogrammetry before you start in, and about mapping and modeling. I'm including a few links for you as this is a longer topic www.pix-pro.com/blog/dji-air3-photogrammetry th-cam.com/video/kvJ6i-UBU2E/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2LFfrWfCbIf12vM9
If customers need measurement tools I'll often look to use another platform like Metashape, or an online presentation through a Drone Deploy or Maps Made Easy. WebODM is great for orthos, and the results are always relatively accurate, but I'd still want folks measuring from an alternate platform. Almost all of our clients are not in need of measurements.
I do maybe 2 or 3 ortho maps a year so subscriptions and paid software doesn't make sense. I'm struggling to find a free way to share the results with clients though. All the online geotiff viewers are terrible quality. How would you share with clients on a free scale?
That's a difficult one. As drone work continues to grow I'm finding fewer "free" applications out there for sharing maps and models. I use WebODM when I want to use a low cost method for Orthos and 3D models. I use Sketchfab (which is a subscription) to share the models online. Sorry I don't have a better answer.
@@AZ-Drone i found one! Drone zone(i think that’s what it is called i forget after i bookmarked it). gives you 2gb free and the ability to share maps and 3d files which is fine to share a couple maps a models every few months for my scenario.
After rendering the new ortho in WebODM I export a tif file. I go to the previous flight and export it's tif file asl well. I drag both into Photoshop as independent layers, and align them. They always align great! Once I have them aligned I save my Photoshop document (in case I need to use it again), and then I export each layer as a jpg (so it won't be a giant file). I use Wordpress to host my reports. Upload the jpgs to Wordpress, then use the the Twenty20 before and after plugin. While it sounds like a long process, it isn't that bad. As you do this more often you'll find that comes together quickly.
Are some customers just as happy using pre programmed flights such as Litchi, Drone harmony etc etc and using that as a timeline every so often, which would probably be easier , or do they specifically want orthos, I guess this would alter your costs quite a bit to the customer!?
The big requests I get from clients are: Video and time lapse video of the job site. Before and after orthos. Still images from the active build area. 360 interiors (if applicable). For the videos and stills Litchi, Drone Harmony work nicely. It's interesting actually. The "favorite" deliverables vary from client to client.
@@martstevensprojectfotograf9078 This could be due to a variety of factors. How much memory you dedicate to the WebODM installation, available drive space, and model settings before starting to process. What type of system are you running, how much RAM do you have?
@@AZ-Drone Thank your for your reply. I used the payed installer and can't remember if i "dedicated" memory. Installation i did was default. Diagnostics show there is 1.8Gig free space for WebODM to use. My system has 32 Gb RAM, Intel i9 @ 3,7Ghz. My video is NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 super. I just finished the same job using Maps Made Easy. Output is perfect but it cost a lot of credits.
Hmmmm. Only 1.8 gigs allocated might be contributing to part of your issue. You can expand the disk space if you have more to spare. On my system I allocated 96 GB of disk space (on my Mac) and 24GB of RAM, and 6 CPUs. Your RAM sounds good and graphics sound good too.
IMO terra makes the nicest LOOKING maps/model theyre so large its hard to share them,Im the only one who knows how nice theyre actually supposed to look lol...webODM is nice for getting files i can actually share.......the latest updates in terra have started to process downsized models in obj and ply which is helpful but the files split up like a puzzle i goottta fix in cloud compare .. pia. thanks for video
It's all about getting our clients what they need. I'm sure Terra's models rock! I'd love to give it a whirl, but the pricing is a bit much when I consider that the vast majority of my customers aren't looking for 3D models. When I start getting clients who are looking for more, I have a few good options in mind. 😀😀
@@AZ-Drone yea its expensive i only know because i had a free trial, i ran it for 3 months i got w Mavic3E. its amazingly fast at 2d and 3d reconstruction lately ....its so expensive i opted to get m3t and get the 3months free again vs buying terra permenant after 107 i got l1 from itc for aerial thermography (this was my logical rational thinkning ?!?) like the time my dog got too big for its bed ....so my wife bought a bigger bed and a smaller dog?...true story ! lol just having fun Rich thanks for the help i apprciate these videos and am considering the construction progress course, you cideos are some of the best ive seen
I have a few laptops in my draw ... how could i use those to add some nodes? I would like to make some node servers for my WebODM so the process of making the maps will go much faster. I have been looking for a tutorial on youtube but cant find any good. I have already installed WebODM onall the laptops and thats working on all... i just need to link them.
I haven't encountered that issue yet. My maps usually match up nicely when looking at the map version on WebODM. Do you have a screen capture of the issue? I'd like to see it. What are the settings you're using when you render the map?
@AZ-Drone After some tinkering I possibly figured out my problem. My raw images were shot in 6K and the images, when rendered, were downsized to 4k so I lost some size in comparison to the GPS coordinates. I also rendered with a few new settings I didn't see the first time (this was my very first render with the software), which was adding the camera locations file. That file aligned all of my shots to their real-world location as opposed to the first render which tried guessing. The only problem is to get that file, I had to run a render on the command line version of ODM first.
Great video!!! What software do you use to pre program your map path? I tried drone link - not convinced it’s that great. In your video it looks like your camera angles vary from photo to photo - probably really helps with the 3D side of things. In drone link - it only takes 90degree photos… so are you using a special setting?
I actually used Map Pilot Pro for this particular one. We also use Drone Harmony for some of our models. And for our video time lapse missions we use Litchi. We're changing things up now, as we acquired a Mavic 3 Enterprise, so we've been testing the native mapping planner that comes with the M3E. I'll be testing Map Pilot for the Mavic 3 Enterprise soon as well.
@@AZ-Drone honestly I can’t express enough gratitude on how amazing you are as an individual - and business. Willing to share with your community! :) Thank you!
Great vid, as always. WebODM is such a useful tool, especially for learning. I paid the $50 just to make it easier to get up and running and haven’t looked back since.
They have a pretty good knowledgebase and active community, too.
It's been a useful tool for sure. I've never had a client ask, "What did you use to make this map?"
not sure but i think a webODM file is gonna be my MVP for "orthos for visual reference " its been making some nice maps.
We've actually done a few "full sized" orthos for clients. Next week I'll be doing a 24 inch x 60 inch print of one job site. I've done a few just for myself to see as well. Sharp, large print....and created with WebODM. Oh, and the customers I've done prints for love them.
Thank you Rich for all the great videos. Always much appreciated! I think WebOdm is absolutely good to work with, it's not the best looking models but precise and reliable. And it's the easiest way to bring the model to clients with low budget once the server is working.
I have two questions for Webodm: Is there a possibility to adjust the menu on the left? So hide some of the menu points for example? And if I add some annotation titles in the model is there a way to kind of lock these before sending the URL to a client? I mean that the viewer just can't delete this points by clicking the X.
Sorry to say I haven't found a way on my Mac Studio to adjust the menu on the left. I'll take another look. I'm not sure about locking the annotations, but I'll do a little research this weekend.
For those using the Linus operating system on their computer, WebODM is free. It's even worth having a separate drive to learn Linux due to its inherent stability as an OS which is why so many servers use it. On my home box I can run it for months without rebooting because it is that stable. Linux Mint is really close to Windows so the learning curve is not very steep. I have a dual boot Linux/Win10 system that works great. I have a Windows drive simply because there are some apps and programs that don't yet run on Linux and they may never. A third storage drive allows for easy access to both drives because while Linux can read the Windows structure, Windows can't read the Linux structure or access its file. Sorry for the long diatribe but I've been using Linux Mint for a decade or so and really believe in it. It doesn't hound you to update it constantly and have all kinds of blocks like Windows. Kinda like how Autel doesn't have geofencing while DJI does. Keep up the good work Rich!
Thanks for your comment on this one. "Back in the day" I was a network engineer in telecomm. Our switches were....Unix based. Over the years I've setup Linux installs, but I have yet to try WebODM on Linux. Thanks for reminding us that there is "another option." And I remember "having fun" setting up a dual boot system as well. 😀
@@AZ-Drone I should have added that any given computer will be so much faster running Linux than Windows. I can't speak to IOS since I've never intentionally used them except for specific applications for a customer. I'm not a fan of their proprietary mindset.
during one of your classes, you stated that you were going to do a class on WebOdm, I was wondering if that was still in your plans?
Sorry for my delay in response, we've been wiped out by the heat the past few days and avoiding the hot studio.
😀In fact, I do have an introductory course for WebODM. Check out the free previews on the class, and if you have questions feel free to get in touch. Here's the link to the course. classes.azdrone.net/p/beginner-s-guide-to-webodm-open-source-mapping-and-modeling
Hey rich,
Thanks for all your info and great videos!!
I just want to ask, how do you deliver to your clients? Do they have to have WEB ODM to view the deliverables (2d/3d maps)?
Often I create custom web pages for my customers. I use Sketchfab and embed it on their pages.
Hey Rich,
Thank you for making a great and informative video.
I myself regularly use webodm. How do you share the maps and 3d models you get from webodm to clients?
Thanks,
-Adrian
The maps are shared on a website I built for client display. We host their time lapse videos, maps, and models on the site. I use Sketchfab to share 3D models that I can embed into web pages. Check out seemybuild.com/solstice-project-july-9th-2023/ as an example.
@@AZ-Drone Great looking site and content presentation - clean and functional. Are you using a 3rd party tool for the image before/after slider?
Hi Rich. what is your "go to" for 3d modelling? do you do any stockpile measurments?
I use Metashape for my 3D models, and then I can post them through Sketchfab. After years of doing this I still haven't had a single client ask for stockpile measurements.
What application you use to plan and take the photos with your Mavic? I am currently using Drone Deploy but changing my drone to Mini 4 Pro. It is not supported so just wondering what App I could use for the route planning and taking the photos automatically.
In my case we're flying the Mavic 2 Pro (many 3rd party apps) and the Mavic 3 Enterprise. On the Enterprise we've been using DJI's Pilot 2 app. I'm waiting to see Litchi for the M3E. For the Mini 4 Pro I don't know if they'll release the SDK or not. I've looked through several forums, some people think the Mini 4 Pro will have an SDK, some people think it won't. Makes it hard to make decisions about which new drones to purchase. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful on this one.
Hello Rich, can you please give me any pointers on how to measure roofs with WebODM? I’m working for a contractor with 8 builders, and I am going to measure roofs for our leads. I’ve just downloaded WebODM, but I’m unsure where to start, and I couldn’t find any online courses on how to learn it. Any advice on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Good morning. First I have a few questions for you. Do you have your Part 107 Certificate from the FAA? You need that before you do any commercial work. Next, what type of drone are you using to collect your roof top data? How are you collecting the data? If you're Part 107, and have a drone that can fly the rooftops, do you have a plan to create consistent flights? Finally, if you're looking to take measurements, I would probably recommend another platform for measurements. I'll watch for your follow up comment.
@@AZ-Drone Hi, thanks for your response. I appreciate it, and I hope this is the beginning of mastering this software. I am from the Netherlands and have obtained the A1/A3 and A2 drone licenses. I’m using the DJI Air 3. ChatGPT mentioned several times that I can use this drone with WebODM, so I hope that’s possible.
I’m not entirely sure what you mean, but I believe I am not collecting data. I’m not familiar with all the platforms available, but I chose WebODM because it fits my budget for now. The first thing I want to learn is how to measure roofs for a construction company. I’m looking forward to your reply!
Good afternoon. Sorry for my delay in response. Your question has a long answer, I'll try to keep it as short as I can.
WebODM can process images from any drone but there's more to it than collecting a few images. For best results doing Orthomosaic models (what you're trying to do for your roof tops) you'll want a drone that can use flight applications that can create consistent paths. The images should overlay each other to get more detail. Then you can feed those images into WebODM.
If you're wanting to do measurements you'll want a very accurate drone designed for mapping and modeling, and you'll probably want to do an RTK setup as well. You won't be able to do that type of setup with the Air 3.
If you're serious about offering measurements of roof tops I think you need to lear more about Photogrammetry before you start in, and about mapping and modeling. I'm including a few links for you as this is a longer topic
www.pix-pro.com/blog/dji-air3-photogrammetry
th-cam.com/video/kvJ6i-UBU2E/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2LFfrWfCbIf12vM9
So typically how big are the files you're uploading to sketchfab? Folders containing the obj, materials and textures.
I keep them under 200MB as that’s the plan I’m on with them. Often I’m uploading ply files.
How can you offer the possibility to the clients to make measurements with the appropriate tools in webodm ?
If customers need measurement tools I'll often look to use another platform like Metashape, or an online presentation through a Drone Deploy or Maps Made Easy. WebODM is great for orthos, and the results are always relatively accurate, but I'd still want folks measuring from an alternate platform. Almost all of our clients are not in need of measurements.
@@AZ-Drone thanks for the reply. I could see the pix4d allows the sharing as well.
I do maybe 2 or 3 ortho maps a year so subscriptions and paid software doesn't make sense. I'm struggling to find a free way to share the results with clients though. All the online geotiff viewers are terrible quality. How would you share with clients on a free scale?
That's a difficult one. As drone work continues to grow I'm finding fewer "free" applications out there for sharing maps and models. I use WebODM when I want to use a low cost method for Orthos and 3D models. I use Sketchfab (which is a subscription) to share the models online. Sorry I don't have a better answer.
@@AZ-Drone i found one! Drone zone(i think that’s what it is called i forget after i bookmarked it). gives you 2gb free and the ability to share maps and 3d files which is fine to share a couple maps a models every few months for my scenario.
Thanks!
Glad to be of help to you!
How do you build the "before / after" image ?
Thanks.
After rendering the new ortho in WebODM I export a tif file. I go to the previous flight and export it's tif file asl well. I drag both into Photoshop as independent layers, and align them. They always align great! Once I have them aligned I save my Photoshop document (in case I need to use it again), and then I export each layer as a jpg (so it won't be a giant file). I use Wordpress to host my reports. Upload the jpgs to Wordpress, then use the the Twenty20 before and after plugin. While it sounds like a long process, it isn't that bad. As you do this more often you'll find that comes together quickly.
Are some customers just as happy using pre programmed flights such as Litchi, Drone harmony etc etc and using that as a timeline every so often, which would probably be easier , or do they specifically want orthos, I guess this would alter your costs quite a bit to the customer!?
The big requests I get from clients are: Video and time lapse video of the job site. Before and after orthos. Still images from the active build area. 360 interiors (if applicable). For the videos and stills Litchi, Drone Harmony work nicely.
It's interesting actually. The "favorite" deliverables vary from client to client.
I have found WebODM slow and stuck completely when using larger numbers of photo’s. Got a job of 600+ photo’s and simply wont process
@@martstevensprojectfotograf9078 This could be due to a variety of factors. How much memory you dedicate to the WebODM installation, available drive space, and model settings before starting to process. What type of system are you running, how much RAM do you have?
@@AZ-Drone Thank your for your reply. I used the payed installer and can't remember if i "dedicated" memory. Installation i did was default. Diagnostics show there is 1.8Gig free space for WebODM to use. My system has 32 Gb RAM, Intel i9 @ 3,7Ghz. My video is NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 super.
I just finished the same job using Maps Made Easy. Output is perfect but it cost a lot of credits.
Hmmmm. Only 1.8 gigs allocated might be contributing to part of your issue. You can expand the disk space if you have more to spare. On my system I allocated 96 GB of disk space (on my Mac) and 24GB of RAM, and 6 CPUs. Your RAM sounds good and graphics sound good too.
IMO terra makes the nicest LOOKING maps/model theyre so large its hard to share them,Im the only one who knows how nice theyre actually supposed to look lol...webODM is nice for getting files i can actually share.......the latest updates in terra have started to process downsized models in obj and ply which is helpful but the files split up like a puzzle i goottta fix in cloud compare .. pia. thanks for video
It's all about getting our clients what they need. I'm sure Terra's models rock! I'd love to give it a whirl, but the pricing is a bit much when I consider that the vast majority of my customers aren't looking for 3D models. When I start getting clients who are looking for more, I have a few good options in mind. 😀😀
@@AZ-Drone yea its expensive i only know because i had a free trial, i ran it for 3 months i got w Mavic3E. its amazingly fast at 2d and 3d reconstruction lately ....its so expensive i opted to get m3t and get the 3months free again vs buying terra permenant after 107 i got l1 from itc for aerial thermography (this was my logical rational thinkning ?!?) like the time my dog got too big for its bed ....so my wife bought a bigger bed and a smaller dog?...true story ! lol just having fun Rich thanks for the help i apprciate these videos and am considering the construction progress course, you cideos are some of the best ive seen
I have a few laptops in my draw ... how could i use those to add some nodes?
I would like to make some node servers for my WebODM so the process of making the maps will go much faster.
I have been looking for a tutorial on youtube but cant find any good.
I have already installed WebODM onall the laptops and thats working on all... i just need to link them.
I haven't tried that at all yet. And I haven't seen any tutorial on TH-cam on how to achieve this. Maybe on Reddit?
After getting my map rendered, it appears smaller thasn the actual location on the base maps. Is there a way to scale my rendering up?
I haven't encountered that issue yet. My maps usually match up nicely when looking at the map version on WebODM. Do you have a screen capture of the issue? I'd like to see it. What are the settings you're using when you render the map?
@AZ-Drone After some tinkering I possibly figured out my problem. My raw images were shot in 6K and the images, when rendered, were downsized to 4k so I lost some size in comparison to the GPS coordinates. I also rendered with a few new settings I didn't see the first time (this was my very first render with the software), which was adding the camera locations file. That file aligned all of my shots to their real-world location as opposed to the first render which tried guessing. The only problem is to get that file, I had to run a render on the command line version of ODM first.
Great video!!! What software do you use to pre program your map path? I tried drone link - not convinced it’s that great.
In your video it looks like your camera angles vary from photo to photo - probably really helps with the 3D side of things. In drone link - it only takes 90degree photos… so are you using a special setting?
I actually used Map Pilot Pro for this particular one. We also use Drone Harmony for some of our models. And for our video time lapse missions we use Litchi. We're changing things up now, as we acquired a Mavic 3 Enterprise, so we've been testing the native mapping planner that comes with the M3E. I'll be testing Map Pilot for the Mavic 3 Enterprise soon as well.
@@AZ-Drone honestly I can’t express enough gratitude on how amazing you are as an individual - and business. Willing to share with your community! :) Thank you!
@@DroneEyesInTheSkies Always happy to help when I can. 😀
its agreat backup for local processing
Absolutely! When I come back from a job site and run a quick WebODM model I know pretty quickly how my flight coverage went.