3. Creating and configuring projects

This section describes how to create and configure projects in TOPOFLIGHT MISSIONPLANNER.

Optimal flight plans are based on three datasets:

• a base map covering the area to be photographed (2D)

• a digital terrain model (DTM) for elevation data

• an area of interest

In TOPOFLIGHT MISSIONPLANNER, all three datasets can easily be selected, imported and/or customized when creating a new project.

Hint

In the absence of a DTM, the software defaults to a flat terrain assumption with an elevation of Z=0.

3.1. Creating a new project

To create a project:

1. In the navigation bar, click Start.

2. Click New project.

3. There are three options to create a new project:

   • Select Define the project file (.topoflight) if you do not require a new folder for the project.
     Click the ellipses on the right to open a dialog window, then select a folder and enter a file name. Click Save.

   • Select Create new folder and project file in the root folder to save the project in a new folder that has the same name as the project file.
     Click the ellipses on the right to open a dialog window. Select a root folder in which a new project folder will be created, then click Select Folder. Enter a name for your project (the .topoflight extension is added automatically).

   • Select Define project folder and project name to save the project in a new folder that has a different name than the project file.
     Click the ellipses on the right to open a dialog window and select a folder. If necessary, create a new folder by right-clicking within the folder structure and choosing New, then Folder. Provide a name for the folder and click to select it before clicking Select Folder. Then enter a project name.

4. Select the project location using any of the following methods:

   • enter the location name (city or country) - online functionality only

   • adjust the map zoom to encompass your specific area of interest - online functionality only

   • load an existing AOI - offline functionality

5. Set the required projection:

   • Click Calculate best UTM zone for the default UTM WGS84 projected system (recommended; the most suitable UTM zone for the designated area is selected automatically)

   • Click on the ellipses to the right of the Current projection options to:

     • select other projected systems (for experienced users only; regional or national systems that the user is familiar with can be selected)

     • select other geographic systems (not recommended; geographic systems in degrees can be selected)

     • turn off coordinate systems

   Important

   Select and modify the coordinate reference system thoughtfully!

6. Select any additional settings you require:

   • Add default base map to map (default)

   • Create image from WMS (recommended: the base map is available offline and the viewer reacts faster as it does not stream the data for each zoom level)

   • Add SRTM elevation data (default).

   Hint

   To configure the SRTM elevation data, see Elevation data settings.

   

7. Click on OK. The new project opens under Project in the navigation bar.

Hint

• The six last opened projects are easily available via tiles in the navigation bar element .

• Click to open other projects having the file formats *.topoflight (MISSIONPLANNER project), *.ttkgp (MISSIONPLANNER legacy project) or *.mdb (TrackAir MDB).

3.2. Modifying the coordinate reference system

Creating flight plans only works when the following requirements for the coordinate reference system are met:

• a projected coordinate system is selected

• the axes are orthogonal

• the map unit is in meters [m]

The default base map provided upon project creation utilizes the commonly used Mercator web map projection. Within the secondary sidebar of the Project navigation bar element, locate the COORDINATE SYSTEMS section. There, you can select different coordinate reference systems for the map (Map CRS) and the flight plan (Flight CRS).

The viewer automatically converts any imported maps to match the selected Map CRS. After making changes, new flight line layers are also saved in the selected Map CRS. TOPOFLIGHT MISSIONPLANNER requires that base maps and associated data must be available on a computer in the local network.

Important

Exercise caution and refrain from making excessive adjustments to these settings. If required, modify the Map CRS before creating flight lines.

3.3. Adding base maps and reference data

The TOPOFLIGHT base map is the default map included when you create a project. To select other base maps and add them to the project, click the Base map dropdown arrow and select the required base map.

Hint

When choosing Open WMS/WMTS Layer, a window will appear prompting you to specify the URL and layer name.

Base maps and related reference data can have the following file formats:

• AutoCAD DXF files (*.dxf)

• GEOTIFF

• Google Earth (*.kml)

• Microstation DGN

• MrSID (*.sid). Up to the versions 3.7, MrSid files cannot exceed a certain size (ca. 150 MB)

• Shapefiles (*.shp)

• TIFF with TFW header

Any maps you add are visible in the layers panel.

Hint

For additional information and modifications to a layer, double-click or right-click the layer name in the layers panel.

3.4. Drawing a grid

Clicking on the ellipses next to Draw grid in the secondary sidebar section BASEMAP will open the navigation bar element settings. Refer to grid settings for comprehensive details.

3.5. Defining the AOI (Area of Interest)

You can use the icons under AREA(S) OF INTEREST to perform the following tasks:

Drawing an AOI:

1. Click to draw the area of interest.

2. In the Workspace, left-click to designate the AOI vertices.

3. Right-click or press Esc to end the drawing process.

   

Modifying an AOI:

1. Click to edit the area of interest.

2. Move vertices: Left click on existing perimeter point. The point changes to red. Drag-and-drop the point the the desired location.

3. Add vertices: A new vertex will be added between two points by left-clicking on the point with the lower index number (the point changes to red) and then clicking on the desired position of the new vertex on the map.

4. Right-click or press Esc to end the drawing process.

Splitting an AOI:

1. Click to split an area of interest.

2. Define a cutting line by left-clicking in the workspace, dragging the mouse across the AOI and left-clicking again. Then right-click to accept the line and split the AOI.

   

   Important

   The cutting line must extend across the entire AOI in order to cut it (both start and end points must lie outside the AOI). The AOI is not cut if the cutting line starts or ends inside it!

3. Right-click or press Esc to end the process.

4. Use to delete selected split AOI sections.

Merging an AOI:

1. Click to merge areas of interest.

2. Left-click and drag the mouse across the workspace to activate the rectangle tool and select all AOIs within it (their outlines are highlighted). Upon release of the left mouse button, a dialog box opens. Confirm that you want to merge all intersecting areas you selected.

   

3. Right-click or press Esc to end the process.

Deleting an AOI:

1. Click to delete an area of interest.

2. Left-click the AOI you want to delete.

Saving an AOI as KML file:

1. Click to open the export dialog.

2. Select KML in the left sidebar.

3. Check ProjectArea in the KML export box.

4. Select a path.

   

5. Click on Export.

Saving an AOI as GEOJSON file:

Hint

All AOIs created in TOPOFLIGHT MISSIONPLANNER are automatically saved as GEOJSON files in the project folder.

To manually save a GEOJSON file:

1. Double-click on the layer to open the layer properties.

2. Choose a path and name for the AOI layer.

3. Click to save the layer as GEOJSON file in the designated folder.

   

Importing an AOI:

To import existing AOIs, use either of the following methods:

• Click to import an AOI file.

• A dialog window will prompt you to select the desired file.

OR

• Drag-and-drop an AOI file directly into the workspace.

Hint

Google Earth .kml files, as well as a variety of other file formats, are fully supported.

3.6. Updating the elevation model (DTMs)

When you create a project, SRTM data for the initially selected map section is automatically downloaded (unless Add SRTM elevation data was not selected when creating the project).

Hint

A simple method to determine the presence of elevation data is by examining the status bar. If the Z coordinate displays a numerical value, it indicates the existence of the elevation map layer.

Importing an SRTM for a larger area of coverage:

1. Adjust the map view in your workspace as required.

2. Under ELEVATION MODEL, click Download SRTM. In the current workspace view, any previous SRTM layers are replaced with the updated map data.

Importing other DTMs:

1. Adjust the map view in your workspace as required.

2. Under ELEVATION MODEL, click the arrow next to Download SRTM. A dropdown menu appears allowing you to select the download of the Copernicus (Global DSM), USGS DEM or TIFF DEM. To import Other DEM Files located on your computer, click the corresponding button and select the respective file in the dialog window that appears.

Important

Any previous DEM layers are replaced with the updated map data!

3.7. Importing external data

TOPOFLIGHT MISSIONPLANNER supports numerous common geodata formats. You can easily incorporate external data, such as flight lines or image centers, into the workspace with a simple drag-and-drop action. Refer to the Import options for further information.

Important

Before importing external data, define your sensor(s).

MISSIONPLANNER can consider imported user data, such as flight lines or image positions, as if it had been planned in MISSIONPLANNER. In this case, the input needs to be made available via CSV import. Another option would be for the user to manually create the GEOJSON file. This file format is well documented in the chapter files structure.

3.8. Defining Ground Control Points (GCPs)

You can use the GCP tools to place approximate GCP positions on the map for determination by a ground surveyor. The map can be printed and given to field surveyors. The surveyors know the approximate location where the photogrammetrists have specified a GCP. A surveyor can go to the location to signalize the points and measure its coordinates.

You can use the icons under GROUND CONTROL POINTS to perform the following tasks:

Adding a GCP:

1. In ID, enter the value of the next GCP you will add.

2. In Type, select the type of GCP: Control point or Check point.

3. Click .

4. In the Workspace, click where you want the GCP to appear.

5. After defining the initial GCP, a new map layer will promptly appear in the layers panel.

   

Hint

Refer to the customizing layers section for details on configuring the display of GCPs in the workspace.

Modifying a GCP:

1. Click to edit a GCP.

2. Click an existing GCP and modify the ID value and Type as required.

Deleting a GCP:

1. Click to delete a GCP.

2. Click the GCP you want to delete.

3. Refresh the workspace by clearing the Ground Control Points checkbox, then selecting it again.

Exporting a GCP:

1. Click to export all GCPs to a .csv file with the following columns:

   • PointId

   • Easting [m]

   • Northing [m]

   • Height [m]

   • Latitude [°]

   • Longitude [°]

   • Type

2. In the window that opens, select the folder where the file should be saved and enter a file name.

3. Click Save to export the points.

3.9. Saving a project

Projects are automatically saved when a sensor is added to the project. Any other time, you can manually click the button on the top left in the workspace.

Additionally, it is feasible to save the project under a different name by clicking on the down arrow next to the button. The original project will then remain unchanged.

3.10. Deleting a project

Projects can only be deleted manually in the Explorer.

Deleting a project:

1. Open the Windows Explorer.

2. Navigate to where your project folder is located.

3. Delete the folder, including all of its contents.

4. The next time you launch MISSIONPLANNER the project will no longer appear in the menu.