8. Settings

Display and flight line settings for TOPOFLIGHT MISSIONPLANNER can be modified in the individual secondary sidebar menus and in the layers panel. It is also possible to configure many general settings in the Navigation bar Settings menu.

8.1. General settings

Navigate to the Navigation bar Settings menu and open the dialog box to configure general display, flight line and elevation data settings.

8.1.1. Display settings

In the Navigation bar Settings menu, choose Display settings.

User interface style

Different user interface styles are available, allowing you to select your preferred design.

The default style is Windows.

Layer styling

In the section Layer styling, select the path to the directory housing your personalized layer styling. Find out more about customized layer styles in the layers panel settings.

It is also possible to revert to the MISSIONPLANNER default styling by clicking Restore default layer styling.

Grid settings

Changing grid display parameters:

1. In the settings dialog box rubric Display settings, check the box Draw grid.

2. Configure the coordinate system and the grid spacing options.

3. Click Update grid to display the chosen settings.

4. Click on Okay to close the dialog box.

Important

Remember to click on Update grid after checking or unchecking the Draw grid box or making changes to the grid settings before proceeding to the Okay button.

Map scale

Defining the scale of a map:

1. In the workspace, click on the scale positioned at the bottom-right corner.

   

2. A dialog box opens in which the scale of the map can be defined, e.g. 1:50’000.

Logging

Various options for logging files are available at the bottom of the settings window (rubric Display settings), including opening the log at startup, automatic log saving and changing the log folder location. Click Clear log files to delete log files or Open folder with logs for quick and easy access to existing log files.

Accessing the log window and further options:

1. In the settings dialog box rubric Display settings, click on the button Open log window.

2. A new window will open showing the most recent log messages:

   • Click on Save logfile to save these messages to a file.

   • Click on Clear logfile to delete the displayed messages.

   • Click on Logging level to filter the shown messages based on the selected severity (Error/Warning/Info/Debug).

Hint

Some log messages can be used for flight line and point editing, see log options.

8.1.2. Flight lines

In the Navigation bar Settings menu, choose Flight lines.

Flight line settings

Set the main flight line properties:

• Minimum flight line length [m]

  All flight lines will be at least this long.

  Use this setting to make sure all calculated flight lines are long enough for reasonable flight maneuvering.
• Minimum gap length [m]

  The gap between two flight lines will be at least this wide.
• Minimum HAGL [m]

  All calculated flight lines will be at least this high above the ground level.

  This function ensures that the averaged flight line heights will be at least the specified height of meters above e.g. any mountain peaks.

  Important

  Caution: this HAGL setting will overwrite the HAGL set in the sensor configuration.

• Number of image points per side

  This number determines how many points are calculated between the corner points of footprints.

  Recommended setting: 1

  Increasing this number will increase the computation time.
• Extend flight line to the last image center

  Check or uncheck this box according to your requirements.

  When selected, the required image overlap is maintained even for the last point of the flight line.
• Line numbering

  Select whether to increase the Parent ID or Segment ID
• Image numbering

  Select whether the image identifiers should commence at 0, 1, or if unique values are preferred throughout the entire project.

Flying height calculation

Flying height lines can be calculated using one of four distinct methods. The selected approach is displayed in the figure to the right of the parameters.

Min. terrain Lowest terrain elevation
Max. terrain Highest terrain elevation
Mean terrain elevation Recommended in most scenarios
Terrain following mode Constant height above ground
Fixed altitude Enter value in [m] or [ft].

Check Allow line stepping to enable steps in height in an individual flight line. This can be useful when there are large differences in height along a flight line and the mean terrain elevation becomes unsuitable.

Important

Line stepping must be used with caution since it interferes with the min. HAGL!

Terrain following mode for CSV import

When image positions are imported via CSV, MISSIONPLANNER automatically generates flight lines. MISSIONPLANNER requires clarification whether the positions are at the same flying altitude or were planned in terrain following mode. For this reason, there is this setting to manage the threshold.

Important

Upon CSV import, users should specify the threshold (% of HAGL) MISSIONPLANNER uses to identify terrain variations.

Overlap calculation

The maximum intermediate angle between flight lines for which overlaps will be calculated can be defined in order to include or exclude adjacent flight lines.

Adjusting the intermediate angle for overlap calculation:

1. Open the settings dialog box to the rubric Flight lines.

2. At the bottom of the window there is a section called Overlap calculation.

3. Adjust the value of the angle in degrees and click OK. A low value will include only nearly parallel lines, while a higher value will also consider lines that are less parallel.

8.1.3. Elevation data

In the Navigation bar Settings menu, choose Elevation data.

SRTM Download

Set the following elevation data properties:

• SRTM Download Path

  Specifies the folder where SRTM files that you download for your projects are saved.

  You can change the default folder to another location.

  Important

  Do not specify a folder that you cannot always access, such as one on a server.

• SRTM no data value

  Specifies the value in meters to use when SRTM data is not available, for example, above an ocean.

  Default value: 0

SRTM Coloring

Set the color scheme for differentiating between different altitudes in the SRTM data.

Important

The new terrain color map you choose will only come into effect once you have redownloaded the SRTM elevation model.

Vertical Datum

• Use EGM96 Geoid (recommended): The height reference system of the SRTM tiles and most other elevation data.

• Reduce to WGS84 ellipsoid: activate to reduce SRTM data from EGM96 Geoid to WGS84 ellipsoid.

  Important

  Your flight plan altitude values will be based on the WGS84 ellipsoid. Verify that your GPS/IMU settings are configured accordingly!

8.2. Customizing layers

Various layer options, such as the name of the layer or its transparency, can be accessed by double-clicking on a layer in the layers panel or right-clicking on a layer and selecting Layer properties.

Hint

To change the stacking order of the layers between front and back, drag each layer up or down as required.

8.2.1. Customizing layer properties

Users can define and save the properties of symbols, lines and other elements utilized in the individual layers.

Personalizing markers:

1. In the Layers panel, double-click or right-click on a layer name and select Layer properties to open the dialog box.

2. In the General section, it is possible to select and alter various parameters, such as the name of the layer or its transparency.

3. Navigate to the Section section to customize the color and style of markers, areas and lines, for example.

4. Example for customized image position markers:

   

Personalizing labels:

1. To hide the label on the map, clear the Visible checkbox in the respective section.

2. Example for customized labels:

   

3. Right-click and choose Save as default style to apply your style to any subsequent markers, areas or lines.

8.2.2. Saving layer styles

Saving layer styles:

1. In the Layers panel, double-click or right-click on a layer name and select Layer properties to open the dialog box.

2. Click on the save icon on the bottom left and enter a name for your layer style to save it as a TatukGIS layer Style file (*.ttkstyle).

8.2.3. Loading layer styles

Loading saved layer styles:

1. In the Layers panel, double-click or right-click on a layer name and select Layer properties to open the dialog box.

2. Click on the folder icon on the bottom left, select the path and name of your desired layer style.

3. Select Okay or Apply to apply the changes.

8.2.4. Deleting layers

Prior to deleting a layer, a dialog box prompts the user to decide whether to remove the layer solely from the layers panel or delete the entire file from the project folder. Additionally, there is an option to cancel the action altogether.

8.2.5. Zooming to layers

How to zoom:

1. Click on in the top left corner of the workspace to view the project extent that was set upon project creation.

OR

1. Right-click on a layer name and select Zoom to layer.

2. The content of the respective layer will be set to fill the entire workspace.

   Important

   Avoid using this function on the base map, as it will zoom out to the map view of the entire Earth.

Reset the project extent:

1. Adjust the workspace view by zooming in or out to capture the desired project extent.

2. Go to the secondary sidebar rubric PROJECT SETTINGS.

3. Click on Set project extent.

4. now has been reset to the selected area.

8.3. 3D view mode

Get a more comprehensive perspective of your flight plan through 3D visualization. Click on in the top left corner of the workspace. Utilize the left mouse button by clicking and holding to manipulate and rotate the perspective. The 3D view is only applied to layers it has been activated for.

Activate the 3D view for individual layers:

1. Within the layers panel, double-click on e.g. the layer ImagePosition or FlightLines.

2. Proceed to Sections, select 3D, click on Treat layer as 3D Object.

3. Confirm by clicking Apply followed by OK.

Important

Prior to switching to the 3D mode, configure the current 2D view to display the content you wish to observe in the 3D environment, e.g. by clicking for choosing the entire project extent. Subsequently, click to ensure that the visualization encompasses more than just a zoomed-in area.