Creating and configuring projects ================================= This section describes how to create and configure projects in |Company Software name|. 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 |Company Software name|, 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. Creating a new project ---------------------- .. topic:: To create a project: #. In the navigation bar, click |start| **Start**. #. Click |new add| **New project**. #. Specify the path for the project files. If necessary, create a new folder by right-clicking within the folder structure and choosing *new*, then *folder*. Provide a name for the folder, double-click to select it, and input your project name at the bottom of the dialog box. Finally, click on **save** to generate a new file with the specified project name. #. 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* #. 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 :ref:`modify the coordinate reference system ` thoughtfully! #. 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 :ref:`Elevation data settings `. .. image:: ../../pics/projects/project_create_new.png #. 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 |start|. * Click |open| to open other projects having the file formats *\*.topoflight* (|Software name| project), *\*.ttkgp* (|Software name| legacy project) or *\*.mdb* (TrackAir MDB). .. _modifying CRS: 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. |Company Software name| 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. Adding base maps and reference data ----------------------------------- The |Company name| 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 :ref:`layers panel `. .. hint:: For additional :ref:`information and modifications to a layer`, double-click or right-click the layer name in the layers panel. Drawing a grid -------------- Clicking on the ellipses next to *Draw grid* in the secondary sidebar section *BASEMAP* will open the navigation bar element :doc:`settings <./Settings>`. Refer to :ref:`grid settings ` for comprehensive details. .. _def AOI: Defining the AOI (Area of Interest) ----------------------------------- You can use the icons under *AREA(S) OF INTEREST* to perform the following tasks: .. image:: ../SharedGraphics/projects/project_areaofinterest.png .. topic:: Drawing an AOI: #. Click |plus| to draw the area of interest. #. In the :ref:`Workspace `, left-click to designate the AOI vertices. #. Right-click or press Esc to end the drawing process. .. image:: ../../pics/projects/project_drawAOI.png .. topic:: Modifying an AOI: #. Click |pencil| to edit the area of interest. #. Move vertices: Left click on existing perimeter point. The point changes to red. Drag-and-drop the point the the desired location. #. 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. #. Right-click or press Esc to end the drawing process. .. topic:: Deleting an AOI: #. Click |trash can| to delete an area of interest. #. Left-click the AOI you want to delete. .. topic:: Saving an AOI as KML file: #. Click |export| to open the export dialog. #. Select *KML* in the left sidebar. #. Check *ProjectArea* in the KML export box. #. Select a path. #. Click on **Export**. .. image:: ../SharedGraphics/projects/project_exportAOI.png .. topic:: Saving an AOI as GEOJSON file: .. hint:: All AOIs created in |Company Software name| are automatically saved as GEOJSON files in the project folder. To manually save a GEOJSON file: #. Double-click on the layer to open the :ref:`layer properties`. #. Choose a path and name for the AOI layer. #. Click |save| to save the layer as GEOJSON file in the designated folder. .. image:: ../SharedGraphics/projects/project_exportAOI_2.png .. topic:: Importing an AOI: To import existing AOIs, use either of the following methods: * Click |import| 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. .. _updating-DTMs: 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 :ref:`status bar`. If the Z coordinate displays a numerical value, it indicates the existence of the elevation map layer. .. topic:: Importing an SRTM for a larger area of coverage: #. Adjust the map view in your workspace as required. #. Under *ELEVATION MODEL*, click **Download SRTM**. Any previous SRTM layers are replaced with the updated map data for the current workspace view. .. hint:: You can also import other DTMs, such as USGS DEMs or TIFF DEM files by clicking the **Download SRTM** dropdown arrow. Importing external data ----------------------- |Company Software name| 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 :doc:`Import options <./Import>` for further information. .. important:: Before importing external data, :doc:`define your sensor(s) <./ConfiguringSensors>`. |Software name| can consider imported user data, such as flight lines or image positions, as if it had been planned in |Software name|. 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 :doc:`files structure <./../Files/index>`. 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: .. topic:: Adding a GCP: #. In *ID*, enter the value of the next GCP you will add. #. In *Type*, select the type of GCP: **Control point** or **Check point**. #. Click |plus|. #. In the :ref:`Workspace `, click where you want the GCP to appear. #. After defining the initial GCP, a new map layer will promptly appear in the layers panel. .. image:: ../SharedGraphics/projects/project_GCP.png .. hint:: Refer to the :ref:`customizing layers` section for details on configuring the display of GCPs in the workspace. .. topic:: Modifying a GCP: #. Click |pencil| to edit a GCP. #. Click an existing GCP and modify the *ID* value and *Type* as required. .. topic:: Deleting a GCP: #. Click |trash can| to delete a GCP. #. Click the GCP you want to delete. #. Refresh the workspace by clearing the Ground Control Points checkbox, then selecting it again. Saving a project ---------------- Projects are automatically saved when a sensor is added to the project. Any other time, you can manually click the |save| 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 |save| button. The original project will then remain unchanged. Deleting a project ------------------ Projects can only be deleted manually in the Explorer. .. topic:: Deleting a project: #. Open the Windows Explorer. #. Navigate to where your project folder is located. #. Delete the folder, including all of its contents. #. The next time you launch |Software name| the project will no longer appear in the |start| menu.