Exporting in Other Projection Systems

Learn how to export your data using other projection systems.

Accessing Local Projection Exports

Local EPSG projections are available on the Business and Enterprise subscriptions.

Accessing Custom Projection Exports

Custom projection exports are available on Enterprise subscriptions

Sites and surveys are often in a specific local or custom coordinate system to make measurements more accurate and comply with standards set for the sites.

DroneDeploy allows users to export their drone data using a custom coordinate system based on EPSG codes, or custom GCPs. Let's learn how.

Local Projections

In addition to common global coordinate systems such as WGS-84 (EPSG 4326) and Web-Mercator (EPSG 3857), there are hundreds of other projections describing local coordinate systems you can export data in. For example, where we are located in California, we would use EPSG:2227: NAD83 / California Zone 3 (ftUS). To find out the correct EPSG code for your project follow these steps:

1. Find your EPSG Code

EPSG codes are unique identifiers describing the desired projection. The EPSG code for almost any projection can be found on the Spatial Reference Organization's website.

Choose a location using the search bar in the upper right:

Select from the suggested codes based on your area and units.

Make note of the EPSG code corresponding to your map.

2. Select the Layer to Export

Select the layer you would like to export and click Export

Before Exporting...

For Elevation or Plant Health maps, make sure to select the right minimum and maximum bounds under the histogram. (For more information on selecting advanced export options, please see here).

3. Click on 'Map Projection'

4. Select the EPSG code

Taking into account the EPSG from the Step 1, you can either look for that specific code in the drop-down list of suggested EPSG codes or click on the Other EPSG Code option and type the EPSG code:

Options to select or type the EPSG code

Type the EPSG code if you choose to use "Other EPSG Code".

6. Press 'Export' and Enjoy your File!

You will get an email shortly after with a link to download the map in specified EPSG projection.

Custom Coordinate Systems

DroneDeploy also allows you to specify your own coordinate system. This is useful for site-specific reference systems based on a location unique to your site. Currently, this is performed with the GCP Workflow.

1. Upload the GCP CSV using the Custom Coordinates Template

Normally, the GCP CSV template file contains GCP Labels, Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation columns. For defining Custom Coordinates, the template contains three additional columns: Northing, Easting, and Custom Elevation of each GCP in your local system.

Once you attach the CSV file, you will proceed with the GCP workflow normally.

2. In-Browser Tagging: Verify your .CSV

If your GCP .CSV was successfully read by our auto-tagging tool, then this step will be skipped and you will proceed directly to step 4.

If we encountered a problem with your .CSV or EPSG code, you will need to fix this data using our GCP .CSV File Formatting. Please see our GCP .csv File Formatting documentation for a full walkthrough of this process.

3. After Map Processing, Export in Custom Coordinates

You will notice a new "Custom Coordinates" drop-down option in the Export projections menu when your map successfully processes with GCPs. Exports made with this option selected will be georeferenced in your custom coordinate system.

4. Press 'Export' and Enjoy your File!