Surveys
Importing Processed Data
If you already process your drone data in external photogrammetry software, SiteView lets you import the finished outputs directly. Upload your orthophotos, point clouds, and DEMs from Pix4D, DroneDeploy, Agisoft Metashape, or any other tool that produces standard output formats.
When to Use Import
Use the import workflow when:
- You have an existing photogrammetry pipeline using Pix4D, DroneDeploy, Agisoft Metashape, or similar software
- Your outputs are already processed and ready to view
- You want faster upload-to-display times (no processing step required)
- You need specific processing parameters that your external software provides
If you have raw drone images and no external processing software, use Drone Image Processing instead, which uses NodeODM to handle the photogrammetry within SiteView.
Supported File Types
SiteView accepts three types of pre-processed outputs:
| Output Type | Accepted Formats | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Orthophoto | GeoTIFF (.tif, .tiff) | A geo-referenced aerial mosaic image |
| DEM | GeoTIFF (.tif, .tiff) | A Digital Elevation Model (height raster) |
| Point Cloud | LAS (.las), LAZ (.laz) | A dense 3D point cloud (LAZ is compressed LAS) |
ℹ️ Did you know?
Most photogrammetry software exports in these standard formats by default. Check your software's export settings if you are unsure which format to select. GeoTIFF is the most common format for orthophotos and DEMs across all major tools.
The Upload Modal
To import processed data, open a survey in the Pending status and select the import option. The upload modal presents three separate drop zones — one for each output type.
![[Screenshot: Import modal with three file drop zones labelled Orthophoto, DEM, and Point Cloud, each with a drag-and-drop area and file type indicators]](/images/placeholder.png)
Upload Steps
- Drag and drop files into the corresponding drop zones (or click to browse)
- Top zone: Orthophoto (GeoTIFF)
- Middle zone: DEM (GeoTIFF)
- Bottom zone: Point Cloud (LAS/LAZ)
- Each drop zone shows the selected file name and size after a file is added
- You do not need to upload all three — upload only the outputs you have
- Click Upload to begin the transfer
💡 Tip
You do not need all three output types. If your photogrammetry software only produced an orthophoto and a DEM (no point cloud), upload just those two. The survey will still be usable — elevation-dependent measurement tools will work with the DEM, and the orthophoto will display as an overlay.
File Validation and CRS Detection
When you select files for upload, SiteView validates them before processing begins:
Validation Checks
- File format — confirms the file is a valid GeoTIFF (for orthophoto/DEM) or LAS/LAZ (for point cloud)
- Coordinate Reference System (CRS) — reads the embedded CRS from the file's metadata
- File integrity — checks that the file is not corrupt or truncated
CRS Detection
SiteView automatically detects the coordinate reference system from the uploaded files. Supported CRS options include:
- MGA2020 zones 49-56 (Australian map grid zones)
- NZTM2000 (New Zealand Transverse Mercator)
- WGS84 (global latitude/longitude)
The detected CRS is displayed in the upload modal so you can confirm it matches your expectations. If the CRS cannot be detected (e.g., the file has no embedded projection information), a warning is shown and you may need to check your export settings.
⚠️ Watch out!
Files without an embedded coordinate reference system may not position correctly on the globe. Always ensure your photogrammetry software embeds the CRS when exporting. Most software does this by default, but it can sometimes be disabled in export settings.
Processing After Upload
Although imported files skip the photogrammetry step, they still require processing to prepare them for web display:
Orthophoto Processing
The GeoTIFF orthophoto is tiled into a web-friendly format for efficient streaming to the CesiumJS globe. This typically takes 1-5 minutes depending on the file size.
Point Cloud Processing
LAS/LAZ point clouds are converted to 3D Tiles format for rendering on the globe. This conversion enables level-of-detail streaming, so the point cloud loads efficiently even for large datasets. Processing time scales with the number of points.
DEM Processing
The DEM GeoTIFF is stored and indexed for use by measurement tools. This is the fastest step — typically just a few seconds.
Progress for each output is shown with individual progress indicators in the upload modal.
Compatible Software
SiteView accepts standard output files from any photogrammetry software. Here are export notes for the most common tools:
| Software | Orthophoto Export | DEM Export | Point Cloud Export |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pix4D | GeoTIFF from Results folder | GeoTIFF DSM/DTM | LAS from point cloud export |
| DroneDeploy | Download as GeoTIFF | Download as GeoTIFF | Download as LAS |
| Agisoft Metashape | Export Orthomosaic as GeoTIFF | Export DEM as GeoTIFF | Export Dense Cloud as LAS/LAZ |
| WebODM | GeoTIFF from outputs | GeoTIFF DSM from outputs | LAS from outputs |
💡 Tip
When exporting from your photogrammetry software, ensure you select a supported coordinate system (MGA2020, NZTM2000, or WGS84). This ensures correct positioning when the data is displayed on the SiteView globe.
What's Next?
- Survey Layers & Overlays — toggle and adjust your imported data on the globe
- Drone Image Processing — the alternative workflow for raw drone images
- Creating Surveys — go back to survey creation and management