Create 3D products with ArcGIS Drone2Map

Known for its unique architecture and strategic location, Trakai Island Castle was a center of political power in the medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 1400s. It stands as a historic fortress surrounded by serene lakes and, today, it's a cultural icon and popular tourist destination.

To preserve this castle for future generations, your manager has tasked you with creating a 3D model of the project site for project planning purposes from drone imagery. Additionally, this model will also be used to promote tourism at the fortress through virtual exploration.

In this tutorial, you'll process drone imagery to create this model using ArcGIS Drone2Map and share it to the web for visualization and analysis.

This tutorial was last tested on March 17, 2025, using ArcGIS Drone2Map 2025.1. If you're using a different version of this application, you may encounter different functionality and results.

View final result

Requirements

• ArcGIS Drone2Map Advanced (see options for software access)
• ArcGIS Coordinate Systems Data (learn more)
• ArcGIS organizational account with a Publisher or Administrator role

Create a project

The first step toward creating a 3D model of the castle is to create and configure a Drone2Map project.

Download the imagery

The images that the drone captured are stored online in a .zip file. You'll download the file, unzip its contents, and look at one of the images before you add them to a Drone2Map project.

1. Download the Create_3D_products_with_ArcGIS_Drone2Map .zip file.

   Note:

   The file is over 4.6 GB and may take a few minutes to download.

2. Locate the downloaded file. Extract it to a location on your computer you can easily find, such as your Documents folder.
3. Open the Create_3D_products_with_ArcGIS_Drone2Map folder. Open the Drone Imagery folder.

   

   There are 360 images.

4. Open the image named DJI_20210412144652_0005.

   Tip:

   It's the fifth image in the folder.

   

   A preview appears. The image appears sideways, but Drone2Map will be able to process the imagery.

5. Close the preview.
6. Close the Drone Imagery folder.

Create a project using a template

Next, you'll create a project in Drone2Map. Your project will be based on a template suited to your needs and include the imagery you downloaded.

1. Start ArcGIS Drone2Map.

   Note:

   If you don't have Drone2Map, see options for software access.

2. If prompted, sign in to your ArcGIS account.

   Note:

   If you don't have an organizational account, see options for software access.

   First, you'll choose a processing template. These templates provide you with default settings to create 2D and 3D products. For this project, you'll choose the 3D Products template. This project allows you to create point clouds and 3D models, known as meshes. These are the products you'll use to take measurements of the castle for your manager.

   Note:

   To learn more about processing templates, see Create a project.

3. Under Processing Template, choose 3D Products.

   

   Next, you'll give your project a name.

4. Under Project Name, type Trakai_Island_Castle.

   

5. Optionally, choose a location in which to save your project.

   When a project is created, a folder directory will be created for your Drone2Map project file, imagery products, and other datasets.

   Next, you'll add your drone imagery to the project. You can either select specific images or add folders that contain images. Because your images are in the Drone Imagery folder, you'll add this folder to the project.

6. Click Add Folder.

   

   The Browse for Image Folder window appears.

7. Browse to and select the Drone Imagery folder. Click OK.

   The 360 images you saw earlier are loaded into the project.

   

   Each image contains metadata that has a Lat [Y] (degrees latitude), Lon [X] (degrees longitude), and Alt [Z] (height) attribute. These geographic attributes were stored by the drone when it captured each image and allow the camera location of each image to be placed on a map.

   Note:

   You can add control points to your project to improve your final outputs' positional accuracy. To learn how to add control points to a Drone2Map project, see Evaluate the accuracy of ground control points and Create 2D products with ArcGIS Drone2Map.

8. Click Create.

   Your image locations are added to a map and the project is automatically saved. Additionally, a line feature, Flight Lines, that estimates the drone's flight path is created from the time stamps of each drone image.

   

In this module, you created a Drone2Map project and added 360 drone images to it.

Process imagery and review results

Now that the images have been brought into Drone2Map, you're almost ready to process your imagery. Before you begin the processing, you'll explore processing options. Processing options allow you to determine the products that Drone2Map will create and their overall quality.

Configure processing options

Before processing your imagery, you'll use the Options window to review your project's inputs and outputs.

1. On the ribbon, click the Home tab. In the Processing group, click Options.

   

   The Options window appears.

   

   This window allows you to configure key components of the photogrammetric process to meet your specific analysis requirements. The default options were set when you chose the 3D Products template.

   Note:

   For a more in-depth explanation of the options available, see Processing options.

   Next, you'll explore some of the options.

2. In the Options window, confirm that the General tab is selected.

   

   The General tab is where you can adjust the quality and resolution of output products. You can also define how much of your computer's processing power is used when generating those products. For example, if you wanted to process your imagery faster, you could change the Point Cloud Density parameter to Medium. This change would process your imagery faster, but also reduce the quality of your outputs.

3. Click the Adjust Images tab.

   

   The Adjust Images tab allows you to define settings used during the block adjustment process, tie point matching, and point cloud generation. These are the various subprocesses that occur when Drone2Map creates your imagery products.

4. Click the 3D Products tab.

   

   The 3D Products tab allows you to adjust the processing options and desired outputs for your point clouds, DSM textured meshes, and 3D textured meshes. The Create Point Clouds and Create 3D Textured Meshes products are selected by default because you chose the 3D Products template. These can be created in different formats depending on your use case.

   The other tabs in the Options window allow you to output 2D products, review your project's coordinate system, and view other details regarding your project.

   Before you begin processing your imagery, you'll review your outputs in the Manage pane.

5. Click OK.
6. On the ribbon, click the Home tab. In the Processing group, click Manage.

   

   The Manage pane appears. This pane provides you with an overview of the products that will be created when you process your imagery.

7. In the Manage pane, expand the 2D Products and Report groups.

   

   Under 3D Products, 3D Mesh and 3D Point Cloud are queued for processing. Under 2D Products, only Image Collection is selected because this is always required when processing imagery with Drone2Map. True Ortho, Digital Surface Model, Digital Terrain Model, and DSM Point Cloud are not checked. This is because you chose the 3D Products template. Under Report, a Processing Report will be created. The report provides valuable information about the quality and accuracy of your imagery inputs and outputs.

   Next, you'll process your imagery.

8. On the ribbon, click the Home tab. In the Processing group, click Start.

   

   Note:

   If the Processing Warning window appears, click No. This warning indicates that a transformation cannot be found between the coordinate system of the drone imagery and your project's coordinate system. To obtain the correct transformation, you need to install ArcGIS Coordinate Systems Data. Save your project, close Drone2Map, install ArcGIS Coordinate Systems Data, reopen the Drone2Map project, and begin processing.

   Processing may take 1 to 2 hours and can vary based on your computer's hardware.

   The processing progress appears in the Manage pane.

   

9. When the processing finishes, click the 3D Map view to see several layers that are added to the Contents pane and the scene.

   

Review the imagery products

Now, you'll explore the imagery products on the map to better understand the project area. As you explore the 3D mesh, note the castle's distinctive design—Trakai Island Castle was constructed in the 14th century as a stronghold for Lithuanian dukes, strategically located on an island to defend against invaders. Today, its preserved architecture reflects the medieval grandeur of Eastern Europe.

1. In the Contents pane, collapse and turn off the Project Data group.

   

   Now, the 3D imagery products are more visible.

   

   Next, you will explore the 3D data in your project area. You'll start by looking at the 3D Mesh layer.

2. On the ribbon, click the Home tab. In the Navigate group, click Explore.

   

3. Explore the details of the castle in the scene by clicking and holding the left mouse button, which allows you to drag and pan the map. Holding the right mouse button allows you to zoom in and out. Holding the wheel button allows you to tilt or rotate around the point you clicked. You can also navigate using the B and V keys instead of the mouse buttons.

   Note:

   To learn more about 3D navigation in Drone2Map, see Navigation.

   

   Next, you'll explore the point cloud layer.

4. In the Contents pane, turn off 3D Mesh and DEM. Turn on 3D Point Cloud.

   

5. Explore the details of the castle's point cloud.

   

   Each point in the Point Cloud layer contains information. You'll explore a point next.

6. Click any point.

   The Pop-up window appears with information, such as the coordinates and elevation, about the point.

   

7. Close the Pop-up window.

   Now, you'll save your project.

8. On the Quick Access Toolbar, click Save Project.

   

Clip the project area

While exploring the scene, you found that the vegetation and water surrounding the island introduce artifacts and noise into the products you created. Before sharing these imagery products, you'll clip the 3D mesh to remove the water and vegetation. This will focus your audience's attention to the castle.

1. On the ribbon, click the Home tab. In the Post-Processing group, click Clip Area.

   

   The Clip Area tools allow you to define a shape to clip your products along a specified boundary. You can either define your own area or import an existing area. A shapefile containing an area was provided in the Create_3D_products_with_ArcGIS_Drone2Map folder you downloaded earlier. You'll use this area.

2. Choose Import Clip Features.

   

   The Browse to Feature Class window appears.

3. In the Browse to Feature Class window, browse to the Create_3D_products_with_ArcGIS_Drone2Map folder. Open the Project Area folder. Select Project_Area.

   

4. Click OK.

   The area is added to the scene in the Project Data group, but it cannot be seen. You'll change the visibility of several layers to make the clip area visible.

5. In the Contents pane, turn on 3D Mesh. Turn off 3D Point Cloud.

   

6. Pan the scene to see the Clip Area boundary.

   

   Next, you'll remove everything outside of this boundary, keeping only the castle. The clip process creates a new 3D mesh. The original imagery products are not deleted.

7. On the ribbon, click the Home tab. In the Post-Processing group, click Clip.

   

8. In the Clip Products window, click Yes.

   The clipped mesh is added to the Contents pane under the Clipped 3D Products group. It is also visible in the scene.

   

   You'll explore the results of the clip next.

9. In the Contents pane, turn off Project Data.
10. Explore the clipped 3D mesh of the castle.

    

In this module, you configured the processing options for Drone2Map and created 3D mesh and a point cloud. Then, you explored the results and clipped the 3D mesh to the project area to remove the surrounding water and vegetation.

Share and measure results

Now you'll share these products with coworkers, stakeholders, clients, or the public using a web scene. Sharing this 3D model online makes Trakai Island Castle accessible to a wider audience, showcasing its beauty and preserving its legacy in a digital format. When sharing content to the web, you can either use an ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise account.

Share the 3D mesh

In this section, you'll share the 3D mesh you created to the web.

1. On the ribbon, click the Share tab. In the Share As group, click Scene Layer.

   

   The Share Scene Layers pane appears. This pane allows you to choose the layers that you want to publish. You'll only share the clipped mesh.

2. In the Share Scene Layers pane, under Layers, check the box next to 3D Mesh Clip.

   

   Next, you'll enter some details about your layer. These details make your dataset more searchable within your organization or across the web.

3. Enter the following information:

   • For Title, type Trakai Island Castle.
   • For Description, type Mesh of Trakai Island Castle to view and explore.
   • For Tags, type Trakai Island Castle and press Enter.

   

   Next, you'll choose who is able to access your 3D mesh. For initial internal review with your manager and colleagues, you'll share it with your organization.

4. Under Groups, check the box next to Organization.

   

   You're ready to share your mesh to the web.

5. Click Share.

   

   The Manage pane appears. Your data is packaged and published to the web as a series of items. This process may take several minutes.

   

   Once the sharing is complete, you'll review the shared item on the web.

6. In the Manage pane, next to Shared Item, click Trakai Island Castle 3D Mesh Clip.

   

   A web browser opens. You'll sign in using the same account that licensed Drone2Map.

7. Sign in using your licensed ArcGIS account.

   The details page of your scene layer appears.

8. Click Open in Scene Viewer.

   

   A scene opens and your clipped mesh from Drone2Map is added as a layer.

   

Take a measurement

Next, you'll explore the mesh and use a measurement tool. Then, you'll save the scene.

1. In the scene, navigate to the front of the castle's tallest tower.

   

2. On the toolbar, click Scene Tools.

   

   These tools are used to perform various measurements on the mesh or other layers that you may choose to add to your scene. You'll draw an elevation profile across the tower to measure its height and width.

3. In the Scene Tools window, click Elevation Profile.

   

   An elevation profile is a line graph consisting of at least two points. The elevation of the surface beneath the line is plotted on the graph. Your profile will have two points, one on each side of the tower.

4. Click the left side of the tower by the supporting wall. Click a second time on the opposite side of the tower by the supporting wall.

   

   As you add points, the elevation profile draws dynamically.

5. In the Scene Tools window, click Done.

   The elevation profile is complete.

   Note:

   If you make an error or want to try again, click New Profile.

   Next, you'll observe the measurement to learn the height of the tower above ground level.

6. Point to the highest part of the tower in the elevation profile.

   

   Its height is about 626 feet and the ground at that same point is about 493 feet. Therefore, the tower is 133 feet tall.

   Note:

   To change the unit of measurement, click Show settings and change the Units option.

7. Close the Scene Tools window.

   Finally, you'll save your scene.

8. On the Designer toolbar, click Save.

   

   The Save scene window appears.

9. In the Save scene window, enter the following:

   • For Title, type Trakai Island Castle.
   • For Summary, type Scene containing a mesh of Trakai Island Castle.
   • For Tags, type Trakai Island Castle and press Enter.

   

10. Click Save.

In this tutorial, you took raw drone imagery and processed it into 3D products using Drone2Map. You examined the products in a 3D scene and shared them to the web so others can explore them.

You can find more tutorials in the tutorial gallery.

Acknowledgements

• The drone images of Trakai Island Castle were provided by HNIT-BALTIC, Lithuania.
• World Imagery layer sources: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community
• World Topographic Map sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community
• Terrain 3D; Sources: Maxar, Airbus DS, USGS, NGA, NASA, CGIAR, GEBCO, N Robinson, NCEAS, NLS, OS, NMA, Geodatastyrelsen and the GIS User Community