Mapping and Google Earth KLM file

Ed Beck · Apr 12, 2016

I'm trying to make a detailed image with elevation information that I can then make work with Google Earth.

I'm using Pix4Dmapper pro to create orthomosaic and DSM files. The application gives me the option of creating Google Maps KLM files but fails saying that I have an invalid geotiff.

Looking at the JPGs created from my Hero 4 Silver I see that there are no latitude and longitude coordinates for each image.

Are we supposed to be able to write the Lat/Long to the image?

If so, how?

Has anyone gone down this path and can offer some help, discussion?

Thanks,

PdxSteve · Apr 12, 2016

I've read that Mission Planner can go back and retag the lat/lng coords in the images if you have all of the images in a folder along with the TLOG file. It uses the log file to reference the images and then adds the exif data.

Ahh, found what I was looking for. I hope this helps: How to Geotag Images with the 3DRobotics Solo | Stefan On Software

Ed Beck · Apr 12, 2016

PdxSteve said:
Ahh, found what I was looking for. I hope this helps: How to Geotag Images with the 3DRobotics Solo | Stefan On Software

Thank you! I'll try this out later and let you know how it went.

MillsapsPE · Apr 12, 2016

The mosaic has to be georeferenced somehow in order to generate the kml.
Did you use ground control points (GCPs)?
I use Agisoft Photoscan instead of Pix4d, but photoscan will generate a (georeferenced) kml if either the photos were geotagged (prior to alignment) and/or if you used ground control points. I'm pretty sure Pix4d will do the same.

Ed Beck · Apr 12, 2016

MillsapsPE said:
The mosaic has to be georeferenced somehow in order to generate the kml.
Did you use ground control points (GCPs)?
I use Agisoft Photoscan instead of Pix4d, but photoscan will generate a (georeferenced) kml if either the photos were geotagged (prior to alignment) and/or if you used ground control points. I'm pretty sure Pix4d will do the same.

I did not use GCPs. I guess my best hope is to follow the previous post and use my roof to georeference each image.

MillsapsPE · Apr 12, 2016

I believe you need at least 2 GCPs. Two will help with scale and orientation. More than 2 is even better.

Ed Beck · Apr 14, 2016

PdxSteve said:
I've read that Mission Planner can go back and retag the lat/lng coords in the images if you have all of the images in a folder along with the TLOG file. It uses the log file to reference the images and then adds the exif data.

Ahh, found what I was looking for. I hope this helps: How to Geotag Images with the 3DRobotics Solo | Stefan On Software

Looks like this is going to work. Thanks.

LarryF · Apr 14, 2016

Geosetter is MUCH better than relying on Mission Planner to properly geotag photos with a time offset. With Geosetter (free), you can visually line up your photo overlaid onto a Google Earth map. The only "gotcha" is you need to convert your TLOG into a GPX file with Mission Planner first. Geosetter can't read TLOG files, but it handles GPX files just great.