The TOPODRONE company is the official partner and distributor of UgCS software.
This is the start of a series of guides and recommendations on the use of UgCS for different mission planning tasks.
In case you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us.
Preparations and mission planning
1. Preparing UgCS: Install the UgCS tool suite and run it. Open “Settings”, “Interface” and select your local language.
Configuring the drone profile: Open “profiles” menu. Select your drone model. After that select “Editing”. Set options and save changes. Please bear in mind that the “Operational range” parameter constrains the flight area.
2. Setting up the mapping project. Open the “Main menu” and select “Create a new mission”. Then select “From scratch” and choose your drone model.
Set initial project settings and press OK.
3. Uploading operational area from KMZ or KML files: Open the “Map settings” menu and select “Map layers”.
Open the “2D objects” tab and click the “Add” button, make a new layer and upload KMZ file to it. Add the layer to the map and display your working area on the map by pressing “>”.
4. Map and terrain caching: Select “Map options” menu and “Offline map”. Your working area data will now be available offline in the field. It is recommended to calculate the routes online. UgCS caches map and altitude data with the route, so they will be available offline.
5. Custom orthophotomosaic and terrain map uploading: If either the situation has significantly changed or your working area has an inaccurate map, you can upload custom orthophotomosaic and DEM. Use standard UTM projection and WGS84 ellipsoid.
5.1. In order for orthophotomosaic to be displayed, open the “Map settings” menu, “Map layers”. Create a new source in a Map tab and upload your orthophotomosaic here. Make it Active with the ‘>’ button.
5.2. In order for DEM to be displayed, open the “Height” tab, create a new terrain source, upload DEM in raster and add it to the map.
Free accurate high-altitude data for the areas to the north of 60 degrees can be downloaded from here: https://www.pgc.umn.edu/data/arcticdem/
ArcticDEM data with the step of 32 meters are available here: http://terrain.ugcs.com/arctic_dem_32m
One shall create a new source of high-altitude data, choose “Foreign” data type and past the link above to use the data directly inside UgCS.
Now you can safely plan missions based on the current situation.
6. Mission planning
6.1 Choose the start point with the “Point” tool and add it to the map. Adjust flight speed and altitude. It is recommended to set the start point close to take off point and, concerning nearby obstacles, set the safe initial altitude. Besides, the landing shall be done manually.
6.2 Choose “Photogrammetry tool”, adjust shooting parameters (resolution, forward and side overlap, turn type and set AGL parameter for terrain following. Set the shooting area borders by double-clicking its nodes.
6.3 Set the return point. With “Point” tool place it on the map and set the altitude and the speed.
6.4 Check the flight trajectory and length. In “Parameters” menu select “Show terrain”.
6.5 Move to a next flight. Copy the previous mission and place it at a new area. Select “Add route” in the “Parameters” menu. This will display a new route in the top right corner of the UgCS window.
In the “Parameters” of the new route click on “Choose all segments” and drag-and-drop the route on a new place. Adjust the start and finish points.
You can plan a shooting mission with two or more flights. Just move the start point to the previous finish point. It can be done with the “Adjust start point” option.
Consider your drone flight time limits during the mission planning.
In case you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us at info@topodrone.org