The Aerial Perspective Blog

If you’re looking to create an orthomosaic map or model, your photogrammetric data needs to be organized and processed with advanced photogrammetry software. But how can you decide which software to use?

You’ll need to consider the specifics of your project, but in general, you should expect these five features from the best photogrammetry software:

• Speed
• Accuracy
• Stability
• Scalability (no arbitrary upload limits)
• User-friendliness

In this blog post, we’ll go over each of these features so you can find the software that’s right for your project.

Speed

Photogrammetry involves processing enormous amounts of data, and you need a platform that can do that without slowing you down. Especially for larger projects, processing speed can vary depending on the provider’s technology.

Cloud-based solutions aren’t limited by on-premise hardware, which means your data can be processed faster. When researching providers, look for a cloud-based solution that operates on highly rated data centers and uses GPU acceleration to expedite processing.

Accuracy

Accuracy depends largely on the images and data you collect, so your flight plan will be very important on this front — without solid image capture, you’ll likely end up with errors and distortion. However, the software you use will also impact the accuracy of your final map.

Look for a platform that includes accuracy tools like ground control points (GCPs) and scale constraints, which help ensure that your final map is to scale.

Stability

If you’re working on a deadline you can’t afford constant software crashes and errors – it’s critical to look for a platform that can guarantee uptime and stability.

A provider with a cloud-based, geographically distributed system and state-of-the-art data centers is more likely to be able to offer that stability.

Scalability (no arbitrary upload limits)

Some platforms can process thousands of photos — and terabytes or petabytes of data — at a time.

Upload limits can seriously inhibit your ability to complete larger, highly detailed projects. Even if you’re not looking to complete a huge project right now, scalability is key, so it’s best to choose a platform that will scale up to meet your needs.

With some platforms, upload limits will cap the amount of data you can process, which means you’ll have to go through the hassle of switching platforms if you want to move on to bigger and better projects. Giving your business the flexibility to be able to process more data in the future eliminates that particular roadblock when it’s time to scale up.

User-friendliness

Photogrammetry software is an amazing tool with a variety of use cases. With more and more people across industries leveraging this technology every day, it’s important for it to be accessible. In other words, it shouldn’t be a headache to use.

The best photogrammetry software is straightforward and user-friendly, and doesn’t require advanced technical knowledge. Look for a platform that’s easy and convenient to use, from creating maps to storing, sharing, and using them.

Conclusion

There are several software solutions on the market that can help you convert raw data into orthomosaic maps, so you’ll need to choose the one that’s best for your particular needs around processing, budget, technology, and more.

As you evaluate different platforms, consider speed, accuracy, stability, scalability, and user-friendliness — key features you’ll find in the best photogrammetry software.