This article explains how to generate the Google Maps Tiles and KML in PIX4Dmapper.
Access: It is possible to generate the Google Maps Tiles and KML during step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index. When using the default Processing Templates (Processing Options Default Templates), the Google Maps Tiles and KML generation is not performed.
Important:
- When images are grouped in more than one group, the Google Maps Tiles and KML will only be generated if one of the groups is named RGB (in capital letters). Then the Google Maps Tiles and KML will be generated only for this group. For more information about the image groups: Menu Project > Image Properties Editor... > Images Table.
- The Google Maps Tiles and KML are only generated for 3 bands with 8-bit per band images.
- The Google Maps tiles and KML will only be generated for projects with georeference (image geolocation or GCPs).
1. Click Process > Processing Options...
2. Select the processing step 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index.
3. Under the tab DSM and Orthomosaic, in the Orthomosaic section, select Google Maps Tiles and KML.
4. Click OK.
5. On the Menu bar, click View> Processing.
6. Ensure that 3. DSM, Orthomosaic and Index is selected, and that 1. Initial Processing and 2. Point Cloud Densification and Mesh are not selected.
7. Click Start.
Note: The Google Maps Tiles and KML Tiles are stored in:
...\project_name\3_dsm_ortho\2_mosaic\google_tiles
...\project_name\3_dsm_ortho\2_mosaic\google_tiles
is that available in desktop software only or also in the cloud-service?
Hi Kevin,
KML files cannot be downloaded anymore from the project result’s zip folder exported from the Cloud.
The KML feature was completely disabled on the Pix4D Cloud as of mid-September 2019 because most zip archives that had KML tiles were failing because managing thousands of tile files was not fitting in the allotted time to produce the zip archive.
I would recommend sharing your questions on the Community, in order to interact with other interested users: https://community.pix4d.com/categories
Best,
Teodora
My html map says there's a problem with the google map - I suspect the API key is not correct. How can I correct this?
Hein,
Google Maps is no longer free since July 2018 and all maps have received an update with the message “For development purposes only”.
The alternative would be generating .kml files and visualizing them in Google Earth. I hope this solution can work for you.
Hi Alice
Users (like us) can still get a free google maps API key from https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/embed/get-api-key
We just need a place in pix4d to enter this key so that it's included in the generation of the main html file, like so:
Edit the main html file and look for the line: <script type="text/javascript" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false">
then add the key details, like so:
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false&key=YOURKEYHERE">
Save, and re-open and your map is rendered over google maps.
So all you need to do is to allow the user to add the key in their pix4d output settings and adjust the output code for the html.
Hi Hein,
If you edit the HTML file generated from Pix4Dmapper with the API key details, are you able to correctly display the file and the background map?
Yes, example: http://aerobots.myqnapcloud.com:90/google_tiles/CRF.html
You just have to click it on top left - I have it off by default.
Thanks for the example, I see!
Pix4D is providing a basic HTML output file and it is up to the user to customize it as much as needed. We'll consider your suggestion as a feature request but notice that it's the first time we have received such request. Thank you for your feedback!
Well it's nice to feel special with unique requests :)