Georeferencing of datasets, outputs and annotations - PIX4Dcloud

Follow

Each dataset, and corresponding outputs and annotations, is assigned a specific coordinate system according to different factors:

  • The input files.
  • The output coordinate system defined during the project creation.
  • The use of GCPs or of the AutoGCPs detection functionality.
  • Whether the images are processed on the Cloud servers or not.
  • How the project is created (uploads from other software).

 

Dataset and output coordinate system

 
Warning: The datasets belonging to the same site should have the same coordinate system in order to be able to perform comparisons on the outputs and measurements.

If the dataset is created importing images directly with PIX4Dcloud

More information on how to create a dataset with images in New dataset.

Do images have geolocation? Is the AutoGCPs detection functionality used?  Which is the dataset/output coordinate system?
Yes, in WGS84  Yes, GCPs have a supported projected coordinate system The same (horizontal and vertical) as the GCPs coordinate system
No AutoGCPs detection functionality is used

The selected horizontal output coordinate system. 

The vertical coordinate system of the dataset reflects the vertical coordinate system of the input images.

Yes, not in WGS84 The AutoGCPs detection algorithm doesn't support this image coordinate system

The selected horizontal output coordinate system.

The vertical coordinate system of the dataset reflects the vertical coordinate system of the input images.

No The AutoGCPs detection algorithm supports images only with geolocation Arbitrary

If the dataset is created importing results directly with PIX4Dcloud

More information on how to upload results can be found in How to upload results and outputs to PIX4Dcloud.

Note
  • If at least one georeferenced output is uploaded (orthomosaic GeoTIFF, DSM GeoTIFF, point cloud), the dataset is georeferenced.
  • If multiple results are uploaded, all the georeferenced files should have the same coordinate system.
  • To replace a result, the re-uploaded file should have the same coordinate system as the dataset's one.
Is the output georeferenced? Which is the dataset/output coordinate system?
Yes, the uploaded file is a georeferenced point cloud (.las) The dataset coordinate system is defined as the output's one.
Yes, the orthomosaic/DSM uploaded is a GeoTIFF The dataset coordinate system is defined as the output's one.
No, the orthomosaic/DSM is a non-georeferenced .tif Coordinates are computed with respect to an arbitrary project origin (0, 0).
The uploaded files are the mesh files and the offset.xyz file No coordinate system is assigned to the dataset. However, the file is aligned with the coordinates of the output CS.
The uploaded files are the mesh files without the offset.xyz file Coordinates are computed with respect to an arbitrary project origin (0, 0, 0).

If the project files are uploaded from PIX4Dmapper

 

Do images have geolocation? Are GCPs used? Which is the dataset/output coordinate system?
Yes/No Yes/No The output coordinate system is the one defined as the Output coordinate system in PIX4Dmapper before uploading it to PIX4Dcloud, if supported.

More information on how to upload project files in How to upload project files from PIX4Dmapper to PIX4Dcloud.

If the project files are uploaded from PIX4Dcatch

Was the viDoc RTK used?  Which is the dataset/output coordinate system?
Yes 

The output coordinate system is the one defined in RTK Device Settings dialog.

No

By default, the output system will be:

  • WGS84 / UTM XX if the images are in WGS84. The UTM zone is computed based on the image EXIF information
  • Arbitrary if the images are not geolocated

Annotations coordinate system

Displayed coordinates in the 2D/3D view

  • Horizontal: Displayed as latitude and longitude in WGS84 (decimal degrees) and also as X, Y coordinates in the dataset coordinate system.
  • Vertical: The same vertical coordinate system as the dataset vertical coordinate system. The unit can be meters (m) or international feet (ft) according to the account preferences. For more information: PIX4Dcloud - FAQ.

Coordinates of the exported annotation layers

  • Horizontal: The annotation layers are exported in WGS84.
  • Vertical: The same as the dataset vertical coordinate system in the unit specified in the account preferences.

Coordinates of the imported annotation layers

  • Horizontal: The annotation layers have to be imported in WGS84.
  • Vertical: The same as the dataset vertical coordinate system in the unit specified in the account preferences.
Was this article helpful?
2 out of 7 found this helpful

Article feedback (for troubleshooting, post here instead)

5 comments

  • Susan Myers

    Have imported zipped shapefiles into a cloud project before, but I must be forgetting something as this process does not work today in several projects I have processed recently.  I have tried using WGS84 shapefiles, and also shapefiles using the local projection that was selected for the processed outputs.  Do I need to have special fields in the 3D shapefiles?  As always, thank you.

  • Alice (Pix4D)

    Hi Susan,

    Does the zipped folder contain all the four files for each shapefile (.dbf, .prj, .shp, .shx)? How did you create the shapefiles you are trying to import into the Cloud? Do they come from an external source or have they been exported from another project of the Cloud?

    Cheers

  • Susan Myers

    Hi Alice,

    Yes, I have tried using a zipped folder with just the four files (.dbf, .prj, .shp, .shx), and I have also tried using a zipped folder with all of the files created by ArcGIS for the shapefile (*.cpg, *.dbf, *.prj, *.sbn, *.sbx, *.shp, *.shx).

    The shapefile was created by adding XY data to ArcGIS Desktop from an Excel generated *.CSV and exporting the data layer as a shapefile.  

    I will create an annotation layer in the cloud, export it, add my points to it, and then see if I can bring it back into the cloud that way.  Thank you for that idea.

  • Susan Myers

    Hi Alice,

    Thanks again for the suggestion to create an annotation marker, export it as a shapefile, add my points to the shapefile in ArcGIS, and then bring the zipped shapefile back into the cloud project.  Worked well.

  • Manuel Carpintero

    Hi, 

    I'm triying to import a GeojSon files into my cloud project but t should be something wrong because it is not working.  The file is a boundary stockpile perfom in cad. Even I have used the the file with the  EPSG 4326  , is  not working. 

    Any sugestion? 

Article is closed for comments.