The best drone mapping software depends on your drone and how you work. DJI Terra is the natural choice for DJI enterprise drones and is DJI's own software for processing Zenmuse L2 LiDAR data. DroneDeploy and Pix4D are popular all-round platforms with flight planning and cloud processing. Esri's ArcGIS drone tools suit teams already in ArcGIS. OpenDroneMap (WebODM) is the best free option if you're willing to set it up.
Two parts: planning and processing
Mapping software does two jobs:
- Flight planning: an automated grid or corridor flight with set height and overlap. DJI enterprise drones plan missions in DJI Pilot 2. Third-party planners need DJI's SDK, and many consumer drones don't support it; DJI says the Mini 4 Pro works only with DJI Fly.
- Processing: turning photos or LiDAR data into orthomosaics, elevation models, point clouds and 3D meshes.
DJI Terra
DJI's desktop software for photogrammetry and LiDAR processing. DJI lists Standard, Flagship and Cluster versions, with online and offline licenses, and a free one-year Agriculture license with some DJI agriculture drones. Requirements from DJI's FAQ:
- Windows 10 or later, 64-bit.
- Minimum 32 GB RAM and an NVIDIA graphics card with at least 4 GB of memory (Shader Model 6.1 or above).
Since version 5.0.0, DJI Terra no longer does flight route planning; plan in DJI Pilot 2 instead. It pairs well with the Mavic 3 Enterprise, Matrice 4E and Zenmuse L2.
Common DJI Terra errors
Common causes include:
- License not activated or not bound. Activate the code in Terra's User Center (or at DJI's license site) with the right DJI account, then bind it to the computer.
- Hardware below minimum. Too little RAM or an unsupported GPU causes failed or very slow reconstructions.
- Outdated graphics drivers. Update the NVIDIA driver before reprocessing.
- Data issues. Missing photos, mixed flights or low overlap can make processing fail.
For error codes we can't diagnose here, contact DJI Enterprise support with the log file.
DroneDeploy
A cloud platform with mobile flight planning, processing and sharing in a browser, popular in construction, roofing and agriculture. Check its current drone compatibility list before buying a drone for it, since support depends on DJI's SDK. Its help center covers setup and supported drones.
Pix4D
Pix4D offers several products, including desktop processing (PIX4Dmatic and PIX4Dmapper) and cloud options. It's known for survey-grade photogrammetry and fine control over processing.
Esri ArcGIS drone tools
For organizations already on ArcGIS, Esri's drone products (such as ArcGIS Drone2Map and Site Scan for ArcGIS) bring imagery straight into GIS workflows.
Free: OpenDroneMap and WebODM
OpenDroneMap is open-source processing software, and WebODM is its browser interface. It can produce orthomosaics, elevation models and 3D models from photos you fly yourself. It needs a capable computer and some setup, and support is community-based.
How to choose
| If you... | Start with |
|---|---|
| Fly DJI enterprise drones or LiDAR | DJI Terra |
| Want planning, processing and sharing in one place | DroneDeploy |
| Need survey-grade control | Pix4D |
| Work in ArcGIS | Esri drone tools |
| Have no budget | OpenDroneMap |
Learn the workflow in how to map with a drone, pick hardware in best drone for mapping, or contact us for an enterprise quote.
Related guides
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