mapplot.

mapplot Documentation

Reference guide for mission planning, image processing, and business operations. For the full NodeODM walkthrough, see the Local Processing guide.

NodeODM Quick CommandsFull guide

Start NodeODM

docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name nodeodm --restart unless-stopped opendronemap/nodeodm

Verify running

curl http://localhost:3000/info

Then connect in mapplot → Processing → http://localhost:3000

Getting StartedDrawing Survey AreasFlight Path ConfigurationWaypoint ManagementGround Control Points (GCPs)Exporting MissionsLocal Image Processing (NodeODM)Project and Mission ManagementBusiness Suite — DocumentsBusiness Suite — CRM and PipelineTeam Collaboration

Start here

Getting Started

  1. Create an account and sign in
  2. Create your first project — give it a client name and site location
  3. Open the workspace to launch the mission planner in full-screen
  4. Use the Tutorial overlay for a guided first-mission walkthrough

Mission Planner

Drawing Survey Areas

  1. Polygon tool — click to place vertices and close to complete any shape
  2. Rectangle tool — click and drag to define axis-aligned survey areas quickly
  3. Circle tool — click a centre point and drag to set a radius
  4. Line/corridor tool — click waypoints for roads, pipelines, and linear surveys
  5. Edit existing shapes by dragging vertices; rotate or scale the whole boundary
  6. Delete shapes with the trash icon or the Backspace key

Mission Planner

Flight Path Configuration

  1. Set altitude AGL (Above Ground Level) for your operating environment
  2. Configure front overlap (along-track) — 75% is a safe starting point for mapping
  3. Configure side overlap (across-track) — 70% minimum for reliable stitching
  4. Adjust flight speed — slower speeds reduce motion blur in lower-light conditions
  5. Set gimbal pitch — nadir (−90°) for 2D mapping; oblique angles for 3D reconstruction
  6. Choose between lawnmower and crosshatch patterns (crosshatch improves 3D results)
  7. Preview generated photo positions before committing to the mission
75% front / 70% side overlap is the recommended minimum for photogrammetry-grade mapping. Crosshatch patterns (fly twice, perpendicular) significantly improve 3D reconstruction quality.

Mission Planner

Waypoint Management

  1. Click on the map outside drawn shapes to add individual waypoints
  2. Drag any waypoint to reposition it on the map
  3. Set per-waypoint altitude, speed, heading, and gimbal angle in the sidebar
  4. Add Points of Interest (POIs) — the drone gimbal will face the POI at that waypoint
  5. Undo / redo with Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y during the editing session

Survey Accuracy

Ground Control Points (GCPs)

  1. Open the GCP tool from the sidebar to enter or place GCP coordinates
  2. Click the map to place GCPs visually, or import from a CSV file
  3. Set the coordinate system (WGS84, local grid, or project CRS)
  4. Export GCPs as CSV for use in NodeODM and other processing software
  5. mapplot's GCP module passes session IDs directly to the Processing tab
  6. Minimum 3 GCPs required for georeferencing; 5+ recommended for accuracy
GCPs improve absolute accuracy from 1–3 m (GPS-only) to centimetre level. Place targets at corners and centre of your survey area for even distribution.

Export

Exporting Missions

  1. Export as DJI KMZ (WPML 1.0.2) — compatible with DJI RC Pro, Mini 3 Pro, and others
  2. Multi-flight splitting automatically divides large areas into battery-sized segments
  3. Export GCPs as CSV for direct import into NodeODM or Pix4D
  4. Generate a PDF mission brief containing parameters, waypoint list, and site map

Local Processing

Local Image Processing (NodeODM)

  1. Install Docker Desktop on your machine (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
  2. Start NodeODM: docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name nodeodm opendronemap/nodeodm
  3. In mapplot, go to Processing — enter http://localhost:3000 and test the connection
  4. Create a new job, upload your images (JPEG or TIFF with GPS EXIF), and select a quality preset
  5. Medium quality is the recommended starting point for most survey workflows
  6. Enable outputs — orthophoto, DSM, point cloud, and 3D mesh independently
  7. Jobs run in the background — close the browser and return when complete
  8. Download GeoTIFF, LAS, OBJ, and other outputs directly from the job detail view
Allocate at least 8 GB RAM to Docker in Desktop → Settings → Resources. The default 2 GB causes processing to fail on any meaningful dataset.
Full NodeODM setup guide

Project Management

Project and Mission Management

  1. Organise missions by client and site — each project stores all related flights
  2. Duplicate a project to reuse a proven configuration for a repeat site visit
  3. Archive completed projects to keep your workspace uncluttered
  4. Auto-save keeps all changes in real time — no manual save required
  5. Mission history lets you review previous parameter sets

Business Suite

Business Suite — Documents

  1. Proposals — create itemised proposals with service descriptions and pricing
  2. Contracts — generate project contracts linked to proposals; ready for e-signature
  3. Invoices — invoice clients on job completion; track payment status and send reminders
  4. Expenses — log project costs against each job to track real profitability
  5. Field Reports — document site conditions, weather, notes, and sign-off in the field
  6. Deliverables — create secure download packages and share with clients via link

Business Suite

Business Suite — CRM and Pipeline

  1. CRM — manage client records, contacts, and relationship history
  2. Lead pipeline — track enquiries from first contact through to booked work
  3. Lead forms — embed enquiry forms on your own website and capture leads into mapplot
  4. Schedule — calendar view for crew, equipment, and mission scheduling
  5. Equipment — track your drone fleet, accessories, and maintenance history
  6. Certificates — store pilot licences, insurance certificates, and expiry alerts

Team

Team Collaboration

  1. Invite team members from Settings → Team with a role-based email invitation
  2. Roles — Admin (full access), Pilot (missions and reports), Viewer (read-only)
  3. Shared projects are visible to all team members at their permission level
  4. Each team member gets their own login credentials
  5. Bulk certificate and equipment tracking across the whole team

Something not covered here? Contact support or visit the OpenDroneMap community forum for processing questions.