How to upload design files and pre-processed data

Uploading design files

Design files let you compare your survey data to your plan. When you upload one, it's automatically converted into a design layer that you can view in the platform. Any non-design formats will be stored in the Files section of the OUTPUTS tab.

To upload a design file:

1. Click the UPLOAD button and select Designs from the dropdown menu.

2. Drag and drop your files or choose Click to add to browse your computer.

3. Once uploaded, the file will appear in the DESIGNS section where it can be toggled on or off.

Supported design file formats:

• DXF (must use ASCII encoding)
  • Supported DXF entities:
    • Arc
    • Circle
    • Dimension
    • Ellipse
    • Face
    • Leader
    • Line
    • LWpolyline
    • Mesh
    • MText
    • Point
    • Polyline
    • Solid
    • Spline
    • Text
• TTM
• IFC
• KML / KMZ
  • Supported tags:
    • Folder
    • Style (LineStyle, PolyStyle, LabelStyle)
    • StyleMap (Pair)
    • Placemark
      • MultiGeometry
      • LineString, Polygon, Point
      • ExtendedData (SchemaData, Data)
• LandXML 
  • Supported tags:
    • CgPoints
    • Surfaces
    • Alignments
• PDF

Once uploaded, the file appears in the DESIGNS section and can be toggled on or off.

Uploading pre-processed data

You can bring externally processed datasets—like surfaces, orthophotos, and point clouds—into Propeller for deeper analysis. Integrating this data enhances your project with high-resolution terrain models and detailed site visualizations. Once uploaded, you can overlay these datasets with your survey data for volume calculations, cut/fill analysis, and progress tracking.

Supported pre-processed data formats

• TIN Surface 
• DEM Surface and/or Orthophotos 
• GeoTIFF Files georeferenced in a local coordinate system
• Point Clouds

Requirements for creating a 3D model:

• You will need a digital elevation model (DEM) and an orthophoto GeoTIFF file.
• If you upload more than one GeoTIFF file, they must have unique names.
• Your orthomosaic should be 4 bands (RGB+Alpha), not 5 bands.
• Your DEM must have a 32-bit floating-point sampling to avoid a "stepped" elevation model.
• The DEM and Orthophoto must be in the same Coordinate Reference System (CRS) as the site you are uploading to.
• Outputs produced
  • One digital elevation model (DEM) and/or one orthophoto GeoTIFF file for viewing in the platform.

1. Click the Upload button and select an option from the PRE-PROCESSED section.

2. Drag and drop your files or browse your computer to select them.
   • To create a 3D model, you must upload both the DEM file (DSM or DTM GeoTIFF) and the orthophoto at the same time.

3. Once your files are checked and valid, click Next.

If your site has been set up using a local grid, make sure to check the CRS of the pre-processed data matches the CRS used to set up your site.

A maximum of one orthophoto and one DEM is supported.

Once your file selection has been checked and is valid, click NEXT to proceed.

Dataset details

1. Set the dataset name and capture date. The capture date and time determine where the dataset appears on the timeline.
2. Give the dataset a unique name to distinguish it from other surveys captured on the same day.
3. Click NEXT to proceed.

Summary

The summary page shows the details for your new dataset. You can click on any card to go back and make changes.

When you're ready, click SUBMIT to finalize and begin uploading.

Progress

Once submitted, you can track the upload progress. Do not close or navigate away from this page, or the upload will be canceled. If your internet connection is interrupted, the upload will automatically resume when it's restored.

After the upload is complete, a confirmation pop-up will appear, and it's safe to navigate away from the page.

I still can't do it!

We wrote these articles to equip you with everything you need to get the job done on your own, but we understand that sometimes this isn't sufficient.

If you're stuck, you can connect with our support team by clicking the question mark button at the top right corner of your user portal.