Uploading Design Files and Pre-Processed Data in Propeller

Uploading design files and pre-processed data in Propeller allows you to compare surveys against planned designs, analyze volume changes, and visualize project progress with precision. Whether you’re integrating CAD designs, LiDAR point clouds, or processed orthophotos, Propeller ensures your data is seamlessly incorporated into the platform for accurate analysis and decision-making.

This guide walks you through the process of uploading design files and pre-processed datasets, detailing supported file types, validation steps, and troubleshooting to help you get the most out of your site data.

Uploading Design Files

Design files allow you to compare survey datasets against planned designs and are automatically converted into a Design Layer in Propeller for viewing. Non-design formats are stored in the Files section within the OUTPUTS tab.

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

Drag and drop files or click UPLOAD FILES to browse and select your design files.

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

• 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

Pre-processed data allows you to bring externally processed datasets into Propeller for deeper analysis and comparison. By integrating surfaces, orthophotos, and point clouds, you can enhance your project with high-resolution terrain models, precise elevation data, and detailed site visualizations. Once uploaded, these datasets can be overlaid with survey data, enabling volume calculations, cut/fill analysis, and progress tracking.

Supported Pre-Processed Data Formats

• TIN Surface (How to Upload a TIN Surface)
• DEM Surface and/or Orthophotos (How to Upload Pre-processed Data)
• GeoTIFF Files georeferenced in a local coordinate system
• Point Clouds
  • Upload LiDAR point clouds as LAS/LAZ files to view them as 3D terrain

Requirements 

• To create a 3D model, you will need a digital elevation model (DEM) and an orthophoto GeoTIFF file.
• If you upload more than one GeoTIFF file to your portal, they must have unique names, and your orthomosaic should be 4 bands RGB+Alpha (instead of 5 bands).
• Your DEM should have a 32-bit floating-point sampling. Integer sampling creates a stepped elevation phenomenon across the model, making it unreliable.
• The DEM and Orthophoto must be attached to a Coordinate Reference System (CRS) and in the same 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.

Just like uploading designs, click UPLOAD and select an option in the  PRE-PROCESSED section.

Drag and drop or search for the files on your computer.

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

Set the dataset name and dataset capture date.

• The capture date/time will determine where the dataset lies on the timeline view and is defaulted from the capture time of the first submitted image. 
• In order to choose a time, click the time panel at the bottom of the date selector. Click elsewhere on the screen to close the date selector dialogue.

The dataset name is how this dataset will be referred to in the Viewer and is defaulted to the dataset date. We recommend giving this a name that distinguishes it from other datasets produced on the same day.

Click NEXT to proceed.

Summary

The next page summarizes the details and the processing outputs we will create on your new dataset. Each card can be clicked to return to the relevant section for revision.

Once you click SUBMIT, your request will be finalized, and your files will begin uploading.

Progress

Once submitted, you can track the progress of the upload of your files. Do not close the window or navigate away from this page, or your upload will be canceled. If your internet connection is interrupted, a message will be displayed. Leave your browser window open and your computer running, and the upload will automatically resume when possible.

Once your files have completed uploading, you will see a confirmation pop-up. It is now safe to navigate away from the page. An email with view permission on your selected site will be sent to all Propeller users.