Uploading a PPK Survey From an Autel EVO II RTK

If you fly an Autel Evo RTK II V1 or V2, you can access Propeller's high-accuracy survey processing workflow. This handles both the PPK correction of your drone's GPS observations and the processing of your images to create a 3D model of your site.

Note: This article references the PPK workflow. If you're looking to process data with our standard dataset workflow, here are the step-by-step instructions for the Standard Workflow.

Required Inputs

• One or more drone flights with at least 10 JPEG images each

• Two GPS observation data files from each drone flight: 

  • [FlightName]_PPKRAW.bin

  • [FlightName]_Timestamp.mrk

• One AeroPoint flight that has not been submitted for processing. You will complete the processing step as part of your dataset upload. 

Before you start

Make sure you have created a new site, or know which site you want to add your survey to by choosing it in the dropdown menu.

Click DATA PROCESSING to +UPLOAD NEW SURVEY. Choose an existing site from the dropdown or select CREATE A NEW SITE.

Select Photogrammetry survey processing for the data type you're submitting.

Corrections

Next, select the Corrections method you want to use.

• Propeller PPK will merge your GNSS files with the Propeller Corrections Network, Known Point data, or a provided RINEX file to ensure the highest levels of accuracy.
• Choose Use my drone photos if you want to upload your drone photos, including any high accuracy geotags, if applicable.

Selecting photos for upload

The data captured during your flight is organized into folders on your SD card. Navigate to a folder(s) that is named to include the corresponding date for your survey. Upon examination, you will find that this folder contains all the imagery and the survey files (.bin, .mrk, and .obs) for your flight. Navigate back to the root and drag the entire survey data folder into the uploader.

If you conducted multiple flights, all folders must be added for each completed flight. 

Validation 

Your photos are scanned and validated in the following four categories. Photos must pass these requirements to be properly processed. 

For more information on these validations, please see our pilot help materials. 

Once the selected files have been validated, a map will appear with the location of your photos and survey area. 

When all photos are displayed, click NEXT to proceed.

Dataset details

Set the dataset name and capture date. Adding the capture date and time will place each survey chronologically on the Timeline View feature. Click NEXT.

Adding AeroPoint survey data

Next, submit an AeroPoint survey. You can choose from two options:

• AeroPoints, or
• AeroPoints and a .csv file

If you add a survey to an existing site, the site’s coordinate reference system will be displayed here.

Choose the AeroPoint survey from the list of available AeroPoint captures.

To submit PPK data, you must select an unprocessed AeroPoint survey from your AeroPoint captures. 

Select processing method

Three ways to process data

1. Propeller Corrections Network

This method uses the Propeller Corrections Network to obtain globally accurate coordinates.

Submitted ground control and checkpoints using the Propeller Corrections Network

From the dropdown, assign each AeroPoint in your survey as either a Ground control point or checkpoint. You can also exclude it from your survey. 

2. Known Point Method

Here you will select an AeroPoint that has a known location and enter its coordinates. In these screen captures, you are uploading to a site based on a published coordinate system, so the Global Survey Benchmark method is used. You will use the Local Survey Benchmark method if you are uploading to a site based on a local grid calibration. If you use a known point to process your AeroPoint survey, be sure it is selected as a ground control point unless it is not in the survey area.

3. RINEX Upload

This method uses RINEX GNSS observation data from a base station within 40 km covering the time period of the survey.

To learn more, check out our On-demand training videos.

Comments about your GCPs

This is an optional box where you can provide more information regarding your GCPs to our data team. For example, it’s helpful to know if anything unusual happened during your survey, such as if the AeroPoint was accidentally moved or destroyed during capture.

Outputs

Elevation model filter

Elevation model filters remove undesired artifacts such as trees, buildings, equipment, and vehicles from the digital elevation model output. 

You can select No filter or from the other available filter settings as part of the output configuration.

Configure outputs

This is a list of the output files that will be produced as part of the final dataset. Files can be found on the Platform and downloaded from the Viewer.

Summary and Upload Progress

Dataset details

Please review your dataset for accuracy before you click SUBMIT.

1. Dataset details

General information about the dataset you are submitting, including:

• Site name
• Date and time flown
• Total gigapixels and photos
• Type of upload

2. Corrections

Select the Corrections method you want to use for you upload.

3. Ground control

• Type and number of GCPs and checkpoints

4. Processing outputs

• Files included in the platform
• Downloadable files

5. Quality assurance settings

This guides how many QA checks are made on your survey. Generally, the stricter the chosen QA, the longer the turnaround time.

6. Dataset credits

Total number of credits used to process your data.

Upload progress

After clicking Submit, your dataset will begin its upload, with the percentage complete, the number of files uploaded, and an estimated completion time. It is important that this browser window stays open until the dataset is fully submitted. If your upload is interrupted for any reason, you can resume the process within 24 hours from when you started it.

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 support button on the top right corner of your user portal.