This article explain how to set up orthophotos in InfraField. Orthophotos can be used to compare progress between different dates and used as documentation in registrations such as tasks, checklists, and test plans. Orthophotos are added as a layer on the map view and integrates with your BIM data such as GIS, alignments,
Best practice for orthophotos in InfraField
In order to get the best result from orthophotos in InfraField we recommend the following:
- Use georeferenced data for automatic placement
- Use consistent file naming for easy version control
- Upload orthophotos to Dalux Box and then add them to the map
- Set the creation date as the date the orthophoto was taken
Read more
Orthophotos are natively support in InfraField. You can see the support formats in this article: Supported data formats in InfraField.
How to add orthophotos from Box to the map
If your project uses Dalux Box, we suggest uploading orthophotos here instead of directly to the map. By uploading the files to Box first and then adding them to the map, you or your survey team can easily upload new versions of the orthophotos from different dates and they will be automatically updated on the map as well. This makes use of version control by always showing the latest version by default, while keeping all previous versions available.
User rights
Make sure the users responsible for uploading orthophotos have folder permissions to do so.
To add orthophotos to the map, you need to be a project administrator or in a user group with editing permission for Locations.
Navigate to the appropriate Box folder and click Upload.
Technical information
Orthophotos uploaded to Box follow the same file naming, file area, and file flow logic as drawings. This means if you are using a required file naming template, it must also be followed for orthophotos.
If you are using multiple file areas, orthophotos need to be published before they appear on the map.
When the files have been uploaded you will need to add them to the map. You do this either from Box or from the Locations settings.
From Box, select the orthophoto and go to:
More
Add to
Map
From Settings, go to:
Settings
Locations
Map
Add
Orthophoto
'From Box'
When orthophotos are added to the map, you must set a creation date. This should be the date on which the photos were taken. These dates are shown in Locations when users select orthophotos with multiple versions.
Set the creation date and confirm by clicking 'Add'.
Once the file has been processed, it will be available to everyone on the project.
Note
You cannot set the creation date until orthophotos are added to the map. If an orthophoto has been added to a map, uploading a new version will require you to set the creation date of the new version.
You only need to add the file to the map once, then all new versions uploaded to Box will only require setting the creation date.
How to add orthophotos from your computer to the map
Orthophotos can also be added directly to the map from your computer.
This is done by going to:
Settings
Locations
Map
Add
Orthophoto
'From computer'
Locate the file on your computer, set the creation date in Dalux, and upload it.
If you are using multiple file areas, you must select a Box folder that the orthophotos will be uploaded to.
Once the file has been processed, it will be available to everyone on the project.
Note
If you add orthophotos directly to the map from your computer, and uploading a new version taken on another date, you must use the same file name. This will add a new version of the file. If you use different file names, each orthophoto will be treated separately.
Orthophotos can only be compared if one orthophoto has multiple versions.
How to group orthophotos together
Orthophotos can be grouped together. This helps with organizing them and also allows you to display several orthophotos at once by showing the group instead of individual photos.
This is done by going to:
Settings
Locations
Map
Orthophoto
Edit
Either enter a new group name or select from existing ones and click 'Save' when you are done.
Read more
If you want to learn more about using and comparing orthophotos on the map, read the section on orthophotos in this article: How to use maps in InfraField on desktop.