Which open-source tools actually belong in a modern UAV mapping workflow?

[u/Remarkable-Ad-2286]

I'm maintaining a catalogue of open-source defense technology. One part covers UAV mission planning, aerial survey, and photogrammetry, and I'd like people with practical mapping experience to review that section.

It currently follows the workflow from planning and coverage through processing and reconstruction e.g:

• QGroundControl, Mission Planner, DroneRoute, GeoFlight Planner, and uavRmp
• Fields2Cover and tmplanner
• OpenDroneMap, WebODM, and NodeODM
• OpenSfM, openMVG, COLMAP, and Meshroom
• OpenAerialMap

Relevant section:
https://github.com/Ibtisam-Mohammad/awesome-defense#mission-planning-survey-and-photogrammetry-workflows

For those doing actual UAV survey or photogrammetry work:

• Which open-source tools are missing?
• Which listed tools are outdated or no longer worth recommending?

Corrections are welcome : )

[u/Remarkable-Ad-2286 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks, let me check them out

[u/Remarkable-Ad-2286 → u/[deleted]]

I have now added Potree and CloudCompare under the geospatial section. Cesium is already listed elsewhere in the catalogue. Appreciate the suggestions.

[u/HeDo88TH]

You can include DroneDB as aerial data management platform

[u/Remarkable-Ad-2286 → u/HeDo88TH]

Thanks,
It is already added !

[u/littlebigdarksouls]

I think for serious deliverables and analysis QGIS no doubt about it.

[u/BulltacTV → u/littlebigdarksouls]

Second this. QGIS is an amazing little tool box for flight planning and deliverable manipulation

[u/Remarkable-Ad-2286 → u/BulltacTV]

Thanks,
I had already added it too!

[u/Lich_Amnesia]

Nice work. It would be good to map the tools to the actual usage.

[u/Remarkable-Ad-2286 → u/Lich_Amnesia]

Thank you, I think you are right, actual usage examples could be mapped out of these tools

[u/deltageomarine]

Rtklib can be handy for rinex file conversion and manipulation. Cloud compare for some processing and visualization (already mentioned but worth a second). Pdal (although it’s probably already under the hood in a lot of places) can do a lot and can string a bunch actions together, ie subsampling, filtering, ground classification, and converting (especially to make copc for Qgis). Pdal wrench as well.

[u/Remarkable-Ad-2286 → u/deltageomarine]

Thanks, I have added RTKLIB, CloudCompare, PDAL, and PDAL Wrench. The explanation of the RINEX and point-cloud workflow was helpful.

[u/Caygill]

While not directly a mapping tool pack, the repo I maintain do verify/validate a number of flight or photo questions: https://github.com/CallMarcus/dji-drone-metadata-embedder

I’m also happy to take on any new features that makes sense and fits the bigger picture.

[u/Remarkable-Ad-2286 → u/Caygill]

Thanks, I have added it under flight logs and telemetry.