This guide offers a clear, step-by-step overview of planning a mission with DJI Drones on the DJI Pilot App, designed to bring out the best of your mapping capabilities.

The principles of data capture covered here are adaptable. They can be applied to a range of other drones, from the DJI Mavic series and Matrice 30 to models by Skydio, Autel, and other popular commercial platforms. These foundational steps will set you on a course for success.

2D Mission Planning

1. Power on your Drone and Remote Controller

Start by powering your controller on, if you like you can also power your drone on as then you won’t have to select the drone type and sensor in the map mission settings (as seen in step 7.)

2. Connect the Remote Controller to WiFi or a Mobile Hotspot

Connect your remote controller to a WiFi network or mobile hotspot for seamless mission planning. This connection ensures that base maps load properly, providing essential context for your route planning. To connect, pull down from the top of the screen and tap the WiFi icon.

3. Access the Flight Route Planning Interface

From the home screen of the DJI Pilot app, tap Flight Route to enter the mission planning interface. This is where you’ll set the parameters for your 2D photogrammetry mission. See below:

4. Create a New Route

Tap the + in the top right corner of the screen, then select Create a Route to begin defining the parameters for your mission.

5. Select Area Route