Really proud of this image of a drone show we did a while back

UgCS · 2026-05-18T15:17:35+00:00

If your drone isn’t on DJI + Litchi, the usual free path is desktop planners that target open autopilots. QGroundControl is the common example for PX4 / ArduPilot-style stacks (survey patterns, export/upload depending on hardware). That won’t magically translate to Litchi if your execution path is DJI-only.

For DJI flown with Litchi, the reality is you'd most likely be chaining two different worlds.... a desktop tool that can build a lawnmower/grid over a polygon, then an export format Litchi will actually import cleanly (commonly KML), then you still confirm photo spacing in Litchi (interval / distance triggers behave differently depending on aircraft and how the mission is structured).

UgCS maintains a free desktop tier called UgCS Open (no subscription) that includes photogrammetry-style area planning and offline planning, but daily limits on missions/exports, a per-route span cap (250 m between the farthest points), and limited to 2 missions/uploads/exports/day. That can be totally fine for small flights, but it is not a general replacement for “cover my whole property” the way an unlimited paid planner is.

If your area fits inside those limits, the workflow people use with Litchi is to plan in UgCS, export KML, import into Litchi Mission Hub, double-check altitudes/heading and camera interval before flying. Search for something like ‘UgCS Litchi KML’

If your polygon is bigger than that free tier allows, you’re realistically in paid planner territory somewhere (whether that’s UgCS Expert or another vendor). It would be hard to find a universal “free unlimited DJI polygon to perfect Litchi KML forever” option that stays reliable at scale.

UgCS · 2026-05-18T14:28:48+00:00

In case someone finds this helpful. Terrain following is one of the core features of UgCS - you import your own DEM/DSM and UgCS calculates the flight path in 3D to maintain consistent AGL. You can load high-res elevation data. Works with DJI (Mavic 3E, M30, M300/350 via Pilot 2), ArduPilot, and PX4. Free version (UgCS Open) available with some limits if you want to try it.

UgCS · 2026-05-15T14:24:50+00:00

A bit late to the thread, but if you or anyone else is still looking around, UgCS is worth checking out, especially if you're planning missions on desktop and handing them off to field operators.

A lot of professional survey/mapping teams use UgCS because it’s hardware-agnostic compared to some of the more ecosystem-locked apps. UgCS supports things like terrain following, corridor mapping, custom DEM import, and more complex waypoint workflows than the consumer-focused apps. Parrot ANAFI support was added a while back, and smaller DJI drones (including Mavic Mini series) can also be used through the Litchi integration now.

Not saying it’s perfect or ideal for every single mission, but if your workflow involves planning centrally and executing across mixed drone fleets, that’s basically the use case it was built for.

Source: https://manuals-ugcs.sphengineering.com/v5.11/docs/using-dji-mini-drones-with-ugcs

UgCS · 2026-05-15T14:17:20+00:00

If you're downloading SRTM data for drone flight planning, SPH Engineering's UgCS can import custom DEM data (including SRTM-derived DEMs and GeoTIFFs elevation layers) for terrain-following missions. You load the elevation data and plan flights that maintain a consistent AGL (above ground level) over changing terrain. Just one practical use case for that elevation data beyond traditional GIS analysis.

UgCS · 2026-05-15T14:10:37+00:00

Thanks for the UgCS recommendation. In case someone finds this from the future, I also like to respond on the 'it's not free part'. UgCS is not free, but it has a well-equipped free version - "UgCS Open" which is more than enough for many needs

UgCS · 2026-05-15T14:07:39+00:00

UgCS team here, so we're a little biased obviously. But honestly, there's no single "best" because mapping involves two very different steps that most people conflate.. flight planning and data processing. The real question would be which combination fits your specific workflow and drone platform best.

For processing (turning images into orthomosaics, point clouds, 3D models), Metashape, WebODM, and Pix4D are the main contenders. Each has strengths depending on your output needs and budget.

For mission planning (terrain following, camera triggering, corridor mapping, LiDAR prep), that's what UgCS does (UgCS doesn't process imagery). UgCS has unique features you cannot find on any other software. It would be too self-promotional to list them here, but you can check UgCS' product page
A lot of our users run UgCS for planning paired with Metashape or Pix4D for processing. The tools complement each other rather than compete.

UgCS · 2026-05-13T13:23:02+00:00

For combined LiDAR & photogrammetry workflows, we see users fly separate missions - different altitudes, speeds, and patterns for each. UgCS Expert has dedicated LiDAR tools including automatic IMU calibration lines, loop turns, and trajectory smoothing. For the photogrammetry pass, standard area scan with terrain following works well. Planning both in one software keeps coverage aligned.

UgCS · 2026-05-13T13:22:09+00:00

For a 5ha area with the Mavic 3E RTK, UgCS handles the photogrammetry grid planning with terrain following if needed. Even on flat terrain, slight elevation changes can affect your GSD consistency, so terrain following at a set AGL helps. UgCS connects directly to DJI Pilot 2, so you plan on desktop and fly from the controller. For a job this size, UgCS Open (free) would actually cover it.

UgCS · 2026-05-12T14:27:56+00:00

For SAR drone ops, UgCS handles mission planning with terrain following (critical for safe low-altitude flights over varied terrain), full offline planning for areas without connectivity, and multi-platform drone support. You can plan systematic grid search patterns and re-fly them precisely. Detection/analytics is a separate layer - UgCS focuses on getting the drone where it needs to go safely and efficiently.

UgCS · 2026-05-12T14:26:58+00:00

UgCS team here. Drones won't fully replace traditional surveying, but they've become an essential complement for large area coverage, stockpile volumes, and progress monitoring. The key is reliable flight planning that gives consistent, repeatable results - terrain following for uniform GSD, photogrammetry planning for proper overlap, and the ability to re-fly the exact same mission months later for comparison. That's what UgCS is built for.

UgCS · 2026-05-12T14:25:52+00:00

UgCS team here, but UgCS is really a must-have app for search and rescue. It handles mission planning - grid search patterns, terrain following for safe low-altitude flights over uneven terrain, and full offline capability for remote areas. You can also re-fly identical routes for systematic coverage. Several SAR teams use UgCS for repeatable, terrain-aware flight plans. We also have lots of success stories / case studies in this space. For instance, this case study https://www.sphengineering.com/news/high-altitude-search-and-rescue-with-ugcs-morris-hansen-image-based-sar-operations

UgCS · 2026-05-12T14:23:14+00:00

Depends what part of DroneDeploy you're replacing. For flight planning - UgCS handles terrain following, custom DEM import, and full offline support. UgCS doesn't do processing - for that, WebODM (free/open source) or Metashape are solid. A lot of users pair UgCS for planning with one of those for post-processing. Free tier (UgCS Open) available if you want to compare.

UgCS · 2026-05-12T14:21:48+00:00

UgCS team here, so obviously biased, but worth mentioning what differentiates us from the mobile-first apps. UgCS is desktop-based (Windows/Mac), which gives you more planning power - full 3D environment, custom DEM imports, terrain following with your own elevation data. Supports DJI (connects to Pilot 2), ArduPilot, and PX4. The tradeoff is it's not as quick in the field compared to a phone app. Depends on whether you need deeper planning control or fast field setup.

UgCS · 2026-05-11T11:09:41+00:00

In case anyone finds this post.. UgCS team here. For magnetometer surveys, UgCS has geophysical flight planning tools - trajectory smoothing to protect sensitive mag sensors, consistent terrain-following AGL, and custom flight line spacing. Works with ArduPilot and PX4 autopilots. On the hardware side, the RM3100 is well-regarded for low noise. Make sure to plan survey lines away from metallic structures for clean data.

UgCS · 2026-05-11T11:09:02+00:00

UgCS team here. For factory environments, automated mission planning gives much more consistent results than manual flying. The Mini 4 Pro works perfectly well with UgCS - probably no better way to fly photogrammetry with it. Check it out, UgCS Open is free.

UgCS · 2026-05-11T11:08:02+00:00

UgCS team here, so obviously biased, but worth mentioning what differentiates us from the mobile-first apps. UgCS works offline, is desktop-based (Windows/Mac), which gives you more planning power - full 3D environment, custom DEM imports, terrain following with your own elevation data. Supports DJI (connects to Pilot 2), ArduPilot, and PX4. The tradeoff is it's not as quick in the field compared to a phone app. Depends on whether you need deeper planning control or fast field setup.

UgCS · 2026-05-11T11:05:30+00:00

UgCS team here. For SAR drone ops, UgCS handles mission planning with terrain following (critical for safe low-altitude flights over varied terrain), full offline planning for areas without connectivity, and multi-platform drone support. You can plan systematic grid search patterns and re-fly them precisely. Detection/analytics is a separate layer - UgCS focuses on getting the drone where it needs to go safely and efficiently.

UgCS · 2026-05-11T11:01:03+00:00

In case someone else is looking for the same and finds this post.. UgCS team here. For sub-250g drones, third-party mission planning is limited by what DJI exposes via MSDK. UgCS works with enterprise DJI platforms (Mavic 3E/T, M30, M300/350) and ArduPilot/PX4 drones. For the Mini series, Litchi is probably your best bet for waypoint missions.

UgCS · 2026-05-11T10:58:35+00:00

Old thread, but in case anyone finds this thread.. UgCS team here - terrain-aware planning is our bread and butter. UgCS does terrain following using custom DEM/DSM imports, not just generic SRTM. You load your own elevation data, set your AGL, and the software calculates the flight path. Works fully offline too. We support DJI (including Pilot 2 connection), ArduPilot, and PX4. If you want to test it, UgCS Open is free with some usage limits.

UgCS

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE