How do I plan a drone mapping mission with Litchi?

Draw your survey area on the map or import a KML file. Set your drone model, altitude, and overlap percentage. Click Generate Flight Grid, then export as Litchi CSV. Import the CSV file at flylitchi.com/hub and sync to your phone.

What is GSD and why does it matter for drone mapping?

GSD (Ground Sample Distance) is the real-world size of each pixel in your aerial image measured in cm/px. Lower GSD means higher resolution but requires flying at lower altitudes. For construction inspection use 1-2 cm/px, for topographic mapping 2-5 cm/px, and for agriculture 5-10 cm/px.

Is this drone mission planner free?

Yes, Drone Grid Mission Planner is 100% free with no registration required. It works directly in your browser with no software installation needed. There are no limitations on the number of missions you can create.

Which drones are supported?

We support 30+ drone models including DJI Mini 2/3/4 Pro, Air 2/2S/3, Mavic 2/3 series, Phantom 4 Pro/RTK, Mavic 3 Enterprise/Thermal/Multispectral, Matrice 30/300/350 RTK, Autel EVO II series, EVO Lite+, EVO Max 4T, Parrot Anafi, and Skydio 2+. You can also enter custom sensor specifications.

Can I export to DJI Pilot 2?

Yes, we support DJI Pilot 2 KMZ export for enterprise drones including Mavic 3 Enterprise (M3E), M3T, M3M, Matrice 30/30T, and Matrice 300/350 RTK. The exported KMZ file follows DJI WPML format and can be imported directly into DJI Pilot 2 app.

What is the best free alternative to Ancient.land for drone mapping?

DroneGrid.web.id is a powerful free alternative to Ancient.land. It offers similar grid mission planning features with support for Litchi CSV, DJI Pilot 2 KMZ, and ArduPilot waypoints. No subscription or login required.

Is there a free alternative to DroneDeploy for creating flight plans?

Yes, DroneGrid Mission Planner is a 100% free alternative to DroneDeploy for flight planning. While DroneDeploy offers advanced processing, DroneGrid focuses on easy-to-use mission creation with GSD calculator, terrain following, and multi-format export.

Can I use this planner instead of Pix4Dcapture?

DroneGrid is an excellent free alternative to Pix4Dcapture for planning grid and corridor missions. It supports more export formats including Litchi and ArduPilot, and works with any drone that can import waypoints.

How do I import missions into Litchi Mission Hub?

After generating your mission on DroneGrid, click Export Litchi CSV. Go to flylitchi.com/hub, click Missions then Import. Upload the CSV file. The mission will sync to your Litchi mobile app automatically.

Does this work with QGroundControl and Mission Planner?

Yes, DroneGrid exports standard .waypoints files compatible with QGroundControl, Mission Planner, and other ArduPilot-based ground control stations. Simply download the waypoints file and load it into your GCS.

Drone Grid Mission Planner

Generate optimized flight grids for aerial surveys & 3D photogrammetry mapping

Search Location

Import Reference

Define Survey Area

Use drawing tools on map. Orange = No-Fly Zone

Area: 0.00 ha

Configure Mission

Mission Type

Drone Model

Select altitude to see GSD

Altitude (m) 10-120m typical for surveys

Side Overlap (%)

70%

Front Overlap (%)

75%

Photo trigger: --m interval

Line Spacing (m) - Auto-calculated

Flight Direction

Auto (Optimal)

Heading / Yaw Mode

Flight Speed (m/s)

Gimbal Pitch Angle

-90°

-90° = Nadir | -70° = Oblique (3D)

Grid Nudge (m)

Offset grid lines perpendicular to flight direction

Double Grid (3D Model)

Terrain Follow (AGL)

Mission Summary

Waypoints 0

Distance 0 km

Est. Time 0 min

Batteries 0

Export Mission

Litchi / Maven / Dronelink

Google Earth / GIS

DJI Pilot 2 (Enterprise)

ArduPilot / QGroundControl

Clear & Reset

Templates

Lat: 0.0000 | Lon: 0.0000

Processing...

Comprehensive Mission Planning Guide

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Drone Grid Mission Planner. This tool helps you create autonomous flight plans for aerial mapping, photogrammetry, and inspection. It generates optimal flight paths (waypoints) based on your drone's camera specifications and target resolution (GSD).

2. Getting Started & Map Controls

Location Search: Use the search bar (top-left) to jump to any address or coordinate globally.
Map Layers: Use the layer switcher (top-right) to toggle between Satellite Imagery and OpenStreetMap.
Set Home Point: Click the "Set Home" button and tap on your intended takeoff location. This is critical for accurate battery estimation and Return-to-Home (RTH) calculations.

3. Creating a Mission

Choose the appropriate mode for your project:

Grid Mode (Area Mapping)

Best for: Orthomosaics, agricultural surveys, 3D modeling.
How to use: Select "Grid Mode", then use the Polygon tool to draw a closed shape around your target area. The app will automatically fill it with a lawnmower flight pattern.

Corridor Mode (Linear Mapping)

Best for: Roads, rivers, pipelines, power lines.
How to use: Select "Corridor Mode", draw a polyline along the path, and adjust the "Corridor Width" slider (e.g., 50 meters). The app generates flight lines along the route.

Import KML/KMZ

If you have a boundary from Google Earth or GIS software, click "Import KML/KMZ". You can select a polygon to use as your survey area or keep it as a visual reference.

4. Flight Parameters & GSD

Correctly configuring these parameters is vital for image quality. Lower GSD means higher resolution but covers less ground area per photo.

Application	Target GSD	Typical Altitude
Inspection / Construction	1-2 cm/px	30-50m
General Mapping / Survey	2-5 cm/px	50-80m
Agriculture / Large Area	5-10 cm/px	80-120m

Drone Model: Select the correct drone model. This will automatically load sensor specifications for accurate GSD calculation.
Altitude (Height): The higher the drone flies, the wider the area covered but the resolution (GSD) will decrease.
Overlap: Percentage of image overlap.
- Standard: 75% Front / 70% Side
- 3D Modeling: 80% Front / 80% Side
Flight Speed: Faster speeds increase efficiency but may cause motion blur. 5-10 m/s is recommended for most shutters.
Flight Angle: use "Auto" to automatically align flight lines with the longest edge of your polygon. This minimizes turns and saves battery.

5. Advanced Tools

Terrain Following (AGL)

When enabled, the mission adjusts waypoints to maintain a constant height Above Ground Level (AGL). This uses 90m resolution DEM data from Open-Meteo. Essential for hilly terrain to ensure consistent GSD. (Requires internet).

Double Grid (Cross-Hatch)

Generates a second set of flight lines perpendicular to the first. Enable this for 3D modeling of buildings or complex structures to capture all sides. Recommended: Set Gimbal Pitch to -60 or -70 degrees (Oblique).

Heading / Yaw Modes

Auto (Follow Course): Drone nose aligns with the flight direction. Best for video and standard orthomosaics.
Fixed Heading: Define a specific compass angle (e.g., North 0). The drone will strafe without rotating. Used for hyperspectral cameras or specific lighting requirements.

6. Waypoint Actions (Smart Missions)

You can customize individual waypoints for specific tasks:

Click on any red waypoint marker on the map.
A menu will appear allowing you to select an action:
- Take Photo: Stop and capture an image.
- Record Video: Start/Stop recording.
- Hover: Pause at the waypoint for X seconds.
- Rotate: Yaw the aircraft to a specific heading.
Click "Save". The marker will turn purple to indicate a custom action is set.

7. Templates & Persistence

Autosave: The app automatically saves your work locally. If you close the tab, your mission will be restored upon return.

Templates: You can save multiple mission configurations. Use the "Save Template" button to name your current setup. Use the dropdown to load or delete saved profiles.

8. Export & Execution Guide

Format	Instructions
Litchi (CSV)	For DJI Mini, Air, Mavic series. 1. Download CSV. 2. Go to Flight Hub. 3. Missions > Import. 4. Open Litchi app on phone and sync.
DJI Pilot 2 (KMZ)	For Enterprise (Mavic 3E, M30, M300/350). 1. Download KMZ. 2. Copy file to RC controller storage: `/DJI/mission/`. 3. Open Pilot 2 app > Mission Flight > Import.
ArduPilot	For Custom Drones / QGroundControl. 1. Download .waypoints file. 2. Open Mission Planner / QGC. 3. Plan > Load File.

9. Safety & Limitations

No-Fly Zones: Always check local aviation regulations. You can draw "No-Fly Zones" (orange polygons) in this planner to exclude obstacle areas from the grid.
Battery Management: The app estimates battery usage based on distance. If your mission requires more than 1 battery, split the mission using the "Multi-Part Export" feature (Litchi) or use battery swap resume (Pilot 2).
RTH Altitude: Always set RTH higher than the tallest obstacle in the area (trees, towers, buildings).
Waypoint Limit: Litchi has a 99 waypoint limit per mission. This tool automatically splits large missions into multiple files (Part 1, Part 2, etc.) inside a ZIP file. Fly them sequentially.