Drone Image PPK in Emlid Studio

Here is a quick tutorial on improving the accuracy of your DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise data through post-processing (PPK) in Emlid Studio.

Step 1: Preparing Your Base Log Data

To begin processing our aerial images, we need to gather two critical datasets: the raw mission folder compiled on the Mavic 3 Enterprise microSD card, and the native .ubx file recorded directly from your Emlid Reach RS2 base station model.

Open Emlid Studio and select the Drone-data workflow option from the initial workspace drop-down menu. To configure your stationary control position, drag your base station's .ubx log file directly into the designated Base section of the processing panel menu configuration sheet.

Be sure to manually enter your specific survey pole height into the properties dialog window. If you have run your raw logs through an independent static configuration check, you can manually input your coordinate parameters here to further optimize your ultimate absolute site accuracy metrics.

💡 Workflow Links: If you need additional technical support getting to this point in the workspace prep phase, refer to our walkthroughs on OPUS static processing steps or how to quickly handle downloading logs to your computer.

Step 2: Linking Drone Telemetry Files

Next, open your local Mavic 3 Enterprise mission dataset folder on your computer. To properly resolve the flight vector paths, drag and drop the required observation assets sequentially into the user interface:

• Place the satellite observation log (.obs file) into the dedicated Drone section slot.
• Move the navigation parameters file (.nav file) into the matching Navigation section field.
• Inject the high-frequency camera event timestamp file (.mrk file) into its designated marker interface property slot.

Step 3: Calculating Corrections and Updating EXIF Tags

Once all reference data slots are verified, click the main Process command button. Emlid Studio's engine will compute the relative baseline paths between the base station and flight markers, yielding highly accurate corrected spatial coordinate points.

The final step in this workflow is pointing the app interface to your original source Photos folder. Emlid Studio will match the high-precision timestamps to the images, systematically writing the updated location metadata directly to the EXIF tags. This provides a cleanly compiled export directory ready for precision map building in your photogrammetry engine.