Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Aerial Mapping of Ouro Preto with DJI Mavic 3E for Wikimedia Commons (ID: 23380128)/Final Report
Application type: Standard application
Part 1: Project and impact
1. Describe the implemented activities and results achieved. Additionally, share which approaches were most effective in supporting you to achieve the results. (required)
Before tackling the primary target, I planned and executed four preliminary test flights to explore and fine-tune critical mapping parameters, including height above ground level, ground level reference, image overlap, RTK connectivity, and safety margins. These preparatory missions were iteratively scaled up in complexity. As a result, four initial image sets consisting of 177, 673, 806, and 1,023 files were successfully processed and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. By isolating variables during these preliminary flights, I was able to lock in specific mapping parameters and verify my photogrammetry processing pipeline on a smaller scale.
With the drone mission variables for the Mavic 3E thoroughly tested, the primary mission over the historic town of Ouro Preto was executed smoothly and without any unforeseen issues. This main effort produced a comprehensive image set of 5,908 files, which were uploaded to Commons alongside a newly generated orthomosaic and a Digital Surface Model (DSM) of the area. From this main set, I extracted approximately 35 targeted images to successfully add the aerial view property (P8592) to listed buildings and other public sites on Wikidata, plus an orthomosaic with a resolution of 4cm per pixel (GSD) and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 8cm GSD. Following up on the Ouro Preto photographs, we flew a mission over the central area of the city of Belo Horizonte, yielding another 5619 images uploaded.
If I were to teach a newcomer based on this project, I would emphasize that the most effective approach to achieving these results is iterative testing. Even as an experienced drone pilot, taking the time to learn the nuances of new equipment through small, controlled missions is vital. My primary "Do" is to scale progressively: test your hardware and software on small, manageable flights first, because it is much easier to fix an overlap or ground-reference error on a 177-image set than a 5,000-image set. Conversely, the essential "Don't" is skipping the testing phase. Never assume that general piloting experience automatically guarantees perfect data capture with new hardware; fine-tuning the workflow step-by-step is what ultimately ensures efficiency, safety, and a high-quality final upload.
2. Documentation of your impact. Please use space below to share links that help tell your story, impact, and evaluation. (required)
Share links to:
- Project page on Meta-Wiki or any other Wikimedia project
- Dashboards and tools that you used to track contributions
- Some photos or videos from your event. Remember to share access.
You can also share links to:
- Important social media posts
- Surveys and their results
- Infographics and sound files
- Examples of content edited on Wikimedia projects
Links:
Wikimedia Commons (14,207 Total Files): Preparatory Sets: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:WPGT_-_Igreja_de_S%C3%A3o_Francisco_de_Assis,_Belo_Horizonte,_Brazil,_September_2025 (177 files); https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:WPGT_-_Museu_de_Arte_da_Pampulha,_Belo_Horizonte,_Brazil,_September_2025 (673 files); https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:WPGT_-_Pra%C3%A7a_da_Liberdade_in_Belo_Horizonte,_Brazil,_September_2025 (806 files); https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:WPGT_-_Bom_Jesus_de_Matosinhos_and_surroundings_in_Congonhas,_Brazil,_January_2026 (1,023 files).
Main Set: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:WPGT_-_Designated_historic_perimeter_of_Ouro_Preto,_Brazil,_March_2026 (5,908 files).
Follow-up Set: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:WPGT_-_Centro_Lagoinha,_Belo_Horizonte,_Brazil,_March_2026 (5,619 files).
Structured Data Outputs: Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 8cm GSD, 1.5cm X/Y, and 3cm Z accuracy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ouro_Preto_-_MDE_(GeoTiff)_-_Per%C3%ADmetro_tombado_pelo_munic%C3%ADpio,_mar%C3%A7o_2026.tif
Wikidata Query showing the items updated with the "aerial view" property (P8592): https://w.wiki/KP8q
External Open Ecosystems:
Link to the 4cm GSD Orthomosaic hosted on OpenAerialMap: https://tiles.openaerialmap.org/69c48335bbf67f9694d2ef34/0/69c48335bbf67f9694d2ef35/wmts
Plus several edits already made to OpenStreetMap. Sample: https://1drv.ms/i/c/d8f3a86fefe7b8a0/IQCDeT2glukoRo5kclq32BKrAfOTWEQJsJ7aWgC7ctbeoUc?e=FpxbKa
Additionally, share the materials and resources that you used in the implementation of your project. (required)
For example:
- Training materials and guides
- Presentations and slides
- Work processes and plans
- Any other materials your team has created or adapted and can be shared with others
Resources used:
Hardware: DJI Mavic 3E with RTK Module. Data & Network: Private NTRIP network for RTK corrections (after IBGE's network proved insufficient in certain areas). Software: Agisoft Metashape, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) such as QGIS and SAGA for processing the resulting DEM and orthomosaics.
Flight plan of the main polygon in Ouro Preto: https://1drv.ms/u/c/d8f3a86fefe7b8a0/IQAcStpkRhXyQJdPSPa168muAWFvHbd44pPuv7_DavLMMVM?e=qmMZdw
3. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding the work carried out with this Rapid Fund? You can choose “not applicable” if your work does not relate to these goals. Required. Select one option per question. (required)
| A. Bring in participants from underrepresented groups | Not applicable |
| B. Create a more inclusive and connected culture in our community | Agree |
| C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups | Agree |
| D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives | Agree |
| E. Encourage the retention of editors | Agree |
| F. Encourage the retention of organizers | Agree |
| G. Increased participants' feelings of belonging and connection to the movement | Agree |
| F. Other (optional) |
Part 2: Learning
4. In your application, you outlined some learning questions. What did you learn from these learning questions when you implemented your project? How do you hope to use this learnings in the future? You can recall these learning questions below. (required)
You can recall these learning questions below: This project will serve as a testbed for developing and documenting a robust workflow for using drone technology in the systematic collection of high-quality aerial imagery for Wikimedia Commons. I aim to assess not only the technical effectiveness of this method but also its potential for generating new structured data and enhancing existing content across Wikimedia platforms. Additionally, I intend to explore how such imagery contributes to user engagement and content enrichment, particularly in the context of open knowledge ecosystems.
The implementation of this project successfully served as a testbed, as intended, allowing me to develop a robust, iterative workflow for drone imagery collection for Commons. By scaling from small test flights to a complex mission over Ouro Preto, I validated the technical effectiveness of both the hardware and the photogrammetry pipeline. The primary technical learning was that general piloting proficiency must be paired with rigorous, site-specific parameter testing, particularly regarding RTK accuracy and image overlap, to guarantee efficiency and safety at scale. This systematic approach proved essential for transforming raw aerial data into high quality, reliable assets for Commons.
Regarding the generation of structured data and content enhancement, the project demonstrated that drone mapping extends beyond standard photography. By extracting targeted images to populate the aerial view property (P8592) on Wikidata, we were able to established a direct, repeatable method for enriching existing database items. Furthermore, the successful generation of an orthomosaic and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) proved the viability of contributing complex spatial datasets to Commons. These specific outputs significantly enhance the utility of the uploaded media, as the data can now be readily analyzed, measured, or further processed by the community using standard geographic information systems like QGIS or SAGA GIS. Perhaps most importantly, in the long run, the Commons now has a highly detailed baseline for future comparison of the evolution of the geology and built environment of the area.
Moving forward, these validated workflows and technical learnings will serve as a foundation for scaling up future contributions, particularly for broader regional initiatives like the Wiki Loves Minas Gerais campaign. To fully explore how this high-quality aerial imagery contributes to user engagement and open knowledge ecosystems over time, I intend to leverage programmatic tracking tools, such as custom Python scripts, to monitor content statistics and usage across the platforms. Tracking these metrics will allow for data-driven adjustments in future mapping missions, ensuring that the structured data and media we capture continue to provide value to the Wikimedia community.
Ultimately, the initial learning questions were successfully answered, proving the viability and immense value of this workflow for the open knowledge ecosystem. The resulting products, such as the 8cm GSD DEM and the 4cm GSD orthomosaic, demonstrate that this data extends far beyond basic illustration; it is currently available for highly accurate modeling and testing in fields like urban planning, geography, architecture, and history. Moving forward, I have already begun applying these learnings by training a few students and researchers in this specific workflow, ensuring the methodology scales and further contributions to the Wikimedia platforms. In future operations, I will adapt my flight planning by firmly separating broad municipal mapping (flown at safer, higher altitudes) from hyper-detailed, subcentimetric modeling of specific heritage buildings.
5. Did anything unexpected or surprising happen when implementing your activities? This can include both positive and negative situations. What did you learn from those experiences? (required)
These might not be necessarily unexpected or surprising, since adjustments and improvements were expected since the beginning, but two main adjustments were made over the course of the preliminary test missions. First, we noticed that the lower flight altitudes above ground level (AGL) of about 60 meters was perhaps too low, considering slight inaccuracies from the digital elevation models used for AGL reference and, more importantly, the elevated level of details obtained from such height. This was fine for the public buildings initially captured, but it might have raised privacy concerns when executed over residential areas. For this reason, the planned AGL height for the Ouro Preto mission was raised from 60 meters to 100 meters, which resulted in fewer images than initially expected on that set.
On the other hand, we developed a workflow for planning highly detailed missions over public buildings, something that's enabled by the RTK accuracy of a few centimeters and will allow us, in the near future, to produce image sets of heritage buildings with millimetric precision. These more precise flights are pending approval from IPHAN, Brazil's national heritage institute.
Another lesson learnt from the preliminary flights, particularly the one in Congonhas, is that IBGE's NTRIPS network does not provide enough coverage for the drone's RTK rover, so a private NTRIP caster service had to be utilized to maintain the necessary centimeter-level precision. This logistical pivot highlighted the importance of having backup network solutions when conducting rigorous spatial mapping in regional areas.
6. What is your plan to share your project learnings and results with other community members? If you have already done it, describe how. (required)
While community building was not the primary focus of this grant, the technical nature of the work naturally led to capacity building. I have already trained a small group of students and researchers in the end-to-end drone mapping and photogrammetry workflow. Because the resulting outputs (high-accuracy DEMs and orthomosaics) are openly available, they act as an ongoing bridge between the Wikimedia community and professional/academic fields (geographers, urban planners, historians). I also plan to document the finalized technical parameters, specifically regarding RTK setup and AGL privacy considerations so that future aerial photographers can replicate this subcentimetric mapping model globally.
Part 3: Metrics
7. Wikimedia Metrics results. (required)
In your application, you set some Wikimedia targets in numbers (Wikimedia metrics). In this section, you will describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used.
| Target | Results | Comments and tools used | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 3 | 3 | |
| Number of editors | 1 | 1 | |
| Number of organizers | 1 | 1 |
| Wikimedia project | Target | Result - Number of created pages | Result - Number of improved pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | 30 | ||
| Wikimedia Commons | 14000 | 14207 | 0 |
| Wikidata | 50 | 0 | 35 |
| Wiktionary | |||
| Wikisource | |||
| Wikimedia Incubator | |||
| Translatewiki | |||
| MediaWiki | |||
| Wikiquote | |||
| Wikivoyage | |||
| Wikibooks | |||
| Wikiversity | |||
| Wikinews | |||
| Wikispecies | |||
| Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia |
8. Other Metrics results.
In your proposal, you could also set Other Metrics targets. Please describe the achieved results and provide links to the tools used if you set Other Metrics in your application.
| Other Metrics name | Metrics Description | Target | Result | Tools and comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orthomosaic (4cm GSD) successfully uploaded and integrated into OpenAerialMap for OpenStreetMap underlay use. | |||
| 2 | Digital Elevation Model (8cm GSD, 1.5cm X/Y accuracy, 3cm Z accuracy) processed and uploaded to Commons. | |||
9. Did you have any difficulties collecting data to measure your results? (required)
No
9.1. Please state what difficulties you had. How do you hope to overcome these challenges in the future? Do you have any recommendations for the Foundation to support you in addressing these challenges? (required)
Part 4: Financial reporting
[edit]10. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency. (required)
28788.11
11. Please state the total amount spent in US dollars. (required)
5499.51
12. Report the funds spent in the currency of your fund. (required)
Provide the link to the financial report https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fAkB4oWoRLkpEYfuDa7zOi_GxD42YV_qwLM5MIl6wak/edit?usp=sharing
12.2. If you have not already done so in your financial spending report, please provide information on changes in the budget in relation to your original proposal. (optional)
Following currency fluctuations between the grant application and the transfer of corresponding funds, the received funds were slightly short of the price of the drone; Wikimedia Brasil kindly covered the difference. During the initial missions, and following difficulties getting the RTK module on loan to work, I decided to purchase one with personal funds; as the project ends, I'm donating this module to Wikimedia Brasil.
13. Do you have any unspent funds from the Fund?
No
13.1. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.
N/A
13.2. What are you planning to do with the underspent funds?
N/A
13.3. Please provide details of hope to spend these funds.
N/A
14.1. Are you in compliance with the terms outlined in the fund agreement?
Yes
14.2. Are you in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as outlined in the grant agreement?
Yes
14.3. Are you in compliance with provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and with relevant tax laws and regulations restricting the use of the Funds as outlined in the grant agreement? In summary, this is to confirm that the funds were used in alignment with the WMF mission and for charitable/nonprofit/educational purposes.
Yes
15. If you have additional recommendations or reflections that don’t fit into the above sections, please write them here. (optional)