Overview #
Remote GeoSystems desktop-based software provides an easy way to continuously geotag Skydio drone videos for interactive map-based playback by synchronizing the videos with their respective flight data log files.
In most cases, Skydio drones create a flight data log file that is longer in length of time, than the length of time of the video recording. Therefore these two files must first be geotagged for proper geospatial representation and “click-on-track” video navigation.
Full motion video from Skydio drones can be georeferenced and played back in LineVision Desktop and other Remote GeoSystems software.
Feature Availability #
This feature is available in the following Remote GeoSystems software:
- LineVision Desktop (All Editions)
- Video GeoTagger PRO
- Video GeoEditor
Feature Prerequisites #
CSV Flight Data Log File
Skydio drones create a flight telemetry GPS log file in .CSV file format that includes the basic data fields for geotagging the video captured during flight. These files will often have a default name similar (but not exact or always) to the following:
P5_flight_from_Sun_Apr_19_2026_10_07_03_AM_SkydioX10_b5nh.csv
The Skydio support website includes articles for how to export the flight CSV file from the Skydio Cloud and how to export flight logs from the Skydio X10D drone.
MP4 Video File
The video captured during flight alongside the above mentioned CSV file. These files will often have a default name similar (but not exact or always) to the following:
S1078276_P5.MP4
Geotag Skydio Drone Videos #
You can geotag the Skydio video using the video’s actual start time or or by referencing a frame in the video with the drone’s position on the flight track on the map. Both workflows begin with adding the applicable data to the software.
Load Data #
There are two methods for adding data for geotagging – using the GeoTagger panel or the File menu.
Add Data Using the GeoTagger Panel #
The first method is to add data using the GeoTagger panel.
Click the GeoTagger tab at the bottom left of software interface (default layout) to open the GeoTagger panel as shown below.
Browse to and select the Skydio drone video and its associated .CSV flight record log file for geotagging.
You may optionally check the Enter Video Recording Start Time checkbox if you know the exact time in HH:MM:SS format (UTC time) when the video started recording on the drone.
Click the Load File(s) for Geotagging button.
Add Data Using the File Menu #
The second method is to add data using the File menu. Go to File > Open Video > Open Video for Geotagging and select the video to be geotagged.
Browse to and select the Skydio drone video and its associated .CSV flight record log file for geotagging. Click the Load button.
Once the data is added to LineVision Desktop, proceed to geotag the video using the start time (below) or using the map (further down in this article).
Attempt Geotagging with Start Time #
If you checked the Enter Video Recording Start Time checkbox in the panel above, the Automatic Geotagging Wizard panel will pop up. A start time will usually automatically populate based on information the software reads from the video file metadata. NOTE: This may or may not be the actual start time – please verify.
Optionally click the Check Against GPS Log for Match button to make sure the video start time correlates to a time stamp in the CSV file. If you want to use a different time than the defaulted value, you can change the time by manually entering it or using the up/down arrows (indicated with the red arrow).
If the video start time matches with a time stamp in the CSV flight log file you’ll see a pop-up message as shown below. Click the OK button.
To proceed with geotagging by time, click the Accept Auto-Geotagging button or alternatively click the Geotag Myself button to procced with geotagging using the map.
Geotag with Map #
Whether you decided to geotag using the map from the start of the geotagging process or if you decided not to accept the auto-geotagging with start time from the Geotag with Start Time section above, you will now be asked to select a point on the the flight track on map from which to geotag your video. The following window will pop up.
You might find it helpful to change the base layer to Imagery in order to more easily see land features on the map that correspond with the content of the video. Under the Layer Control tab, click Change Base Layer and select Imagery from the dropdown.
Play the video and find a frame clip that lines up with a specific point where the drone was at that moment on the flight track on the map.
Below you’ll see an example of two landmarks (the edge of a lake on the left and the walking path on the right, indicated with arrows) that corresponds with the track on the map. By watching the video, the user could see that the drone turns the corners in the video in the same places as the GPS current position icon turns corners on the GPS track on the map. Therefore, the user can say with reasonable confidence that this exact location at the edge of the lake matches up with the GPS point that is selected. If, after selecting the point that is believed to be correct, a change needs to be made, that can be done before the data is saved and exported.
The arrow on the left in the yellow mass in the video is indicating the lake, and the orange line with the arrow is indicating the trail.
When you find a spot that matches, right click on the point and the following options will be available.
Clicking the Geotag Video Here option will turn the flight track points from blue to yellow to show the proposed section of the flight track that will be synchronized with the video file.
Click the Geotag Video button.
The following window will pop up to show that the file was successfully geotagged.
The new video file with the attached GPS data will now appear in the Media Browser and scrolling through the video will move the Current Position Icon to the correct point of the video.
(Optional) Estimate Camera Target Footprint (CTF) #
Since the Skydio’s CSV flight data log file does not contain the proper metadata values for the software to automatically calculate and present a “camera target footprint” (CTF) to show where the camera is looking on the map, this optional capability provides an easy way for users estimate these values.
In the Media Browser, right click on the geotagged Skydio video and select Camera Target Footprint Options > Estimate Camera Target Footprint (CTF) on Map.
For more details on using this capability, see the Estimate Camera Target Footprint on Map documentation.
(Optional) Export a MISB FMV / STANAG 4609 Spec Video File #
NOTE: This feature is only available in LineVision Desktop Ultimate edition.
This is an optional step that will create new MISB FMV/STANAG 4609-spec .TS file. This is designed for users who plan to use the georeferenced Skydio video outside of the Remote GeoSystems’ software suite in 3rd-party mapping platforms such as Esri’s ArcGIS or Booz Allen’s Gv/TAK specialized military mission planning software.
To use this option, right-click on the video item in the Media Browser panel and select Save as MISB FMV / STANAG 4609 Spec Video File. This will directly output a MISB FMV/STANAG 4609-spec .TS video file with the metadata embedded.
