Video Flythrough
Create cinematic camera animations and export them as video files
The Video Flythrough tool lets you create smooth camera animations through your data and export them as video files. This is perfect for presentations, reports, and sharing visualizations.
Creating a Flythrough
Open the Tool
Select Tools → Video Flythrough from the top navigation, or click Video Flythrough in the Tools menu.
Position the Camera
Navigate to your first desired viewpoint using the standard camera controls (pan, zoom, rotate, tilt).
Capture a Waypoint
Click Capture Current View (or the camera icon) to save the current camera position as a waypoint.
A marker will appear on the map showing the waypoint location.
Add More Waypoints
Navigate to different views and capture additional waypoints. Each waypoint represents a camera position in your animation.
- Minimum: 2 waypoints
- Recommended: 3-5 waypoints for smooth animations
Set Segment Durations
For each segment between waypoints, set the transition duration in seconds. This controls how long the camera takes to move from one waypoint to the next.
Waypoint Management
Viewing Waypoints
Each waypoint appears as a numbered marker on the map. Click a marker to:
- Jump the camera to that waypoint position
- View/edit the waypoint settings
Reordering Waypoints
Waypoints play in the order they were captured. To reorder:
- Delete waypoints that are out of order
- Recapture them in the desired sequence
Deleting Waypoints
Click the delete icon next to a waypoint in the settings panel to remove it.
Previewing the Animation
Before recording, preview your flythrough:
- Click Preview in the settings panel
- The camera will animate through all waypoints
- Check timing and smooth transitions
- Adjust waypoints or durations as needed
Preview uses the same timing as the final video, so what you see is what you'll get in the recording.
Recording Video
Start Recording
Click Record to begin capturing the animation as a video.
Wait for Processing
The animation plays through while recording. Progress is shown in the panel.
Download the Video
When recording completes, the video is automatically downloaded as an MP4 file.
Tips for Great Flythroughs
Camera Movement
- Smooth transitions work best - avoid sharp turns or fast zooms
- Similar camera angles between waypoints create more natural motion
- Gradual elevation changes look more cinematic than sudden altitude shifts
Timing
- 3-5 seconds per segment works well for most cases
- Longer durations for complex areas with lots of detail
- Shorter durations for simple transitions
Composition
- Start with a wide establishing shot
- Move to detail views of specific features
- End with a memorable angle that summarizes the scene
Performance
- Reduce point budget if animation stutters during preview
- Close other browser tabs to free up resources
- Use a fast computer with good graphics for best results
Recording quality depends on your display. For high-quality videos, use a monitor with at least 1920x1080 resolution.
Use Cases
Project Presentations
Create flythroughs that:
- Show the entire project extent
- Highlight key infrastructure
- Demonstrate before/after changes
Progress Reports
Document work over time by:
- Capturing consistent camera angles
- Comparing different time periods
- Showing completed vs. planned work
Training Materials
Create educational content that:
- Guides viewers through complex sites
- Points out important features
- Explains spatial relationships
Clearing Waypoints
To start over:
- Click Clear All to remove all waypoints
- Or delete waypoints individually
- Deactivating the tool does not clear waypoints
Next Steps
After creating your flythrough:
- Add comments to annotate specific locations
- Export clipped areas for detailed analysis
- Share your project with team members