SPH Engineering Releases UgCS 5.9: Greater Precision, New Features for Mission Planning

The latest update introduces explicit altitude settings for photogrammetry, enhanced elevation data for U.S. users, and UI improvements.

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb

SPH Engineering recently announced the UgCS 5.9 release, a new version of their flagship UgCS software that improves elevation data accuracy, makes mission planning easier, and introduces several enhancements to improve user experience. 

The new features include the ability to explicitly set flight altitude in photogrammetry and corridor missions, support for DJI M3D and M3TD drones, and access to USGS 1/3 Arc Second elevation data for users in the United States. These updates simplify mission planning and precision, making missions safer and more efficient. 

Responding to long-standing feedback from users, UgCS now allows drone pilots to define exact flight heights when planning photogrammetry and corridor mapping missions, removing the need for Ground Sample Distance (GSD) as the only input. This long-requested feature brings clarity and control to mission planning, especially for users who need to fly at specific altitudes and understand their expected image resolution.

“Our users have asked for more flexibility and clarity in setting flight height in photogrammetry missions. With this update, we’ve not only delivered that but also aligned UgCS with the standards professional pilots expect from leading flight planning tools,” says Kristaps Brass, UgCS Product Owner.

Another significant improvement is new integration of USGS 1/3 Arc Second elevation data for all UgCS users flying within the United States. This increases the default elevation data resolution threefold, from one data point every 30 meters to one every 10 meters. This greatly enhanced resolution means safer, more efficient operations in complex or mountainous terrain. This is combined with a range of UI optimizations designed to make the product easier to use than ever. 

The new version of UgCS is available globally, with USGS elevation data automatically applied when planning missions within U.S. territory. The latest 5.9 version is available here.

UgCS by SPH Engineering is one of the world’s leading flight-planning software solutions for drones, trusted by professionals in over 150 countries. UgCS supports popular drone platforms, such as DJI M350, M300, Mavic 3 Enterprise, Matrice 4 Series, M600, and many others. Unlike cloud-based solutions, UgCS runs locally on PC/Mac, offering full offline capabilities and a fast, 3D flight planning environment. UgCS is designed to enable complex missions such as LiDAR, photogrammetry, corridor mapping, and more.

Read more:

• UgCS Open Makes Pro Drone Planning Free and Easy
• SPH Engineering Unveils Circlegrammetry: A New Approach to Drone Photogrammetry
• Drone Show Creator by SPH Engineering: Revolutionizing Aerial Entertainment for Creatives Everywhere