Can I geotag drone photos from a flight log?

Yes. Export your DJI, Autel, or Skydio flight log as KML or GPX (Airdata.com is the easiest converter), then upload it with your photos to GPX Sync. Each photo is matched to the logged GPS position at the moment of capture.

What if my drone photos already have GPS in EXIF?

GPX Sync overwrites the existing GPS coordinates with the matched values from your flight log. This is useful when takeoff GPS drift produced inaccurate initial positions — the flight log is usually more reliable.

Does GPX Sync work with DJI .DAT flight records?

Not directly. Run .DAT files through Airdata.com or DJI Assistant 2 to export a clean KML, then upload that KML to GPX Sync.

Can I use GPX Sync for survey-grade aerial mapping?

GPX Sync writes accurate lat/lng to EXIF, which is sufficient for most mapping workflows in Pix4D and DroneDeploy. For sub-meter survey-grade work, supplement with PPK or RTK post-processing — GPX Sync handles the lat/lng layer well, but survey altitude needs additional precision.

Discover free geotagging tools inside Geo-Tag-It.Explore tools

Geo-Tag-It

Drone Flight Logs → EXIF GPS

Geotag Drone Photos from a Flight Log (KML or GPX)

When your drone's SD card photos lose GPS — or never had it — pair them with a KML or GPX flight log from DJI Fly, Litchi, or Airdata to restore accurate aerial coordinates by timestamp.

Supports KML

Supports GPX

100% browser-based

No upload to servers

How to sync Drone Flight Logs tracks with your photos

From KML or GPX flight log to geotagged photos in five steps. Built for drone pilots, surveyors, and aerial photographers.

1
Pull the flight log
DJI pilots can export KML from DJI Fly or Litchi. Airdata.com generates clean KML/GPX from uploaded flight logs. Autel Explorer and Skydio also expose flight log exports.
2
Convert if needed
GPX Sync supports both GPX and KML directly. If your log is in proprietary .DAT or .txt format, run it through Airdata first to get a usable KML.
3
Upload log + photos
Drop the flight log and SD card photos into Geo-Tag-It's GPX Sync. The tool matches each photo's EXIF capture time to the nearest logged GPS position.
4
Account for time drift
Drone clocks should be set automatically when paired with the controller, but a manual battery swap or factory reset can desync them. Use the camera-clock-offset slider to correct.
5
Download for Pix4D, DroneDeploy, or delivery
You get a ZIP of geotagged copies, ready for orthomosaic processing, MLS upload, or client delivery.

Who uses Drone Flight Logs GPX Sync?

Aerial real estate photographers shooting MLS-ready exteriors

Surveyors generating orthomosaics in Pix4D or DroneDeploy

Construction progress documentation across multi-week projects

Inspection crews recording cell towers, wind farms, and infrastructure

Filmmakers and content creators logging cinematic drone shots

Common Drone Flight Logs sync issues (and fixes)

My DJI photos already have GPS but it's wrongGPS drift on takeoff is common — the drone records a position before its GPS lock fully settles. Use GPX Sync to overwrite the bad coordinates with the correct ones from the flight log, which has continuous post-lock data.

Flight log time doesn't match photo timeMost drone flight logs use UTC; some embed local time. Slide the camera-clock-offset to align them — a one-time adjustment fixes the entire batch.

Altitude in my photos still looks wrong after syncDrone altitude in EXIF is typically relative to takeoff, not sea level. GPX Sync writes lat/lng for mapping accuracy; for survey-grade altitude, supplement with PPK/RTK processing or manual offset to known elevation.

Drone Flight Logs GPX Sync — FAQ

More GPX sync workflows

Strava

Upload your Strava activity GPX and a folder of photos — Geo-Tag-It matches each shot to the GPS point recorded at that exact moment, then writes the coordinates to EXIF. No manual coordinate entry, no Lightroom plugin.

Garmin

Pair a Garmin Connect GPX export with your camera roll and Geo-Tag-It writes accurate GPS coordinates into every photo by timestamp. Works with Fenix, Edge, eTrex, GPSMAP, and any other Garmin that records to Connect.

Ready to geotag your Drone Flight Logs shoot?

Free to try. No signup required for small batches. Pro unlocks larger uploads and saved presets.