Mini5Planner is a desktop application for Mac and Windows that plans photogrammetry and mapping flights for DJI drones flying waypoint missions in DJI Fly. The user draws the area on the map, chooses a single or double grid, and sets altitude, overlap, speed, gimbal angle and flight direction. The program calculates GSD, photo footprint, photo count, flight time and estimated battery use, then exports the route as a WPML 1.0.2 KMZ file.
- Drawing the area on the map. The user outlines the polygon to be covered directly on the map, and the program builds the waypoint route inside that boundary. DJI Fly has waypoints but no grid generator and no overlap calculator, so each point would otherwise be placed by hand. Mini5Planner generates the complete grid from the drawn area.
- Single and double grid. The route can be flown as a single grid or as a double grid (crosshatch) with passes in two perpendicular directions. The double grid captures the same ground from more angles, which suits excavations and uneven surfaces. Both types are included in the free version.
- Flight parameter settings. Altitude, front and side overlap (for example 80% and 70%), speed, gimbal angle and flight direction are set by the user. From the drone camera and the chosen altitude, the program works out the line spacing and the photo interval. The planned overlap is the overlap obtained in flight.
- Real-time calculations. Every change updates the ground sample distance (GSD), the photo footprint, the photo count, the flight time, the distance and the estimated battery use. The feasibility of the mission is checked before takeoff. The values follow the camera profile of the selected drone.
- Speed limit set by the camera. Flight speed is limited by how fast the camera can save each photo. On the Mini 5 Pro, a 50 MP photo takes about 5 seconds to save; if a route asks for photos faster, the drone skips shots without warning and the overlap drops. Mini5Planner caps the mission speed so the camera keeps pace and reports when it has lowered the speed.
- Profiles for seven DJI drones. The program includes profiles for the DJI Mini 5 Pro, Mini 4 Pro, Air 3, Air 3S, Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic 4 Pro, with the camera and maximum speed of each model. The save time per photo is measured on the Mini 5 Pro (5.2 s per 50 MP photo); the other profiles use an estimate of 2 s, which can be calibrated from the user's own photos. All models are available in the free version.
- Oblique gimbal angles. Besides the straight-down shot at −90°, oblique angles of −70° and −45° can be selected. These angles are used to document facades and vertical walls. The angle is set together with the other mission parameters.
- Mission templates. Five ready-made templates cover typical construction and survey jobs: small site, excavation, gravel pit, facade and road corridor. Each template carries its own altitude, overlap, speed and gimbal angle, and all of them can be adjusted. Excavations are flown as a double grid with an oblique gimbal.
- WPML 1.0.2 KMZ export. The route is saved as a standard WPML 1.0.2 KMZ file, the same format that DJI Pilot 2 uses. DJI Fly runs this file as a normal waypoint mission. The format removes the dependence on third-party flight apps, which cannot take control of these drones.
- Transfer guide for the DJI RC 2. A built-in guide explains step by step how to copy the KMZ file to the DJI RC 2 over USB-C, on both Mac and Windows. After copying, the mission is flown from DJI Fly as a regular waypoint mission. The guide is part of the application.
- Post-flight check. After the flight, the user selects the photo folder and the program reads the EXIF metadata. It shows the actual photo interval, the camera profile derived from the images, the front overlap for every photo pair and the weak spots on the map. The photos are not changed or sent anywhere. This tool is free.
- Movable takeoff point (H). The H marker is dragged to the place where the drone actually takes off. Battery estimates and the Pro terrain following are calculated from that point. A takeoff point moved by the user stays in place, and with terrain following it must be confirmed before export.
- Terrain following (Pro). The one-time Pro license adds terrain following, which adjusts the flight altitude to the relief. The program uses Kartverket's 1 m elevation model in Norway and Copernicus GLO-30 elsewhere. The height above ground stays more constant over uneven terrain.
- Battery splitting (Pro). When a mission is longer than one battery covers, the Pro function produces one KMZ file per battery. Each file is flown separately with a different battery. This function works together with the battery estimates calculated during planning.
- English and Norwegian interface. The interface is available in English and Norwegian and follows the language of the computer. The templates are available in both languages. Updates install automatically.
- Photo processing afterwards. Mini5Planner produces only the flight route. The photos are processed afterwards in photogrammetry software such as OpenDroneMap/WebODM, Pix4D or Metashape into orthophotos, point clouds and 3D models. Point clouds can be used for volume calculations.
Mini5Planner was developed by Anleggtech AS, a Norwegian company that builds digital tools for the construction and earthworks industry. Development has been under way since 2026, and the program is written in JavaScript on the Electron platform, with installers for Mac and Windows. The project started from a practical problem: on the first mapping flight with a Mini 5 Pro, only 89 of 154 planned photos were saved because the camera could not keep up with the shooting rate. After the speed was capped to match the save time, two flights over the same site delivered 105 of 105 photos with 84% measured front overlap. The application is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by DJI.
Alternatives to Mini5Planner:
For Mini5Planner there is 1 alternative program. Free: 1, paid: 0.
Meshroom is a 3D reconstruction software based on the AliceVision framework.
Price: Free Size: 9.5 MB Version: 2025.1.0 OS: Windows, Linux
