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Getting Started

Shuttermap is a planning and review platform for drone-based inspections.
It helps teams define what to capture, how to capture it, and why, before going into the field.

Rather than relying on in-flight decisions, Shuttermap emphasizes pre-flight planning, camera-aware shot design, and structured inspection workflows. The result is inspection data that is consistent, reviewable, and comparable across large inspection efforts.

What Shuttermap Is

Shuttermap is used before and after a flight, not during it.

It allows inspection teams to:

  • Plan inspections around asset geometry and camera behavior
  • Define explicit inspection shots instead of ad-hoc photos
  • Share standardized shot sheets at the team level
  • Review captured imagery with spatial and 3D context
  • Track inspection scope and progress through assignments

Shuttermap does not control drones or execute flights. It provides planning artifacts and review tools that support effective field execution.

The Inspection Planning Workflow

At a high level, inspections in Shuttermap follow a consistent workflow:

  1. Define Assets
    Assets represent the real-world infrastructure being inspected.

  2. Design Shots
    Shots define specific camera positions, orientations, and framing required to inspect an asset.

  3. Organize Shot Sheets
    Shot sheets group shots into a repeatable inspection procedure and are shared at the team level.

  4. Execute in the Field
    Pilots use shot sheets as guidance during real-world flights.

  5. Review Imagery
    Captured images are reviewed with spatial and 3D context to validate coverage.

  6. Manage Assignments
    Assignments track which assets and shot sheets are planned, in progress, or completed.

This workflow separates planning intent from field execution so each can improve independently.

Core Concepts

A few key concepts appear throughout Shuttermap:

  • Teams
    Teams represent groups of users who collaborate on inspections. Teams own shared resources such as shot sheets and manage access through roles.

  • Projects
    Projects organize inspection work by site, location, or campaign. They group assets and assignments into a defined scope of work.

  • Assets
    Assets are the physical objects being inspected, such as poles, towers, or substations.

  • Shot Sheets
    Shots define individual camera views with inspection intent. Shot sheets organize those shots into a standardized inspection procedure that can be reused by a team.

  • Assignments
    Assignments represent inspection work to be performed. They link assets, shot sheets, and progress tracking into an executable plan.

Understanding these concepts will make the rest of Shuttermap easier to use.

What Shuttermap Does Not Do

Shuttermap is intentionally focused. It does not:

  • Control or fly drones
  • Automate flight execution
  • Replace pilot judgment in the field
  • Guarantee inspection outcomes

It provides planning clarity and review context, not operational enforcement.

Who Shuttermap Is For

Shuttermap is best suited for teams that:

  • Manage inspections across many assets
  • Need consistent inspection coverage at scale
  • Operate with multiple pilots or crews
  • Track inspection progress across campaigns

It is less suited for one-off flights or casual aerial photography.

Next Steps

To continue:

  • Read Core Concepts to understand how Shuttermap models inspections
  • Learn how to plan your first inspection
  • Explore how camera behavior is modeled during planning