GoPro Max is the best 360° camera to use with Mapillary. Imagery from other cameras works on our platform, but the Max has proven to offer the most value and be the best camera for the price. GoPro Max supports 2 seconds time-lapse mode that outputs stitched images which can be uploaded using Mapillary Desktop Uploader and Command Line Tools.

Equipment needed

• GoPro MAX
• Smartphone with GoPro app
• Charging cables
• Memory cards
• Power bank (battery pack)
• Mounting equipment*

Mounting

• Vehicle capture
1. Charge your GoPro fully before embarking on a capture adventure or carry a power bank if your session will continue for more than 2 hours.
2. Secure the GoPro MAX camera onto a vehicle suction mount or your vehicle’s roof rack system
3. Place the camera close to the center of the vehicle with the LCD screen facing the back of the car. Adjust the angles of the mounts so that the camera’s lenses face the front and back of your vehicle.
4. Remove objects obstructing camera view (vehicle antenna).
5. Connect and secure external battery power.

• Walking capture
1. Charge your GoPro fully before embarking on a capture adventure or carry a power bank if your session will continue for more than 2 hours.
2. We recommend using a selfie stick when walking.
3. You can either hold the stick in your hand or fasten it to a backpack in a steady, upright position.
4. Be sure to keep the camera at least 30 cm above your head to minimize interference from your head. 

Device setup 

1. Start with formatting the camera’s memory card (we suggest you do this before each Mapillary session).
   • Follow the instructions for your specific camera, or use https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/index.html overwrite format, not quick format option
2. Make sure your camera battery is charging while you capture images.
3. Use the following two buttons on the camera to navigate the interface:
   • Mode button 
     • Hold for two seconds to turn off/on
   • Shutter button 
     • Press to begin image capture
4. Enable the following camera settings on the on-camera touch screen:
   • Switch to 360 mode 

• Switch to Time Lapse photo mode 

• Select 2 second interval on Time Lapse photo mode 

• You are all set if you are in this state as it is shown in the below image

• Set your resolution to 5.6k

Capturing

1. Recommended: The GoPro MAX can be used to capture without the GoPro app, but this limits its functionality therefore you may need to download GoPro app to control image capture,
   • GoPro (iOS): Link to download
     • Requires IOS 12 or newer
   • GoPro (Google Play): Link to download
     • Requires Android 5.0 and up 
2. Connect your device to the GoPro’s wifi:  
   • On GoPro navigate to: Settings  by swiping down the on the screen
   • Select Preferences to access GoPro Wireless connection  and choose Connect→  GoPro App
   • The screen will display CAM NAME and PASSWORD.
   • In the app, select the camera icon to add a camera.
3. Use the GoPro app to make sure the necessary settings are activated, preview the image perspective, and start capturing.
4. When you feel you have captured enough imagery, stop the capture.

Note:

• Best practices for capturing:
• Avoid capturing at night and when it is actively raining or snowing.
• Avoid capturing too much of your vehicle hood, the sky, and the ground.
• Be sure to fully charge your device before capturing and charge it throughout the duration of your capture session.

Upload GoPro MAX camera imagery to Mapillary

Uploading GoPro Max is a simple process as the Max stitches your 360 imagery on the camera.

1. The first step is to access the imagery on the SD card and copy it onto the device you are planning to upload with.
2. Once your imagery is copied to your computer, use the Mapillary Desktop Uploader to upload your imagery.
3. Download the Desktop Uploader and run the file.
4. Once you’ve installed the Desktop Uploader, open it and sign in with your Mapillary login credentials. You can’t use the application without signing in, so if you don’t have an account yet, be sure to first create an account.
5. Drag and drop or browse for a folder that contains your images (to avoid errors, please make sure the folder name doesn't contain special characters).
   • Note: You can’t add individual images, just folders. You can only add one folder at a time. However, the folders can contain subfolders—the uploader is capable of handling that.
6. Click on "Upload" to upload the imagery to Mapillary. It normally takes a few hours to process, after which you should be able to see your imagery on the Mapillary platform.
7. For more help with the Desktop Uploader, see the respective article. 

Upload GoPro MAX imagery using other methods

• Command Line Tools

Note. If you have more than 100,000 GoPro MAX images, get in touch with us to get help with uploading larger quantities of imagery.