DJI Enterprise has launched its 2026 World Heritage 3D Conservation Initiative, inviting participants to use drone surveying and 3D reconstruction technologies to document cultural and natural heritage sites. Running from July through November 2026, the initiative is designed around creating digital archives of heritage locations and presenting them through 3D flythrough videos.
The program covers both cultural and natural heritage and uses DJI’s aerial surveying and mapping workflow for data collection and 3D reconstruction. Participants can create models using mesh reconstruction, 3D Gaussian Splatting or point-cloud data and turn those models into flythrough videos using DJI Reality.
DJI Heritage Drone Mapping Targets Cultural and Natural Sites
The initiative divides eligible subjects into two categories: cultural heritage and natural heritage.
Cultural subjects can include monuments and architectural complexes as well as old villages, urban landmarks and industrial heritage with historical, artistic or scientific value.
Natural heritage can include mountains, lakes, forests, geological formations and other landscapes or habitats with ecological, scientific or aesthetic value.
DJI describes drone-based heritage preservation as a method for creating digital reconstructions that can support research and conservation. Its heritage-preservation workflow uses aerial data collection to produce 2D and 3D models of historical sites.
DJI Reality Turns 3D Models into Flythrough Videos
Participants are required to submit MP4 video containing footage generated with DJI Reality from a 3D model of their selected heritage subject.
DJI Reality supports flythrough creation from several forms of 3D data, including:
- Mesh models
- 3D Gaussian Splatting
- Point clouds
DJI recommends a video resolution of 4K at 60 frames per second and a duration between 30 and 300 seconds. Participants are also encouraged to incorporate material such as real-world footage, behind-the-scenes content and shots showing the drone surveying the location.
DJI Reality works alongside DJI Terra, which supports 2D and 3D reconstruction from visible-light imagery as well as processing of data collected by DJI LiDAR systems. DJI says the combination provides a workflow spanning aerial data acquisition, processing and model use.
2026 Initiative Includes Social Media Competition
Participants can publish their completed videos on eligible social media platforms and enter them into the initiative using the hashtags #DJIMapYourHeritage and #DJIEnterprise while following and tagging DJI Enterprise.
Eligible platforms include:
- YouTube
- X
The four videos receiving the highest overall engagement are designated for the People’s Choice Award.
DJI states that submissions must use authentic information and original work. The program prohibits the use of AI tools to fabricate or alter the submitted 3D models or video content.
Participants are also responsible for ensuring their drone operations comply with applicable laws and regulations and that submitted material does not infringe third-party rights.
DJI Sets October Deadline for Heritage Drone Mapping Entries
DJI lists four dates for the 2026 program:
- July 29 — Call for Participation
- October 10 — Participation Deadline
- October 15 — People’s Choice Award announcement
- November 3 — Excellence Showcase
Awards include two Excellence in Cultural Heritage recipients and two Excellence in Natural Heritage recipients, with each receiving an Osmo Pocket 4 Standard Combo. Four People’s Choice Award recipients will each receive an Osmo 360 Standard Combo.
Expert Panel Covers Heritage, Remote Sensing and 3D Technology
DJI has assembled an expert panel representing heritage preservation, remote sensing, photogrammetry, reality capture, architecture, cultural digitization and visual documentation.
Panel members include University of Glasgow Professor Brian Barrett, Tianjin University Professor Li Zhe, heritage documentation specialist Pete Kelsey, World Monuments Fund Senior Vice President Jonathan S. Bell, Wuhan University Associate Professor Ji Zheng and 2DIAMR CEO Michal Gula.
The panel also includes Zhang Hongyan of China Digital Culture Group and Liu Dawei of the Guangdong Center of Xinhua News Agency News and Information Center.
The 2026 World Heritage 3D Conservation Initiative combines DJI heritage drone mapping with 3D reconstruction and flythrough creation to produce digital records of cultural and natural sites, with submissions open through October 10 and an Excellence Showcase scheduled for November 3.
Source: DJI Enterprise World Heritage 3D Conservation Initiative
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