From weathered mountain ranges to centuries-old city walls, the sites that define our natural and cultural history are constantly exposed to erosion, storms, and simple wear. DJI Enterprise's World Heritage 3D Conservation Initiative asks drone operators to help build a lasting digital record of these places, one flythrough video at a time.
Running from July 29 to November 3, 2026, the initiative invites participants to capture a natural or cultural heritage site with a drone, reconstruct it in 3D, and use DJI Reality to generate a flythrough video. Submissions are judged across two categories, with additional recognition for the videos that gain the most traction on social media.
Entries can fall under either of two categories:
Natural Heritage: Mountains, lakes, forests, or any landscape valued for its ecology, geology, or scenic character, from famous national parks to the terrain in your own backyard.
Cultural Heritage: Monuments, archaeological sites, and architectural complexes, but also old villages, urban landmarks, industrial sites, and carved or painted structures with historical or artistic value.
DJI Reality generates flythrough videos from mesh models, 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS), or point cloud data. Three sample reconstructions show the range of formats supported. Beyond a basic flythrough, participants are encouraged to add real-world footage, behind-the-scenes clips of the survey, and background music.
CHANGE TO UNLISTED VIDEO
Share your flythrough video on social media. Include the hashtags #DJIMapYourHeritage and #DJIEnterprise in your caption, then follow and tag DJI Enterprise.
Eligible platforms: Instagram (@DJIEnterprise_Official), Facebook (@DJIEnterpriseOfficial), LinkedIn (@DJI), YouTube (@DJIEnterprise), and X (@DJIEnterprise).
Submission guidelines:
|
Award |
Recipients |
Prize |
|---|---|---|
|
Excellence in Natural Heritage |
2 |
Osmo Pocket 4 Standard Combo |
|
Excellence in Cultural Heritage |
2 |
Osmo Pocket 4 Standard Combo |
|
People's Choice |
8 |
Osmo 360 Standard Combo |
The full path from drone capture to finished video runs through four stages:
A few examples of what drone-based 3D reconstruction has already done for heritage preservation:
Mount Qomolangma's Khumbu Icefall: DJI Matrice 4E surveys the shifting glacier from the air, and DJI Terra processes the data into centimeter-level 3D models that help Icefall Doctors chart safer routes and let scientists track glacial retreat.
El Mirador Basin, Guatemala: Zenmuse L3 LiDAR, mounted on Matrice 400, penetrates the rainforest canopy to capture point clouds and generate Digital Elevation Models of Maya ruins hidden beneath the tree cover.
Submissions are open now through October 10, 2026. Visit the contest page to review the full rules and start planning your capture.
Follow DJI Enterprise for event updates, featured entries, and the winner announcement.
DJI Reality is the software behind every flythrough video in this initiative. It turns mesh, 3D Gaussian Splatting, or point cloud reconstructions into shareable flythrough videos, and it works alongside DJI Terra to move from raw capture to a finished model without switching tools.
The software is free to download and use, so there's no licensing cost standing between a completed 3D reconstruction and a competition-ready video.
To get started:
Download DJI Reality for free and enter the competition.
Disclaimer: Always comply with local drone laws and regulations when operating. Contact an authorized DJI dealer or DJI After-Sales Support if you experience any issues with your equipment or software.