DJI Launches Global Competition to Turn Heritage Sites into 3D Drone Flythroughs

Contest Snapshot

DJI is inviting drone pilots worldwide to document heritage places in three dimensions through its World Heritage 3D Conservation Initiative. The contest accepts entries until October 10, 2026, with winners announced in November. It covers both natural and cultural heritage, and the definition is broad: local landscapes, old villages, industrial remnants, and urban structures are all fair game, not just famous landmarks.

How to Take Part

Pilots plan a flight, gather aerial images with a compatible DJI drone, and turn the data into a mesh, 3D Gaussian Splatting model, or point cloud using DJI Terra. DJI Reality then transforms those datasets into explorable flythrough videos. Entries must be MP4 files made through DJI Reality, preferably 4K at 60fps and lasting 30 seconds to five minutes. Real-world footage, behind-the-scenes clips, before-and-after comparisons, and music are welcome, but fabricated or AI-altered models and video are not allowed.

Proven Mapping Examples

DJI highlights earlier projects to show what the tools can do. A Matrice 4E mapped the moving Khumbu Icefall on Mount Qomolangma, aiding Icefall Doctors in route planning and researchers in tracking glacial shifts. In Guatemala's El Mirador Basin, a Matrice 400 paired with a Zenmuse L3 LiDAR sensor collected point-cloud data through the rainforest canopy, producing digital elevation models of Maya archaeological sites.

Prizes and Rules

Each heritage category will have four winners who receive an Osmo Pocket 4 Standard Combo, plus four People's Choice winners who get an Osmo 360 Standard Combo. To enter, post your video on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or X with #DJIMapYourHeritage and #DJIEnterprise, and tag DJI Enterprise. You are responsible for following local drone laws and securing third-party rights, and you grant DJI perpetual, royalty-free use of your submission. DJI Reality is free to download.