Combining the highest levels of speed, convenience, and accuracy, HoloBuilder VideoMode BETA allows you to document your site with minimal effort. Walk the site, and let VideoMode BETA do the rest.
You have 2 options to use the HoloBuilder VideoMode BETA:
Important:
VideoMode was released as BETA for now.
Early access will be provided for selected customers. As VideoMode is a HoloBuilder add-on that might not be included in your current license, you might not have access to this feature. Please contact your trusted HoloBuilder contact or reach out to our support team at support@holobuilder.com if you are interested in learning more about getting access to this feature.
Learn everything you need to know about the HoloBuilder Desktop Uploader below:
Downloading and installing the Desktop Uploader for VideoMode BETA
Download the HoloBuilder VideoMode Beta Desktop Uploader
- currently for Windows only-.
Note:
Make sure to download the correct uploader depending on what server solution your HoloBuilder dashboard is hosted on - EU vs. US server.
Run the installer file and follow the instructions for installation of the Desktop Uploader.
IMPORTANT:
The Desktop Uploader needs to be installed on the desktop of your PC to run properly - Windows support only for now.
How to upload a video through the Desktop Uploader to HoloBuilder
After having captured your site video and installing the Desktop Uploader, there are a few steps to upload your 360° site tour video to your HoloBuilder project.
Note:
In order to use the VideoMode BETA with the HoloBuilder Desktop Uploader, you do not need to connect with the JobWalk App for the capturing process and are free to capture also videos longer than 10 minutes on a single level.
Preparing the video for the Desktop Uploader BETA
Connect your 360 camera to your PC and copy/move the video file from the camera to the final location on your PC.
Note:
It is important to have the file copied over to your PC to avoid any issues if the camera gets disconnected during the processing with the Desktop Uploader app.
It is important that the videos are not moved on the PC during the upload as this can cause problems.As required: If your video is not already in the flattened, equirectangular image video file format but, e.g., in the fish-eye view, it is required to convert the video to the correct format.
Please find some guidance on how to convert your video file here.
Note:
As for now, only the the Ricoh Theta X camera provides the 360 videos already in the correct format and does not require and converting of the file format.
Starting the video processing in the Desktop Uploader
Open the HoloBuilder Desktop Uploader and sign in to your HoloBuilder account using the same login option as you do in the browser on the JobWalk App.
Once signed in, click on the button 360 Video Load and choose the 360° Video file of your previously captured site tour which you want to upload from the browsing window.
IMPORTANT:
Make sure to have the video file transfered over from your camera to your PC before selecting this for processing.
Back in the Desktop Uploader app, once a video file was selected, confirm the video upload by clicking on Process Video.
Note:
You will see the name of the selected video file appear above the 'Process Video' button - select the 'X' to remove the selected file and choose a different one.
HoloBuilder is now processing the Video.
Please do not quit the Desktop Uploader and keep the app open until the processing is completed.
You will automatically switch over to the next step - see next section on how to connect your video with the HoloBuilder project.
Note:
Please consider the performance of your device.
Low RAM or lack of storage space can affect the speed as well as success of the processing. Make sure to have enough storage space available on your device before starting the process and plan in enough time.
Connecting the processed Video with a HoloBuilder project
After the video processing is complete, you will move on to linking the 360° video with the correct HoloBuilder project:
Choose a project and sheet
On the left-hand side, choose a project from the list of available projects to determine which project the video should get uploaded to.
If no projects appear or you did a recent update in the browser to add a project or sheet to a project, click on Refresh Projects to reload the list of projects.Once the project was selected, you will see the available sheets inside the project. Choose the corresponding sheet from the list where the images of the video should get added to. When clicking on the project first the project is downloaded.
Confirm your choice of project and sheet by clicking Next.
Note:
By clicking on the arrow in the upper left corner, you can go back to the previous step in the processing.
Note:
The project and sheet must exist beforehand.
Path Alignment
The following Path Alignment feature improves the accuracy of the path overlay on the sheet by selecting a point on the 360° video path (left), preview a 360° photo of that location to choose the exact location on the sheet (right).
This feature enables you to scale and rotate the overlay of your video walk path onto your HoloBuilder project sheet as you can see in the following example.
Click on Proceed to alignment to start the Path Alignment (5 steps) for your video:
Step 1 of 5
You will see your video path on the left represented by a waypoint for each 360 image taken from the 360 video.
Select and click on a location/waypoint on the video path to preview it in 360°.
Step 2 of 5
The 360 image will open on the left-hand side.
Select the same location of the previously chosen waypoint on your project's floor plan (light green dot on the right).
Press Next to continue.
Note:
You can always adjust the selection by clicking on a different position on the sheet or return to the selection of the waypoint with the back arrow in the upper left corner.
Step 3 of 5
Repeat the past two steps for a second location in your path:
Selecting another point on the video path (left).
Note:
Choosing a point on the opposite end of the path from the first point will result in a more accurate alignment. The first waypoint will be highlighted in the light green.
Step 4 of 5
Again, the 360 image will open on the left-hand side.
Select the same location on your floor plan (right).
Press Next once completed.
Note:
If the alignment is not correct, you can reset all selections to start over with the option 'Reset selections' below the 360 image preview and sheet.
Step 5 of 5
Review and correct the alignment:
Rotate and scale the path if you need to make any final adjustments.
Scale: On the bottom right you can find a slider to resize the waypoints on screen.
Filter: On the bottom left you can find a slider to filter the waypoints.
Rotate: Click and drag anywhere on the path to rotate the overall path around its center. Hover over the corners to rotate the overall path around its center.
Press Align to complete the alignment.
Uploading the adjusted project to the HoloBuilder Dashboard
Once the video path was mapped to the floorplan on your HoloBuilder project, you will proceed to the actual uploading of the files.
First, name a category you want to use to label all 360 images that will be uploaded with this video.
Note:The categories can be used later on to filter your project and better find your progress. Make sure to use a label name that everyone can later on work with. You can learn more about categories and filters in HoloBuilder here.
Click on Upload to start the process to add the photos to the project.
A new dialog box will open to indicate the progress on your upload - you will see different steps to the upload as well as a clear overview of how many files need to be processed in total as well as how much was already completed.
IMPORTANT:
Do not close the Desktop Uploader, turn off your PC or let your PC go to sleep mode while the upload is still processing. Please wait until this process is completed and make sure that your internet connection remains stable.
As soon as all 360 images have been uploaded to your HoloBuilder project, you will receive a notification that your project is ready. This will allow you to already access the project in the browser and review the update.
Select 'View project' to open the project in the browser.
Select 'Dismiss' to not review now.
IMPORTANT:
Do not yet close the Desktop Uploader. At this stage only the 360 images have been uploaded but any additional data from the videos still needs to be processed. Please keep the Desktop Uploader open until the progress bar reached 100% and the full upload was confirmed. Otherwise, you might cause any issues with your project.
General Recommendations & Best Practices
Benefits compared to JobWalk App Functionality
No smartphone needed - only a (compatible) 360 camera.
Videos longer than 10 minutes can be recorded per floorplan to capture a whole level at once.
Individual processing and direct path alignment option during the upload on the desktop - no mobile/browser use needed.
Hardware Setup for the Capturing Process on Site
You only need the 360 camera and your carrier of choice (e.g. selfi-stick, mono-pod, nothing at all, etc.) - no mobile device, additional app like the JobWalk app or anything else is required for the capturing.
Note: Only requirement for the upload through the Desktop Uploader BETA is that your dashboard or project does have VideoMode activated - check with your trusted HoloBuilder contact for more information on this.Have your 360 camera fully charged
Any 360 cameras can be used for the recording but will require a conversion of the video file before the upload to HoloBuilder
Recommended camera to avoid conversion step: Ricoh Theta X
Have your 360 camera’s firmware on the most recent supported version
Ideally, your 360 camera has at least 64GB of storage space available
Recommend: Bring an external battery for the camera (if possible) or power bank - continuous recording of videos will drain the battery quickly.
During Capturing On Site
Capture one or multiple videos with any duration for a single level using only the 360 camera
Only capture one floor at a time in a video, i.e., don't move between floors in the same video capture but stop the recording before you move to the next sheet and start a new video
Consider the light conditions and provide extra light sources for dark environments
Possible device overheating of 360 camera during capturing
We have not experienced this as an issue, but out of caution, monitor the temperature of your devices periodically to help ensure they do not overheat.
Preparing the Processing & Upload on the PC
FOR THE BETA: Have a dedicated HoloBuilder project with separate sheet/floorplan(s) in your project for testing.
Always transfer the video file(s) first from the camera to your computer before starting the processing in the Desktop Uploader.
Make sure to have the 360 video in the right format before starting the processing in the Desktop Uploader.
Only videos from the Ricoh Theta X camera can be uploaded without converting.
Any other videos need to be converted first using an external tool, e.g. for Ricoh “Basic app - RICOH THETA” or “Insta360 Studio 2022” for Insta360 cameras - Learn more on how to convert your videos here.
During the Processing & Upload on the PC
Always only select a single video file at the time to process and upload to a specific sheet.
During the first step of processing after selecting the video file, no internet connect is required - once the upload process gets started, make sure to have a stable internet connect
Never close the dekstop application or turn off/put to sleep your PC until the whole processing AND upload was fully confirmed.
Processing and upload times can be lengthy due to different variables (file size of the video, the device's processing speed, Wifi, etc.), so keep that in mind before beginning processing.
Plan ahead and, e.g. start the process in the evening to avoid any performance effects while you are working on your PC.
Once the upload has started, do not disconnect from the internet, close the app or turn off the PC.
General Information
The Desktop Uploader BETA is only available for Windows devices
Consider the performance of your device. Low RAM or lack of storage space can affect the success of the processing.
Progress documentation
To document progress (“TimeTravel images”) with VideoMode, simply record your video as usual. When uploading the video to a floor plan with existing waypoints, if the waypoint is 6 feet (~2m) within the proximity of an existing other waypoint on the floor plan, it gets added as a TimeTravel instead of a new Waypoint.
Note:
You can always reach us via email at support@holobuilder.com, use the live chat feature in the bottom right corner or simply contact your go-to HoloBuilder representative.
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