Table of Contents

Export spatial data captured by GoPro Max/Max2

This article describes how to export the raw video data captured by a GoPro Max/Max2 panoramic camera from the storage card to the local computer hard drive after data collection is complete, and how to organize and verify the files to prepare for the subsequent mapping process. To ensure that the subsequent mapping task proceeds smoothly, be sure to understand GoPro's file naming rules and make sure files are not lost or mixed up.

Connection and access

We recommend using a high-speed card reader first for data transfer, to achieve better transfer efficiency and stability.

  1. Remove the MicroSD (TF) card from the GoPro Max/Max2.
  2. Insert it into the card reader and connect it to the computer.
  3. Open File Explorer and go to the storage card drive.
  4. Locate the file directory: DCIM > 100GOPRO.

GoPro Max/Max2 file naming rules

Before exporting, first understand the GoPro Max/Max2 file naming rules. This helps you correctly manage the captured video files.

The original video files captured by GoPro Max/Max2 in panoramic mode (360-degree video) use the .360 suffix. Due to file system limitations, when a single recording lasts a long time and the file exceeds 4 GB, GoPro Max/Max2 automatically splits the video into multiple files (chapters). At the same time, GoPro Max/Max2 also creates a corresponding .LRV video with the same name as a preview file.

File name structure

GSxxaaaa.360, GSxxaaaa.LRV

Component Meaning Example description
GS GoPro Spherical Fixed prefix, indicating that this is a 360-degree panoramic video file
xx Chapter number 01 means the first segment, 02 means the second segment, and so on. It identifies consecutive segments that belong to the same recording
aaaa File number The ID that uniquely identifies one recording task. All chapters produced by the same recording task have the same number
.360 File suffix GoPro's dedicated raw panoramic format
.LRV File suffix GoPro's dedicated compressed panoramic format

Export steps

  1. In the 100GOPRO folder, find the .360 and .LRV files corresponding to this collection based on modification time or file number.

    Tip: Ignore .THM (thumbnail) files with the same name

  2. Create a new project folder on the local computer hard drive, for example Shanghai_Museum_ZoneA.

    • Place the project folder on the local computer hard drive (not recommended on the system drive), and check that there is enough remaining disk space before copying data.
    • The folder name can use the full pinyin of the province and city + the full pinyin of the scenic area or commercial area name + the area number. Note that the name can contain only Chinese characters, English letters, numbers, and hyphens (-_), and cannot contain other special characters.

  3. Create two folders under the Shanghai_Museum_ZoneA folder:

    • 360 (for storing .360 files)
    • lowres (for storing .LRV files)

  4. Copy the selected .360 files into the 360 folder, and copy the .LRV files into the lowres folder.

Important
  • Videos from a single continuous collection shoot must be placed together separately. Do not mix in videos from other collections.
  • Copy, do not cut: We recommend using copy. Keep the original data on the storage card until mapping succeeds, as a safe backup.
  • Do not operate directly on the storage card: When uploading data later, be sure to use files on the local hard drive to avoid data corruption caused by poor card-reader contact.

Check exported data

After copying is complete, perform a simple check:

  • File size: Confirm that the local file size is the same as on the storage card.
  • File count: If a long video was collected, confirm that all chapters such as GS01..., GS02... are complete, with no missing middle segments.
  • File classification: If multiple videos were collected, confirm whether the organized collection videos belong to the same collection task, to avoid mixing videos from other collections together.
  • Preview video file: Before uploading data, play the .360 or .LRV video file once on the computer to confirm that the entire video can play normally, with no black screen, corrupted image, or similar issues.

Play 360 video files

The original video files generated by GoPro Max/Max2 use the .360 suffix. You can install the official GoPro Player on the computer to play them.

  • Required software: GoPro Player (Windows / macOS)
  • Download links:
  • Hardware recommendation: Because panoramic video rendering has high GPU requirements, we recommend using a computer equipped with a discrete graphics card.
  • Alternative method: You can also play the .LRV file with the same name (the low-resolution preview file of GoPro Max/Max2), which can be previewed directly on the computer without installing other software.

Next steps

After the data is exported and checked correctly, go to the mapping chapter to learn how to upload the collected data and build a Mega Block map.