Table of Contents

Export spatial data collected by GoPro Max

This article explains how to export the original video data collected by the GoPro Max 1st-gen 360-degree camera from the memory card to the local computer hard drive after data collection is completed. It also covers organizing and verifying the files to prepare for the subsequent mapping process. To ensure the smooth progress of the mapping task, it is essential to understand GoPro's file-naming rules and confirm that no files are missing or mixed up.

Connect and access

It is recommended to use a high-speed card reader for data transfer to achieve better efficiency and stability.

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

GoPro max file naming rules

Before starting the export, first understand the GoPro Max file naming rules, which will help you properly manage the captured video files.

GoPro Max records original video files with the .360 suffix in panoramic mode (360-degree video). Due to file system limitations, when a single recording is long (file exceeds 4GB, approximately 8 minutes), GoPro Max automatically splits the video into multiple files (volumes). At the same time, GoPro Max also creates corresponding .LRV video preview files with the same name.

Filename structure

GSxxaaaa.360, GSxxaaaa.LRV

Component Meaning Example explanation
GS GoPro Spherical Fixed prefix, indicating this is a 360-degree panoramic video file
xx Segment number 01 represents the 1st segment, 02 represents the 2nd segment, and so on. Used to identify continuous clips from the same recording
aaaa File number A unique ID for a recording session. All segments from the same recording share this number
.360 File extension GoPro's proprietary raw panoramic format
.LRV File extension GoPro's proprietary compressed panoramic format

Export operation steps

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

    Note: Ignore files with the same name but .THM (thumbnail) extension.

  2. Create a new project folder on the local hard drive, such as Shanghai_Museum_ZoneA.

    • Place the project folder on the local hard drive (not recommended on the system drive). Check if there is sufficient disk space before copying the data.
    • Name the folder using the full pinyin of the province/city + the full pinyin of the scenic/commercial area name + zone number. Ensure the name only contains Chinese, English letters, numbers, and hyphens (- or _). Avoid other special characters.

  3. Under the Shanghai_Museum_ZoneA folder, create two subfolders:

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

  4. Copy the selected .360 files to the 360 folder and .LRV files to the lowres folder.

Important
  • Videos captured in a single continuous session should be stored together. Do not mix them with videos from other sessions.
  • Copy, do not cut: Use the copy operation. Keep the original data on the memory card as a backup until the mapping is successful.
  • Do not operate directly on the memory card: For subsequent data uploads, always use the files on the local hard drive to avoid data corruption due to card reader issues.

Check the exported data

After copying is complete, please perform a simple check:

  • File size: Confirm that the local file size matches that on the memory card.
  • File count: If long videos were captured, ensure all segments such as GS01..., GS02..., etc., are complete without missing any intermediate parts.
  • File organization: If multiple video segments were captured, verify that the organized videos belong to the same collection task to avoid mixing with other collected videos.
  • Preview video files: Before uploading the data, play and preview the .360 or .LRV video files on your computer to confirm they can be played smoothly without issues like black screens or distorted frames.

Play 360 video files

The original video files generated by GoPro Max have the suffix .360, which you can play on your computer by installing the official GoPro Player for processing.

  • Required software: GoPro Player (Windows / macOS)
  • Download links:
  • Hardware recommendation: Since 360-degree video rendering requires high GPU performance, it is recommended to use a computer with a dedicated graphics card for processing.
  • Alternative method: You can also play the .LRV file with the same name (GoPro Max's low-resolution preview file), which can be previewed directly on your computer without installing additional software.

Next steps

After exporting and verifying the data, proceed to the mapping section to learn how to upload collected data and construct a Mega Block map.