With the 360° camera function, docu tools expands the possibilities to comprehensively and realistically document the condition of a project. Instead of taking many individual photos to capture the construction progress of a room or building part, a single 360° photo is now sufficient. This saves time and storage space and reduces the risk of overlooking important details. The panoramic view allows recordings to be traced from all perspectives later – a real added value for precise construction documentation.
Currently, docu tools supports the 360° camera function for Insta360 cameras, which can be paired with the mobile docu tools apps. Recorded 360° photos can then be displayed in all docu tools apps and on all devices in an integrated 360° viewer.
Features
The 360° camera function includes the following capabilities:
Pairing an Insta360 camera with the docu tools app
Taking a 360° photo directly from a Pin
Adding the photo to a Pin as a media entry
Viewing and navigating in the 360° viewer (Web and Mobile)
Drawing mark-ups on iOS devices with Apple Pencil Kit
Integration into reports, where 360° photos are displayed in a rolled-out, two-dimensional view
Sctivation of the Function
The 360° camera function is unlocked by docu tools for your User account after purchase.
Open your User settings in the app.
Sctivate the Button for the 360° camera function.
After sctivation, a form for connecting to the camera appears.
Connection with the Camera
The connection is made wirelessly via WLAN.
Turn on your Insta360 camera.
Open the docu tools app on your iPhone or iPad and enter the WLAN name and WLAN Password of the camera in the appropriate input fields. You can find this information in the camera settings or the user manual of your camera.
After entering the data, the app automatically establishes the connection.
Once the connection is successful, you will receive a brief notification that the camera is now connected. A green symbol with the label "Connected" is displayed next to the device title, indicating the active Status.
💡 Tip: Make sure that the camera does not switch to power-saving mode or sleep mode while it is connected to docu tools. Some models automatically turn off after a certain period of inactivity – deactivate this function in the camera settings to avoid connection interruptions.
If you want to connect a different camera later, you can simply overwrite the saved connection data.
💡 Note: If your smartphone or tablet does not have a mobile data connection (SIM card), the WLAN connection to the camera will block Internet access. In this case, it is advisable to use offline projects and store the required data locally in advance.
Taking a 360° Photo
In the Plan view of a project, an additional 360° symbol appears next to the normal camera icon when the feature is activated.
Open a Pin and tap on the 360° camera icon.
The camera view of the Insta360 opens.
Press the shutter to take a 360° photo.
Recommendations for optimal results:
Place the camera centrally in the room to achieve a uniform representation.
Use a stable mount (e.g., suction cup, tripod, or helmet mount).
Avoid movements during the shot.
Deactivate the Stitching option in the camera settings to significantly reduce the file size of your 360° photos.
Use a suitable SD card in your Insta360 camera to noticeably improve its performance.
Processing the photo takes only a few seconds. Meanwhile, you can continue your tour. The file size is only slightly different from conventional photos.
Before adding to the Pin, you can check the preview. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can start a new recording via the Button "Repeat".
Management and Display of 360° Photos
The recorded 360° photo is stored in the media section of the Pin and also appears in the posting itself. It is marked with a 360° symbol to distinguish it from conventional photos.
In the Viewer (Web & Mobile)
Freely rotatable view by Dragging, tapping, or using arrow keys
Zoom via gesture or mouse wheel
Fullscreen mode for detailed display
Additional Functions
Download the photo or Copy a link for registered docu tools Users
Adding a media description, which is also displayed in reports
Deactivate 360° photos to exclude them from reports (without deleting them)
Output in reports in an unwarped, two-dimensional view, so the entire panorama is clearly displayed
360° Photos in the Media Menu
360° photos are also visible in the media menu of the Web app. They can be recognized by the 360° symbol and can be specifically filtered using the quick filter by media type.
Support for 360° Images in docu tools
360° cameras can save images in many different formats. For example, an Insta360 camera supports up to ten different file formats alone.
In docu tools, JPEG files are supported, as this format is fully compatible.
Compatibility depends on the format or app with which the 360° image was created.
Based on the file extension (e.g., .insp, .jpeg, .png, ...) it can be determined whether the image can be used in docu tools.
Optional Add-on: Face Blur for Increased Data Protection
With the optional Face Blur feature, individuals in 360° photos can be automatically blurred. This ensures that recordings can be used and shared in compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) – a special added value on large construction sites with many participants or in publicly accessible areas.
The feature works completely in the background: After sctivation, all newly taken 360° photos are automatically processed without requiring additional steps by the Users. This keeps the usual workflow unchanged while simultaneously protecting the privacy of all captured individuals.
Face Blur is offered as an optional add-on for Organizations. After ordering, the function is centrally unlocked in the background for the Organization and automatically applies to all 360° photos taken within it.