Noktura

Uploading Datasets

Learn how to upload images and create datasets with rich metadata. This guide covers file formats, size limits, and the upload workflow.

Last updated: February 2026

Before You Start

Before uploading your images, ensure your files meet these requirements:

Supported File Formats

  • JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) – Most common, recommended for photographs
  • PNG (.png) – Good for images with text or precise details
  • TIFF (.tif, .tiff) – High quality, often used in scientific imaging
  • WebP (.webp) – Modern format with good compression

File Size Limits

  • Maximum 50MB per file
  • No limit on number of files per upload session
  • Total storage depends on your plan (5GB free, more with paid plans)

Tip

Enable GPS on your camera before capturing images. Noktura automatically extracts GPS coordinates from EXIF metadata, saving you time on location entry.

Upload Workflow

1

Create a new dataset

Click New Dataset in the sidebar to start the upload wizard. Enter a descriptive name for your dataset – this helps you and others find it later.

2

Drag and drop your files

Drag images directly into the upload zone, or click to open the file browser. You can select multiple files at once. A progress indicator shows upload status for each file.

3

Review extracted metadata

Noktura automatically extracts metadata from your images:

  • GPS coordinates – Latitude and longitude from EXIF
  • Capture time – Date and time the photo was taken
  • Camera info – Make, model, and settings
  • Image dimensions – Width and height in pixels
4

Add dataset metadata

Enhance your dataset with AgContext metadata. See the Metadata Reference for detailed information about each field.

5

Set visibility and licensing

Choose who can access your dataset and select a license for public datasets. See Privacy & Sharing for details.

GPS Privacy During Upload

Noktura extracts GPS coordinates from your images automatically. You control how this location data is shared:

  • Dataset location – The primary location is set at the dataset level, typically from the first image with GPS data
  • Region and country – Always visible to help others discover relevant datasets
  • Exact coordinates – Visibility controlled per-group when sharing (see GPS Privacy Controls)

Note

If you need to protect exact farm locations, you can share datasets with groups while setting GPS visibility to “Admins only” or “None”. The region/country will still be visible, but exact coordinates will be hidden.

Background Processing

After upload, Noktura processes your images in the background:

  • Thumbnail generation – Creates preview images for fast browsing
  • EXIF extraction – Parses all available metadata
  • Weather data – Fetches historical weather for the capture location (if GPS available)

Processing typically completes within a few minutes. You can continue using Noktura while processing occurs.

Batch Uploads

For large datasets with hundreds or thousands of images:

  • Upload in batches of 100-200 images for best performance
  • Use a stable internet connection
  • Keep the browser tab open during upload
  • Failed uploads can be retried without re-uploading successful files

Note

If your upload is interrupted, return to the dataset page to see which files uploaded successfully. You can add more files to an existing dataset at any time.

Troubleshooting

Upload fails or times out

  • Check your internet connection
  • Ensure files are under 50MB each
  • Try uploading fewer files at a time
  • Disable browser extensions that might interfere

GPS coordinates not detected

  • Verify GPS was enabled when the photo was taken
  • Check if the image editing software stripped EXIF data
  • You can manually add location on the map interface

Wrong file format error

Noktura validates both file extension and actual content. If you see this error:

  • Ensure the file is a genuine image, not renamed from another format
  • Convert unsupported formats to JPEG or PNG
  • Contact support if you believe this is an error

Next Steps