Desktop Help 10.0 - Warp (Data Management)

Summary

Performs a transformation on the raster based on the source and target control points using a polynomial transformation. This is similar to georeferencing using a text file.

Learn more about how Warp works

Illustration

Usage

You must specify the source and target coordinates. The transformation type (polynomial order) from which to choose is dependent on the number of control points entered.
The default polynomial order (1) will perform an affine transformation.
Warp is useful when the raster requires a systematic geometric correction that can be modeled with a polynomial. A spatial transformation can invert or remove a distortion by using polynomial transformation of the proper order. The higher the order, the more complex the distortion that can be corrected. The higher orders of polynomial will involve progressively more processing time.
To determine the minimum number of links necessary for a given order of polynomial, use the following formula:
```
n = (p + 1) (p + 2) / 2
```
where n is the minimum number of links required for a transformation of polynomial order p. It is strongly suggested to use more than the minimum number of links.
You can save your output to BIL, BIP, BMP, BSQ, DAT, GIF, GRID, IMG, JPEG, JPEG 2000, PNG, TIFF, or any geodatabase raster dataset.
When storing your raster dataset to a JPEG file, a JPEG 2000 file, or a geodatabase, you can specify a Compression type and Compression Quality within the Environment Settings.

Syntax

Warp_management (in_raster, source_control_points, target_control_points, out_raster, {transformation_type}, {resampling_type})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
in_raster	The input raster dataset.	Raster Layer
source_control_points [source_control_point,...]	The source points are the "from" coordinates of the links.	Point
target_control_points [target_control_point,...]	The target points are the "to" coordinates of the links.	Point
out_raster	Output raster dataset. When storing the raster dataset in a file format, you need to specify the file extension: .bil—ESRI BIL .bip—ESRI BIP .bmp—BMP .bsq—ESRI BSQ .dat—ENVI DAT .gif—GIF .img—ERDAS IMAGINE file .jpg—JPEG .jp2—JPEG 2000 .png—PNG .tif—TIFF no extension—ESRI GRID When storing a raster dataset in a geodatabase, no file extension should be added to the name of the raster dataset. When storing your raster dataset to a JPEG file, a JPEG 2000 file, a TIFF file, or a geodatabase, you can specify a compression type and compression quality.	Raster Dataset
transformation_type (Optional)	The geometric transformation type. POLYORDER1 —A first order polynomial (affine) fits a flat plane to the input points. This is the default. POLYORDER2 —A second order polynomial fits a somewhat more complicated surface to the input points. POLYORDER3 —A third order polynomial fits a more complicated surface to the input points. ADJUST —A transformation that optimizes for both global and local accuracy. It accomplishes this by first performing a polynomial transformation, then adjusting the control points locally, to better match the target control points, using a triangulated irregular network (TIN) interpolation technique. SPLINE —A transformation that exactly transforms the source control points to the target control points. This means that the control points will be accurate, but the raster pixels that are between the control points are not.	String
resampling_type (Optional)	The resampling algorithm to be used. The default is NEAREST. NEAREST —Nearest neighbor assignment BILINEAR —Bilinear interpolation CUBIC —Cubic convolution MAJORITY —Majority resampling The NEAREST and MAJORITY options are used for categorical data, such as a land use classification. The NEAREST option is the default since it is the quickest and also because it will not change the cell values. Do not use NEAREST or MAJORITY for continuous data, such as elevation surfaces. The BILINEAR option and the CUBIC option are most appropriate for continuous data. It is not recommended that BILINEAR or CUBIC be used with categorical data because the cell values may be altered.	String

Code Sample

Warp example 1 (Python window)

This is a Python sample for the Warp tool.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "c:/data"
source_pnt = "'234718 3804287';'241037 3804297';'244193 3801275'"
target_pnt = "'246207 3820084';'270620 3824967';'302634 3816147'"
arcpy.Warp_management("raster.img", source_pnt, target_pnt, "warp.tif", "POLYORDER1",\
                          "BILINEAR")

Warp example 2 (stand-alone script)

This is a Python script sample for the Warp tool.

##====================================
##Warp
##Usage: Warp_management in_raster source_control_points;source_control_points... 
##                       target_control_points;target_control_points... out_raster
##                       {POLYORDER_ZERO | POLYORDER1 | POLYORDER2 | POLYORDER3 | 
##                       ADJUST | SPLINE | PROJECTIVE} {NEAREST | BILINEAR | 
##                       CUBIC | MAJORITY}
    
    
try:
    import arcpy
    
    arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:/Workspace"
    
    ##Warp a TIFF raster dataset with control points
    ##Define source control points
    source_pnt = "'234718 3804287';'241037 3804297';'244193 3801275'"
    
    ##Define target control points
    target_pnt = outpnts = "'246207 3820084';'270620 3824967';'302634 3816147'"
    
    arcpy.Warp_management("raster.img", source_pnt, target_pnt, "warp.tif", "POLYORDER2",\
                          "BILINEAR")
    
except:
    print "Warp example failed."
    print arcpy.GetMessages()

Environments

Compression, Current Workspace, Output CONFIG Keyword, Output Coordinate System, Extent, Pyramid, Raster Statistics, Scratch Workspace, Snap Raster, Tile Size

Licensing Information

ArcView: Yes

ArcEditor: Yes

ArcInfo: Yes

10/27/2014

Warp (Data Management)