Exercise 2: Creating multiple mosaic datasets from a single mosaic dataset

This topic applies to ArcEditor and ArcInfo only.

Complexity: Beginner Data Requirement: ArcGIS Tutorial Data Setup Data Path: C:\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Data Goal: Understand how to create a master mosaic dataset that can be used as the source from which to create multiple products.

In this exercise, you will be creating a mosaic dataset containing a single DEM. This mosaic dataset will be the source for two additional mosaic datasets that will be created to produce both a hillshade and a shaded relief product. This tutorial walks you through the steps using only one DEM file; however, you would typically create a mosaic dataset containing many DEMs and potentially DEMs with various spatial resolutions.

This exercise will show you how to create a referenced mosaic dataset and edit its function chain.

This exercise does not rely on any previous exercises.

Before you begin, it is assumed that you have installed the tutorial at C:\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Data. If not, make the appropriate path changes throughout this tutorial so it works properly for you.

Start ArcMap

Steps:
  1. Start ArcMap by clicking Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcMap 10.
  2. Click Cancel on the ArcMap - Getting Started window.

    This window may not open if you've previously opted not to show it.

    NoteNote:

    You will be setting the default map document's geodatabase later in this exercise.

Create a file geodatabase

If you have already created the ImageGDB in another exercise, you can skip this section of steps.

Steps:
  1. Click the Catalog window button Catalog Window on the Standard toolbar.

    This opens the Catalog window.

  2. In the Location text box, type C:\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster and press ENTER.

    This location is added to the Catalog tree under the Folders Connection heading.

    If your tutorial data was installed in a different location, alter the path according to your installation location.

  3. Right-click the Raster folder and click New > Folder.
  4. Name the folder Exercises.
  5. Right-click the Exercises folder and click New > File Geodatabase.
  6. Rename the new file geodatabase ImageGDB.

Set the default geodatabase

Each map document has a default geodatabase, which is the home location for the spatial content of your map. This location is used for adding datasets and saving resulting datasets created by various editing and geoprocessing operations.

Learn about the default geodatabase

Steps:
  1. Right-click the ImageGDB geodatabase in the Catalog window and click Make Default Geodatabase.

Create a new mosaic dataset

You will be creating the main mosaic dataset, which the other mosaic datasets will reference.

Steps:
  1. Right-click the ImageGDB in the Catalog window, point to New, then click Mosaic Dataset.

    This opens the Create Mosaic Dataset tool dialog box.

  2. Type DEM in the Mosaic Dataset Name text box.
  3. Click the Coordinate System browse button Spatial Reference Properties.
  4. Click Select.
  5. Double-click the Geographic Coordinate Systems folder, double-click the World folder, click WGS 1984.prj, then click OK.
  6. Click OK to close the Spatial Reference Properties dialog box.
  7. Click OK on the Create Mosaic Dataset tool window.
  8. Once the process is complete, click Close.

    The DEM mosaic dataset is created in the geodatabase and added to the ArcMap table of contents. This is an empty mosaic dataset. You will be adding raster datasets to it in the next steps.

When the mosaic dataset is added to the table of contents, it is added as a mosaic layer, which is essentially a special group layer. The top level has the name of the mosaic DEM. There are also empty Boundary, Footprint, and Image layers.

Add rasters to the mosaic dataset

Steps:
  1. Click the Catalog tab to expand the window.
  2. Click the Default Geodatabase button Default Geodatabase.
  3. Right-click the DEM mosaic dataset and click Add Rasters.

    This opens the Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset tool dialog box.

  4. From the Raster Type list, choose Raster Dataset.
  5. Click the Input arrow and click Workspace.
  6. Click the Input browse button Browse, navigate to C:\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Data\DEM, then click Add.
  7. Check Update Overviews.
  8. Click OK.
  9. When the process is complete, click Close.

    The raster datasets are added to the mosaic dataset. The footprints are created for each raster dataset, and the boundary is generated for the entire mosaic dataset. The overviews are then generated for the entire mosaic dataset.

  10. Right-click the DEM in the table of contents and click Zoom To Layer.

Create a referenced mosaic dataset

Steps:
  1. Click the Search window button Search Window.
  2. Click Tools on the Search window.
  3. Type mosaic dataset and press ENTER on the keyboard.
  4. Click Create Referenced Mosaic Dataset from within the returned items.

    This opens the Create Referenced Mosaic Dataset geoprocessing tool.

  5. Click the Input Raster Catalog Or Mosaic Dataset arrow and click DEM.
  6. Change the path in the Output Mosaic Dataset box to C:\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Exercises\ImageGDB.gdb\Hillshade.
  7. Click OK.
  8. When the process is complete, click Close.

The Hillshade mosaic dataset is added to the table of contents.

Add the Hillshade function to the mosaic dataset

Steps:
  1. Click the Catalog tab to expand the window.
  2. Right-click the Hillshade mosaic dataset and click Properties.
  3. Click the Functions tab.
  4. Right-click Mosaic Function, point to Insert, then click Hillshade Function.

    You can alter the Azimuth, Altitude, and Z Factor values or leave the defaults.

  5. Click OK to close the Raster Functions Properties dialog box.

    Functions tab

  6. Click OK to close the Mosaic Dataset Properties dialog box.

Calculate statistics

You may need to calculate statistics for your mosaic dataset so it will display better. Typically, you will be calculating statistics on a very large mosaic dataset. To reduce the time it takes to calculate the statistics, you can specify a large skip factor, such as 100. However, because this Hillshade mosaic dataset is so small, you will not need to specify a skip factor and can use the defaults.

Steps:
  1. Click the Catalog tab to open the Catalog window.
  2. Right-click the Hillshade mosaic dataset in the Catalog window and click Calculate Statistics.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Close the progress window when the process is complete.

Create another referenced mosaic dataset

Steps:
  1. Click the Search window button Search Window.
  2. Click Create Referenced Mosaic Dataset from within the returned items.
  3. Click the Input Raster Catalog Or Mosaic Dataset arrow and click DEM.
  4. Change the path in the Output Mosaic Dataset box to C:\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Exercises\ImageGDB.gdb\ShadedRelief.
  5. Click OK.
  6. When the process is complete, click Close.

The ShadedRelief mosaic dataset is added to the table of contents.

Add the Shaded Relief function to the mosaic dataset

Steps:
  1. Click the Catalog tab to expand the window.
  2. Right-click ShadedRelief mosaic dataset and click Properties.
  3. Click the Functions tab.
  4. Right-click Mosaic Function, point to Insert, then click Shaded Relief Function.

    You can alter the Color Ramp, Azimuth, Altitude, and Z Factor values or leave the defaults.

  5. Click OK to close the Raster Functions Properties dialog box.
  6. Click OK to close the Mosaic Dataset Properties dialog box.

Calculate statistics

You may need to calculate statistics for your mosaic dataset so it will display better.

Steps:
  1. Click the Catalog tab to open the Catalog window.
  2. Right-click the ShadedRelief mosaic dataset in the Catalog window and click Calculate Statistics.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Close the progress window when the process is complete.

You've now created three mosaic dataset and used one as the source for the other two. If you were to move or delete the original DEM mosaic dataset, the other two will be affected because they reference the source mosaic dataset; they do not reference the source raster.

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8/21/2013