Exercise 4: Creating a mosaic dataset using a raster type for orthorectification

This topic applies to ArcEditor and ArcInfo only.

Complexity: Beginner Data Requirement: ArcGIS Tutorial Data Setup Data Path: C:\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Data Goal: To create a mosaic dataset using the MATCH-AT raster type, which will create on-the-fly orthorectified mosaicked images

In this exercise, you will be setting up a mosaic dataset using raw aerial imagery, a DEM, and some parameter files. The imagery added to this mosaic dataset has been processed with MATCH-AT and will be added to the mosaic dataset using the MATCH-AT raster type.

This exercise does not rely on any previous exercises.

Before you begin, it is assumed that you have installed the tutorial on the C:\ drive. If not, you will need to edit the hard-coded paths to the data in the MATCH-AT project file (Amberg_MAT2.prj in \arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Data\Amberg_scans\Match-AT Parameters). This is a text file and can be edited in any text editor. This project file is a text file you can open in any text editor program (such as Notepad or WordPad). Search for the string C:\ImageServerTutorial\Data\Amberg_scans\Scans and replace it with your path to the \Scans folder containing the .tif files. This path appears 16 times in this file.

For example, if your path to the tutorial data begins with D:\mydata, you will likely replace text in the line:

$PHOTO_FILE: C:\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Data\Amberg_scans\Scans\110211.tif

with

$PHOTO_FILE: D:\mydata\arcgis\ArcTutor\Raster\Data\Amberg_scans\Scans\110211.tif

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.

   Note:

   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 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

Steps:

1. Right-click the ImageGDB in the Catalog window and click New > Mosaic Dataset.

   This opens the Create Mosaic Dataset tool.

2. Type AmbergOrtho in the Mosaic Dataset Name text box.
3. Click the Coordinate System browse button .
4. Click Select.
5. Double-click the Projected Coordinate Systems folder, double-click the National Grids folder, double-click the Germany folder, select Germany Zone 4.prj, then click Add.
6. Click OK to close the Spatial Reference Properties dialog box.
7. Click OK on the Create Mosaic Dataset tool window.

   The reporter window opens.

8. Once the process is complete, click Close.

   The AmbergOrtho 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 group layer. The top level has the name of the mosaic dataset--AmbergOrtho. There are also empty Boundary, Footprint, and Image layers.

Add rasters to the mosaic dataset

Steps:

1. Right-click the AmbergOrtho mosaic dataset in the Catalog window and click Add Rasters.

   This opens the Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset tool.

2. In the Raster Type list, choose Match-AT.
3. Click the Properties button .

   The Raster Type Properties dialog box is opened. Here, you will enter specific information about the DEM and the location of the camera file.

4. Click the Properties tab.
5. Click the DEM radio button.
6. Click the browse button and navigate to C:\ArcGIS\ArcTutor\Raster\Data\Amberg_Scans\DEM.
7. Click the Show of type drop-down arrow and click Raster datasets.
8. Click the 01x01.flt file and click Add.
9. Click the Auxiliary Inputs tab.
10. Click the Camera browse button .
11. Navigate to C:\ArcGIS\ArcTutor\Raster\Data\Amberg_Scans\Match-AT Parameters, click the CAMERA file, then click Open.
12. Click OK to close the dialog box.
13. Click the Input browse button .
14. Navigate to C:\ArcGIS\ArcTutor\Raster\Data\Amberg_Scans\Match-AT Parameters\Amberg_MAT2.prj and click Open.
15. Click OK to run the tool.
16. Once 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.

Shrink the footprints

Steps:

1. Click the Search window button .
2. Click Tools.
3. Type footprint and click the Search button .

4. Click Build Footprints in the returned list.

   The Build Footprints tool is opened.

5. Click the Mosaic Dataset drop-down arrow and click AmbergOrtho.
6. Type 0 in the Minimum Data Value text box.
7. Type 255 in the Maximum Data Value text box.
8. Type 60 in the Shrink Distance text box.

9. Click OK.
10. Once the process is complete, click Close.

    The footprints will be updated in the display view.

Build the overviews

Steps:

1. Right-click the AmbergOrtho mosaic dataset in the Catalog window and click Build Overviews.

   This opens the Build Overviews tool.

2. Accept the defaults and click OK.
3. Once the process is complete, click Close.

The mosaic dataset has been created and is ready to publish as an image service using ArcGIS Server. You can also use the mosaic dataset as a layer within ArcMap or ArcGlobe.