Image Processing Software Options Which types of software can be used to view and process remotely sensed imagery?

Image Processing Software Categories Graphics image processing Graphics image processing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Remote sensing packages Remote sensing packages Numerical analysis packages Numerical analysis packages Web-based services Web-based services Other (medical, biology, astronomy…) Other (medical, biology, astronomy…)

Graphics Image Processing Example: Photoshop Example: Photoshop Most common image processing software Most common image processing software Focus is creating a pretty picture Focus is creating a pretty picture Usually limited to the popular graphics formats such as: TIFF, JPEG, GIF… Usually limited to the popular graphics formats such as: TIFF, JPEG, GIF… Best suited for working with RGB (3-band) images Best suited for working with RGB (3-band) images Does not treat an image as a “map” Does not treat an image as a “map”

Geographic Information Systems Example: ArcMap Example: ArcMap Works within a geographic context Works within a geographic context Great for overlaying multiple vector and raster layers Great for overlaying multiple vector and raster layers Somewhat limited analysis capabilities although these limitation are being reduced Somewhat limited analysis capabilities although these limitation are being reduced More common than remote sensing software More common than remote sensing software

Remote Sensing Packages Example: ERDAS Example: ERDAS Best suited for satellite imagery Best suited for satellite imagery Uses geo-spatial information Uses geo-spatial information Easily works with multi-spectral data Easily works with multi-spectral data Provides analysis functions commonly used for remote sensing applications Provides analysis functions commonly used for remote sensing applications Often easy to use but it helps to be familiar with remote sensing Often easy to use but it helps to be familiar with remote sensing

Numerical Analysis Packages Example: MatLab Example: MatLab Focus usually on numeric processing Focus usually on numeric processing Programming or mathematical skills usually helpful Programming or mathematical skills usually helpful Used to build more user friendly applications Used to build more user friendly applications

Web-Based Image Analysis Example: Protected Area Archive Example: Protected Area Archive Capabilities can include Capabilities can include Image display, roam, zoom Image display, roam, zoom Image enhancement Image enhancement Simple image processing Simple image processing Distance and area measurement Distance and area measurement Comparison of old and new images Comparison of old and new images Image annotation (adding text, lines, etc) Image annotation (adding text, lines, etc) Overlaying vector layers Overlaying vector layers

Other image processing software Similar to remote sensing software but usually do not have geo-spatial capabilities or multi-band capabilities Similar to remote sensing software but usually do not have geo-spatial capabilities or multi-band capabilities Often focuses on a specific domain such as medicine, biology, and astronomy Often focuses on a specific domain such as medicine, biology, and astronomy

Deciding which software to use What is available What is available Tasks to be performed Tasks to be performed Experience Experience Budget Budget Ask around Ask around

Open source software development Open source software is defined as software that has the source code freely available and is licensed so that it can be freely distributed and modified as long as appropriate credit is provided to the developers Open source software is defined as software that has the source code freely available and is licensed so that it can be freely distributed and modified as long as appropriate credit is provided to the developers Focus is shifting from developing code libraries to developing user interfaces to provide easy access to the capabilities offered by the robust set of open source libraries. Focus is shifting from developing code libraries to developing user interfaces to provide easy access to the capabilities offered by the robust set of open source libraries. Includes spatial databases, web map servers, and stand alone applications Includes spatial databases, web map servers, and stand alone applications The strength of an open source project comes from a strong community of users The strength of an open source project comes from a strong community of users People can participate by providing programming help, writing documentation, and simply by providing feedback with regard to what works and what could be modified to improve the program People can participate by providing programming help, writing documentation, and simply by providing feedback with regard to what works and what could be modified to improve the program