WorldView2 Basics and ERDAS IMAGINE
WorldView2 Basics and ERDAS IMAGINE
IMAGINE
Import DigitalGlobe tiled data (.TIL) with ERDAS IMAGINE
ERDAS has added support in IMAGINE 2011 for the DigitalGlobe .TIL format. DigitalGlobe often
delivers images cut into smaller tiles that do not overlap. Often times image files can be extremely
large in file size. To better handle these large files in 3rd party software, DigitalGlobes customers
have the option to tile the imagery. An ancillary .TIL text file provides a list of these tiles and their
relationships. To use these files in georeferencing workflows, they must be assembled back into a
single original image. The ERDAS IMAGINE importer now allows you to select a .TIL file and
import all the tiles into a single file. The georeferencing information (RPC) is still preserved (see
DigitalGlobe RPC in ERDAS IMAGINE documentation for RPC explanation). Additionally, this
support can be used for direct-read scenarios, so the assembled tiles can be used directly in
workflows without first processing them into a new file. Users can type *.TIL in the file chooser to
expose this option.
Note: This feature works for both NITF and TIFF tiled files, and the .RPB file must reside in the same
folder as the imagery tiles for proper georeferencing.
To import a DigitalGlobe .TIL file in ERDAS IMAGINE, follow the steps below.
1. Open ERDAS IMAGINE and click on the Manage Data tab
In the Resample dialog, note that the Current Geo Model is RFunctions, meaning the import
process preserved the RPC information and we can now create an ortho.
Note the Elevation Source is set to Elevation Library by default. The Elevation Library Manager
provides a method to collect and manage your elevation source files, including Digital Elevation
Model data (DEM), as well as Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) use by the U.S. National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
3. Name the Output file and click OK
Fig.6. Resample
4. Once the orthorectification process is complete, dismiss the process window by clicking
Dismiss and open the new Ortho Image in the viewer.
5. On the main menu select File > Open > Raster Layer and navigate to the folder with
your new Orthorectified Image
Switching Band Combinations with WorldView -2
WorldView-2 is the first sensor of its kind to offer 8 multispectral imaging bands. Up until the
launch of WorldView-2 most high resolution satellites imaged with four (4) multispectral bands
(Blue, Green, Red and Near-Infrared) or less. WorldView-2 not only images with those bands
mentioned but also employs the Coastal Blue Band, Yellow Band, Red-Edge Band and NearInfrared 2 Band. This allows for more of the visible spectrum to be absorbed by the sensor
ultimately providing more information within the pixels of the image. In IMAGINE 2011, ERDAS
has added additional band combinations designed specifically for WorldView-2. For an in-depth
look at the benefits of the Eight Spectral Bands of WorldView-2 please visit
http://www.digitalglobe.com/sites/default/files/DG-8SPECTRAL-WP-WEB.pdf
1. From the ERDAS IMAGINE 2011 main menu bar click on File > Open > Raster Layers and
navigate to the folder that contains your WorldView-2 image.
Note: Multispectral Imagery from DigitalGlobe resides in a subdirectory with a _MUL in the folder
name (e.g. 05225877010_01_P001_MUL)
1. To Pan-Sharpen using the HCS technique click on the Raster Tab, and select the Pan Sharpen
pull down and select HCS Resolution Merge
example, QuickBird 60 cm Pan to QuickBird 2.4 m multispectral), the 4x4 sampling window used
by cubic convolution may provide the better results.
However, in some cases, Cubic Convolution has proved to generate worse results than Bilinear
Interpolation. We recommend that Bilinear Interpolation be used whenever the merge is
performed on large files that will take a considerable amount of time. For smaller merges that can
be performed quickly, you may wish to try both Cubic Convolution and Bilinear Interpolation,
and choose the result based on visual inspection of the output of each resampling technique.
8. The default for smoothing filter is 7. Well use this value for this process. Smoothing Filter
defines the size in pixels of the filter used to smooth the output image. This option uses a
square window filter surrounding the pixel of interest, therefore enter an odd number. The
default setting is 7x7. Smoothing softens the transition between the images.
9. When the process has finished, go to the Home tab, select the Add Views menu and select
Display Three Views.
10. Go back to the Add Views menu and select Vertical Layout.
14. You can also use the tools at the top right of each viewer to link / unlink and sync the
different viewers.
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Fig.14.Load Breakpoints
7. Select the combined_break.mbp file and click OK
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This filters the points in the viewer, so that only points with > 90% probability of change appear.
8. Fit the image to frame using the on the Home tab. Take note of some of the areas of
significant change (white areas) and zoom to those areas to investigate further. You can use
the Swipe / Blend / Fade Tools or you can use the check boxes in the table of contents to
turn layers on or off.
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