Raster Data
-- Poor Second Cousin to Vector No More
by Joe
Francica, Editor-in-Chief, Directions Magazine
Over the course of the last ten to fifteen
years, raster data has played the role of a poor second cousin to its
vector brethren. As a technology community, we have tended to worship
at the ‘vector altar’ because the data structure was more easily
stored, retrieved and managed, and its graphical representations were
more precise than the pixilated raster. And yet, as a structure for
modeling spatial information, raster offers so much more in terms of
quantitative analysis. But, pray all, raster is a storage hog,
performance can be a big problem, and flat file management is
devilishly difficult to control.
For those of you who remember the early
days of image processing, whether it be for Landsat imagery or digital
elevation models, flat file storage was the only choice you had. An
algorithm would be employed to manipulate an image, and the results
were captured as a separate image layer. This layer could then be
employed as an input to yet another analysis, but intrinsically, it was
likely that some of the metadata was lost, except perhaps in
handwritten notes. If you were doing multispectral image
classification, the user generated many, many image layers. [How many
of you used the old IDIMS system? Interactive Digital Image
Manipulation System from ESL! Or the GE 100?]. The result… a storage
nightmare. Back in those days, you didn't have huge hard disks. Image
data ate 9-track tapes like whales eat krill.
Lately, things have changed for brother raster. The release of Oracle
10g is changing the way raster data are managed. Previously, the
Oracle Spatial module handled only vector data types. With Oracle 10g’s
GeoRaster feature for Oracle Spatial, a new data type, SDO_RASTER, is
defined, and raster data is stored as a new data table. This is
allowing raster manipulation and analysis software solution products to
concentrate on what they know best – analysis – and permit Oracle to
manage massive arrays of grid data. “10g is a huge deal,” says Jeff
Hoedeman, product manager for PCI Geomatics, a company that recently
announced its support of Oracle GeoRaster with a product called
GeoRaster ETL for Oracle.
At the core of Oracle's GeoRaster feature
is the GeoRaster Engine that includes functionality for metadata
management, methods, and indexing. It includes an SQL Application
Programming Interface (API) and other programmatic interfaces using the
Oracle Call Interface (OCI), Java, C and C++. According to Oracle, “The
GeoRaster metadata contains XML representations of metadata that
describes the raster data. This metadata includes object metadata such
as descriptions, and version information. GeoRaster also includes
raster metadata for cell depth, dimensionality, blocking, interleaving,
and other information. Additionally, Spatial Referencing System
metadata containing information for the affine transformation required
for georeferencing can also be stored.” This and other details about
the GeoRaster architecture can be found in a white paper entitled, “Oracle
Database 10g: Managing Geographic Raster Data using GeoRaster.”
 Now that one
huge headache for data management as been removed for both
users and companies who develop raster processing software, the focus
turns to manipulation and analysis. As mentioned above, PCI Geomatics
recently announced their extract, transform, and load (ETL) product,
GeoRaster ETL for Oracle. The objective of this product is to provide a
“gateway” for loading raster data into Oracle 10g. In addition,
GeoRaster ETL supports image metadata to map to Oracle 10g. GeoRaster
ETL also takes across associated ancillary information such as color
look up tables. For more information, click
here for the GeoRaster ETL website.
In terms of grid analysis, few products
match the breadth of functionality like Keigan Systems' Keigan
Grid. Keigan adapted Dana Tomlin’s Map Algebra suite of algorithms
for grid data to create the original “Map II” product that later
underwent several name changes before its latest incarnation as Keigan
Grid. "The number of people who see the power associated with raster is
on the increase," says Robert Gammon, Vice President of Keigan's Client
Services.
Keigan Grid is a set of COM compliant
objects for specifically integrating grid processing into the vector
world. Keigan has created a number of controls to view, create legends,
change colors, and translate data from grid to vector, and vice versa.
The key to Keigan’s product is the plethora of raster map operations
for grid analysis. And because Keigan Grid conforms to the COM
architecture, the user is allowed to select the pieces of that
technology to build single executions for a customized solution. Keigan
can now share its technology with other development organizations to
embed grid technology in vector systems. This is what the company has
done with Intergraph to create GeoMedia
Grid version 5.2.
Keigan has also announced support for
Oracle 10g. Keigan will use a combination of the Oracle Call Interface
(OCI) and Oracle C++ Call Interface (OCCI) to gain access into the
database. This gives them the ability to use the database structure,
which Oracle has defined, for storing raster data directly into the
database. GeoMedia Grid for Oracle is slated for release this November.
In addition, other software providers are working on support for Oracle
10g. ER Mapper is working on full spatial imagery integration with
databases, such as Oracle 10g and IBM's DB2, that will include image
preparation, use, serving and integration capabilities.
Some performance issues remain with Oracle
10g’s handling of very large databases. There is no compression of the
raster data within the database at this time. Keigan, for example, has
as compression flag associated with their data structure for GeoMedia
Grid so that they can store the data in Oracle Spatial as either Keigan
compressed version or a native version. If the flag is indicated for
the native version, the data will be stored as Oracle needs them to be
stored in case other software tools that have built an API to Oracle
GeoRaster need to access to them.
So, although some issues remain, the
ability to read, manage, and manipulate raster data has taken a quantum
leap forward. With the volume of satellite data that is being captured,
the higher pixel resolution, and the demand for accurate, near
real-time data, the need to process and store raster information will
only grow. The raster/vector divide is closing, and integrating these
data types is certainly a “prayer answered.”
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The Wednesday Digest
June 16, 2004
In
This Issue:
· The
Business of Geography
· Product Overview: RiskReview
· Interview - Jamie Bisker, TowerGroup
· GIS / CAD Focus Bridging the Worlds of CAD and GIS - Part
1 of a Series on CAD-GIS
· GeoBooks
· Website
of the Week
· New
Products
|
Understanding MapInfo's RiskReview
An interview with MapInfo's Kimberly Morton,
Director of Location Intelligence – Risk Management
by Directions
Staff
MapInfo
recently announced the release of a new product, RiskReview, an
exposure tracking solution for insurers that uses location information
to improve risk assessment and enhance underwriting business decisions.
The product was developed in conjunction with MarketScout, a Dallas,
Texas based insurance distribution and technology firm. Directions
Magazine talked to Kimberly Morton, MapInfo’s Director of Location
Intelligence – Risk Management. We asked for a layman’s description of
RiskReview, and for a better understanding of how it might apply in the
insurance industry.
The interview discusses RiskReview's
applications to the insurance industry, especially as they relate
to analysis of risk accumulation and reinsurance. Read more.
|
|
Advertisement
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|
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Earthmate GPS Receiver For
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|
|
An Interview with Jamie Bisker,
Director of Research for the Insurance Practice at TowerGroup
by Nora
Parker , Senior Managing Editor, Directions Magazine
 Jamie
Bisker is the Director of Research for the Insurance Practice at TowerGroup, and has over
25 years of experience in information systems with 18 years in the
insurance industry. In that time, Jamie has been responsible for
technology implementations, strategic planning and technology
architectures in life as well as property and casualty (P&C)
insurance. His areas of specialization include intelligent systems,
geographic information systems, data warehousing, and business
intelligence. Prior to joining TowerGroup, Jamie held technology
positions at Nationwide Insurance Enterprise including Technology
Architect with the GatesMcDonald subsidiary, Technology Research
Analyst for Intelligent Systems with the property and casualty company,
and Technology Liaison with the life company. Directions Magazine spoke
to Jamie at the Location Technology & Business Intelligence
conference, May 10-11, to gain an understanding of how he sees location
technology folding into the insurance industry, and what the future
might hold... Read
the
entire interview.
|
Advertisement
Buy
the Directions Magazine 2004 GIS Survey,
today...
Digest the survey results over morning coffee
... And if
you purchase now ... we'll even give you the Coffee Mug...
Purchase before June 30th for
only $100
|
 |
Bridging the Worlds of CAD and
GIS - Part 1 of a Series on CAD-GIS
By Peter van
Oosterom, Delft University of Technology
 Ed.
Note: This
article is the first in a 10-part series on CAD-GIS integration. Sisi
Zlatanova, a professor at Delft University of Technology in The
Netherlands will edit the series, the results of which will be
published in a book.
Information systems, which involve geometry, are used for many
different purposes. One could classify ‘Computer Aided Design’ (CAD) as
one such family of systems; this, in turn, is often related to another,
namely: ‘Computer Aided Manufacturing’ (CAM). The products that
are designed and/or manufactured consist of movable objects (tables,
cars, airplanes, engines, coffee machines, electronic circuits) and
fixed objects (plants, buildings, houses, railways, roads, bridges,
tunnels, utility networks). CAD systems for fixed objects are applied
in AEC fields (Architecture, Engineering and Construction).
... Read
the
entire article |
Wella Salon Locator in the UK
Geographic searches for store
locators are fairly common these days, but we received notice of a new
one in the UK we thought readers might enjoy, especially if you live in
the UK and need work done on your hair... Wella UK is a leading
hairdressing product manufacturer, selling products to more than 8,000
salons across the UK. Wella's website allows users to access the
location(s) of the nearest salons selling their products, plus find out
what they have in stock.
Wella Salonfinder shows the location
of a salon carrying Wella products (left),
plus it indicates what products are available at the salon (right).
|
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ISO
Standards for Geographic Information by
Wolfgang Kresse and Kian Fadaie
The
book
addresses scientists and technical experts who have already some
background
knowledge in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and who want to know
more
about standardisation in GIS, in particular, the role of the ISO. The
authors
also meet the needs of programmers who are going to implement ISO 19100
standards and who need a better understanding of the overall structure
of the
standards. Last, but not least, this richly illustrated book will help
readers
to better understand the rather abstract ISO documents.
|
|
Urban Planning and Development Applications of GIS
by Said Easa
and Yupo Chan for the American Society of Civil Engineers
Presents urban planning
and
development applications of geographic information systems (GIS). The
13
chapters deal with GIS technology implementation, remote sensing,
trends in
spatial databases, linear referencing systems, demographic forecasting,
transportation, public utilities, stormwater and waste management,
emergency
response, environmental assessment of air quality, and analysis of
neighborhood
stability. |
 |
Opening Access: GIS in E-Government by R. W. Greene
As a result of the
geographic aspect of most all government services, map-based
information
systems are critical to government performance. This guide shows how
GIS is
becoming an essential tool in the new world of e-government,
demonstrating how
GIS and the digital revolution are doing for government what they have
done for
business-making it more efficient in areas such as economic development
and
environmental protection. |
|
IBM
provided early details of the upcoming new ThinkCentre S50 ultra small,
the smallest desktop PC ever introduced by IBM. With a footprint
smaller than many notebook PCs, the new ThinkCentre S50 saves space
without compromising function. It also includes IBM's patented
ThinkVantage Technologies, which can help reduce system operating costs
and improve employee productivity... More
|
|
Blue
Marble Geographics announced that it has signed an agreement with
4MationGeo, Inc. to sell iSync Mobile 2.1, field data collection
software for Windows CE and the Pocket PC. This field-proven product
enables Blue Marble to provide its worldwide customer base with an
easy-to-use, mobile solution for collecting spatial information.
iSync Mobile 2.1 is a mobile mapping software solution that allows
users to collect GPS coordinates and associate relevant data with the
coordinates on a hand held device. The software uses customizable
data-entry forms with dropdown menus to help users enter data in a
consistent format.. More
|
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KHEOPS
announced that its business partner CMTek is using JMap as its
geospatial module for Smartrak, a commercially available solution that
CMTek has designed in order to analyze the impact of mobile advertising
campaigns. As large cities become saturated with fixed
advertising space ranging from billboards to bus shelters to subway
stations, ad agencies are on the lookout for creative ways to get their
message to the public. Vehicles such as buses, taxicabs and private
cars represent a new and promising medium to reach broad audiences in
metropolitan markets. In order to be viable, however, this new medium
must show its effectiveness to potential advertisers...
More
|
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MapText,
Inc. announced the inauguration of its map labeling service
program. The service is intended primarily for mapmakers who create a
relatively small number of maps,
are reluctant to invest into purchasing and learning to use
sophisticated text placement software – but still require
uncompromising quality... More
|
|
Taylor
Technologies, Inc. announced compatibility of their GIS solution,
Rapid Integration ToolkitTM (RITTM), with ESRI ArcIMS®. Using RIT,
ArcIMS users are able to implement and customize the delivery of GIS
data faster than ever before. Implementation times are drastically
reduced with RIT, and new customizations are completed without
expensive and time-consuming programming or outsourced consulting...
More
|
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Scilands
GmbH announced that the SAGA GIS developer team just released SAGA
GIS version 1.1. SAGA GIS — System for
an Automated Geo-scientific Analysis —
is a free GIS under Gnu Public License. The SAGA GIS API supports grid
data like digital terrain models and satellite images, vector data, and
tables. This API makes it easy to implement new algorithms and exempts
the developer from hassle programming overhead like user-interface
design or file-io... More
|
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Trimble
(NASDAQ:TRMB) introduced new modules for Tripod Data Systems (TDS)
Survey Pro 4.0 field data collection software package — the Trimble
Systems Extension (TSX) and Leveling modules. The TSX software module
provides support for Trimble’s optical and Global Positioning System
(GPS) survey systems and both modules are designed to streamline
workflow processes, allowing surveyors to work more productively in the
field... More
|
|
Safe
Software Inc.
announces the release of the latest version of its flagship product,
FME 2004 ICE. Safe Software’s latest version of FME contains close to
600 user-requested enhancements, as well as several new and updated
formats that bring the total number of FME-supported formats to over
130. FME 2004 ICE can also plug into and extend a number of GIS
products, allowing users of those products to access FME technology
more seamlessly than ever before... More
|
Thanks for reading
Directions Magazine, and
be sure to tell a friend.
Eric Frost, Managing
Editor
Nora
Parker,
Senior Managing Editor
Joe
Francica,
Editor & General Manager |
|
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