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Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset (Data Management Tools)

Summary

Adds raster datasets to a mosaic dataset from various sources, including a file, folder, table, or web service.

Usage

  • Raster data that is added is not managed; if the raster data is deleted or moved, the mosaic dataset will be affected.

  • You can only add rasters to a mosaic dataset contained in a geodatabase. Those created outside a geodatabase can only contain the contents of a previously created mosaic dataset.

  • The Raster Type parameter identifies metadata required for loading data into the mosaic dataset.

    The raster type is specific to imagery products. It identifies metadata—such as georeferencing, acquisition date, and sensor type—along with a raster format.

    Learn more about raster types

  • The Raster Type Properties page contains information about the supported product types and processing templates based on the selected raster type. You can define various other properties such as Stretch, Gamma, Orthorectification, Band Combination, and Pansharpening types based on the analysis and the data being used.

  • The Processing Templates drop-down list includes functions that will be applied to items that will be added to the mosaic dataset and how, or in what order, they will be applied.

  • For faster display and processing, the pixel cache for a mosaic dataset can be generated when the Enable Pixel Cache parameter is checked.

Parameters

Label Explanation Data type

Mosaic Dataset

The path and name of the mosaic dataset to which the raster data will be added.

Mosaic Layer

Raster Type

The type of raster that will be added. The raster type is specific to imagery products. It identifies metadata—such as georeferencing, acquisition date, and sensor type—along with a raster format.

If you are using a LAS, LAS Dataset, or Terrain raster type, a cell size must be specified on the Raster Type properties page.

To learn more about supported sensors and raster types, see List of supported sensors.

Use the Processing Templates drop-down list to choose, import, or create a raster function chain (template) to apply to the mosaic dataset or items. The function chains will be used to process a mosaic dataset or the mosaic dataset items on the fly. You can add, remove, or reorder the function chains.

All the template names that are added must be unique.

The Processing Templates drop-down list contains functions that will be applied to items that are added to the mosaic dataset and how, or in what order, they will be applied. You can use a single function, such as the Stretch function, or you can chain multiple functions together to create a more advanced product. Most raster types have several preexisting functions associated with them. Use this drop-down list to edit existing functions or add new functions to items that will be added to the mosaic dataset.

  • To edit a template, select it in the Processing Templates drop-down list, and click Edit Raster Function . Once you finish editing the template, click Save to update the template, or click Save As to save it as a new item in the drop-down list. To export a template to disk for use with other mosaic datasets, click the Export button .

  • To create a template, click Create New Raster FunctionTemplate in the Processing Templates drop-down list. For more information, see Raster function template.

  • To import a function chain from disk or from the Raster Function pane, click Import Generic in the Processing Templates drop-down list. If the template was created independently of the raster type template editor, you need to change the name of the primary input raster variable to Dataset. To do this, double-click the first function in the chain and click the Variables tab. Change the value in the Name field of the raster parameter to Dataset.

Raster Type

Input Data

Specifies the path and name of the input file, folder, raster dataset, mosaic dataset, table, or service.

Not all input options will be available. The selected raster type determines the available options.

  • Dataset—An ArcGIS geographic dataset, such as a raster or mosaic dataset in a geodatabase or table, will be used as input.

  • Workspace—A folder containing multiple raster datasets will be used as input. This folder can contain subfolders. The input data filter and subfolder parameters will affect which raster datasets are included when the tool runs.

  • File—One or more raster datasets stored in a folder on disk, an image service definition file (.ISDef), or a raster process definition file (.RPDef) will be used as input. Files that do not correspond to the raster type being added will be ignored. Do not use this option with file formats that are raster datasets, such as TIFF or MrSID files; use the Dataset option instead.

  • Service—A WCS, a map, an image service, or a web service layer file will be used as input.

File; Image Service; LAS Dataset Layer; Layer File; Map Server; Mosaic Layer; Raster Layer; Table View; Terrain Layer; WCS Coverage; WMS Map; Workspace

Update Cell Size Ranges

(Optional)

Specifies whether the cell size ranges of each raster in the mosaic dataset will be calculated. These values will be written to the attribute table in the minPS and maxPS fields.

  • Checked—The cell size ranges will be calculated for all the rasters in the mosaic dataset. This is the default.

  • Unchecked—The cell size ranges will not be calculated.

Boolean

Update Boundary

(Optional)

Specifies whether the boundary polygon of a mosaic dataset will be generated or updated. By default, the boundary merges all the footprint polygons to create a single boundary representing the extent of the valid pixels.

  • Checked—The boundary will be generated or updated. This is the default.

  • Unchecked—The boundary will not be generated or updated.

Boolean

Update Overviews

(Optional)

Specifies whether overviews for a mosaic dataset will be defined and generated.

  • Checked—Overviews will be defined and generated.

  • Unchecked—Overviews will not be defined or generated. This is the default.

Boolean

Maximum Levels

(Optional)

The maximum number of pyramid levels that will be used in the mosaic dataset. For example, a value of 2 will use only the first two pyramid levels from the source raster. Leaving this parameter blank or providing a value of -1 will build pyramids for all levels.

This value can affect the display and number of overviews that will be generated.

Long

Maximum Cell Size

(Optional)

The maximum pyramid cell size that will be used in the mosaic dataset.

Double

Minimum Rows or Columns

(Optional)

The minimum dimensions of a raster pyramid that will be used in the mosaic dataset.

Long

Coordinate System for Input Data

(Optional)

The spatial reference system of the input data.

Specify a value if the data does not have a coordinate system; otherwise, the coordinate system of the mosaic dataset will be used. This can also be used to override the coordinate system of the input data.

Spatial Reference

Input Data Filter

(Optional)

A filter for the data being added to the mosaic dataset. You can use SQL expressions to create the data filter. The wildcards for the filter work on the full path to the input data.

For example, the following SQL statement will select the rows in which the following object IDs match:

  • OBJECTID IN (19745, 19680, 19681, 19744, 5932, 5931, 5889, 5890, 14551, 14552, 14590, 14591)

To add only a TIFF image, add an asterisk before a file extension.

  • *.TIF

To add an image with the word sensor in the file path or file name, add an asterisk before and after the word sensor.

  • *sensor2009*

You can also use PERL syntax to create a data filter.

  • REGEX:.*1923.*|.*1922.*

  • REGEX:.*192[34567].*|.*194.*|.*195.*

The following PERL syntax with multiple lexical groupings as part of the expression is not supported:

  • REGEX:.* map_mean_.*(?:(?:[a-z0-9]*)_pptPct_(?:[0-9]|1[0-2]*?)_2[0-9]_*\w*).img

Alternatively, you can use the following syntax:

  • REGEX:.*map_mean_*[a-z0-9]*_pptPct_([0-9]|1[0-2])_2[0-9]*_\w*.img

String

Include Sub Folders

(Optional)

Specifies whether subfolders will be recursively explored.

  • Checked—All subfolders will be explored for data. This is the default.

  • Unchecked—Only the top-level folder will be explored for data.

Boolean

Add New Datasets Only

(Optional)

Specifies how duplicate rasters will be handled. A check will be performed to determine whether each raster has already been added, using the original path and file name. Specify the option to use when a duplicate path and file name are found.

  • Allow duplicates—All rasters will be added even if they already exist in the mosaic dataset. This is the default.

  • Exclude duplicates—Duplicate rasters will not be added.

  • Overwrite duplicates—Duplicate rasters will overwrite existing rasters.

String

Build Raster Pyramids

(Optional)

Specifies whether pyramids will be built for each source raster.

  • Checked—Pyramids will be built.

  • Unchecked—Pyramids will not be built. This is the default.

Boolean

Calculate Statistics

(Optional)

Specifies whether statistics will be calculated for each source raster. If a source raster has statistics, the statistics will not be recomputed if the skip factor matches with the settings in the Raster Statistics environment. Otherwise, the statistics for each source raster will be recomputed.

  • Checked—Statistics will be calculated.

  • Unchecked—Statistics will not be calculated. This is the default.

Boolean

Build Thumbnails

(Optional)

Specifies whether thumbnails will be built for each source raster.

  • Checked—Thumbnails will be built.

  • Unchecked—Thumbnails will not be built. This is the default.

Boolean

Operation Description

(Optional)

The description that will be used to represent the operation of adding raster data. It will be added to the raster type table, which can be used as part of a search or as a reference at another time.

String

Force this Coordinate System for Input Data

(Optional)

Specifies the coordinate system that will be used. Use the coordinate system specified in the Coordinate System for Input Data parameter for all the rasters when loading data into the mosaic dataset.

  • Checked—The coordinate system specified in the Coordinate System for Input Data parameter will be used for each raster when loading data.

  • Unchecked—The coordinate system of each raster data will be used when loading data. This is the default.

Boolean

Estimate Mosaic Dataset Statistics

(Optional)

Specifies whether statistics will be estimated on the mosaic dataset for faster rendering and processing at the mosaic dataset level.

  • Checked—Statistics will be estimated at the mosaic dataset level. This will use the distribution of pixels to display the mosaic dataset rather than the distribution of the source item in the mosaic dataset.

  • Unchecked—Statistics will not be estimated. Statistics generated from each item in the mosaic dataset will be used for display and processing. This is the default.

Boolean

Auxiliary Inputs

(Optional)

The raster type settings that will be defined in the raster type. This parameter will override the settings defined in the raster type. Auxiliary input options include the following:

  • CameraFile—A .cam or .csv file that stores the camera model information, such as the focal length, sensor pixel size, columns, rows and similar attributes.

  • CameraProperties—A JSON string that defines the camera model.

  • ConstantZ—A value, in meters, that is used to provide an initial estimate of the flight height for each image.

  • CorrectGeoid—A value of 0 represents false, and a value of 1 represents true. This option is only available when a DEM is used.

  • DEM—A DEM used to provide an initial estimate of the flight height for each image.

  • EstimateFlightHeight—An estimated flight height that can be directly used to compute footprint and estimate photo scale.

  • GPSAltRef—Define the altitude used as the reference altitude. 0 indicates above sea level, and 1 is below sea level.

  • GPSFile—A GPS text file, such as a comma-separated values file (.csv), which includes values for the Image Name, Latitude, Longitude, and Altitude fields, and, optionally, the Omega, Phi, and Kappa fields. The geolocation file is provided by the supplier along with the drone imagery.

  • GPSLatRef—Define whether the latitude is north or south latitude. N indicates north latitude, and S indicates south latitude.

  • GPSLonRef—Define whether the longitude is east or west longitude. E indicates east longitude, and W indicates west longitude.

  • GPSSRS—Define the spatial reference of the GPS.

  • GPSVCS—Define the vertical coordinate system of the GPS.

  • IsAltitudeFlightHeight—A Boolean value that defines whether the drone reports heights relative to the takeoff point or altitude for heights relative to a vertical datum. Use a value of 0 when the altitude value is altitude above a datum, and a value of 1 when the altitude value is flight height from a takeoff point.

  • MinimumFlightHeight—Define the minimum flight height. If the estimated flight height of an image is smaller than this number, the image will be considered invalid and will not be added to the image collection for future processing.

  • PanelReflectanceFactor—Define the surface reflectance factor for each band. This option is only available when using multispectral images with the RedEdge and Altum raster types. Type the values in the following format: <band name 1>: <double val>, <band name 2>: <double val>, <band name 3>: <double val>, ... , <band name n>: <double val>. For example, Blue: 0.48, Green: 0.481, Red: 0.488, RedEdge: 0.488.

    Auxiliary Inputs parameter

  • RadiometricQuantityType—An integer value that defines the type of radiometric measurement. This option is only available when using multispectral images with the RedEdge and Altum raster types. The value of RadiometricQuantityType includes the following values:

    • 0—DN (Digital Number), default

    • 1—Radiance

    • 2—Reflectance

    • 4—Temperature (thermal band only)

  • ZFactor—The scaling factor used to convert the elevation values. This option is only available when using a DEM.

  • ZOffset—The base value to be added to the elevation value in the DEM. This can be used to offset elevation values that do not start at sea level. This option is only available when using a DEM.

Value table columns:

  • Name—The name of the raster type property.

  • Value—The value of the raster type property.

Value Table

Enable Pixel Cache

(Optional)

Specifies whether the pixel cache will be generated for faster display and processing of the mosaic dataset.

  • Checked—The pixel cache will be generated.

  • Unchecked—The pixel cache will not be generated. This is the default.

Boolean

Pixel Cache Location

(Optional)

The location of the pixel cache. If no location is provided, the cache will be written to C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\ESRI\rasterproxies\.

Once the location is provided, you do not need to redefine the path when adding new rasters to the mosaic dataset. You do need to check the Enable Pixel Cache parameter when adding the new data.

Folder; String

Derived output

Label Explanation Data type

Updated Mosaic Dataset

The updated mosaic dataset.

Mosaic Layer

Environments

Current Workspace, Extent, Geographic Transformations, Parallel Processing Factor, Pyramid, Raster Statistics, Scratch Workspace

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: Yes
  • Advanced: Yes