The fundamental workflow for managing preprocessed orthophotos has four basic steps.
- Prepare your workflow inputs (as necessary).
- Produce source mosaic datasets for each collection of source data--commonly one mosaic dataset per year of data.
- Create the product you wish to publish. There are two common options:
- If your data is for visualization, and doesn't need to be analyzed, generate raster tile caches from the mosaic datasets.
- If end-users will need to analyze your data, or you want to simplify management and sharing of multi-year collections, combine the initial mosaic datasets into a single, derived mosaic dataset.
- Share the resulting raster tile cache or derived mosaic dataset with end-users.
These tasks can be accomplished either by using (1) the geoprocessing tools in ArcMap or (2) batch files in a command line environment-both are provided as a part of this workflow.
Example use cases
Following are three example scenarios in which the Managing Preprocessed Orthophotos workflow would be useful, and the recommended procedures to follow:
Scenario A: You have a single collection of NAIP orthophotos stored in multiple image files that you want to share with a small number of colleagues who use ArcGIS for Desktop.
Workflow A: Create a mosaic dataset and (1) begin using it directly on a private network or (2) share it as an image service.
Scenario B: You have a collection of NAIP orthophotos and need to share it as background imagery for users inside and/or outside the organization, using a variety of devices and software (ArcGIS for Desktop, browsers, and mobile devices).
Workflow B: Create a mosaic dataset, convert the imagery to a raster tile cache, and serve the cache (either hosted on ArcGIS Online, or managed yourself via ArcGIS for Server).
Scenario C: You have multiple imagery collections with different characteristics, and more data coming each year. You may need to serve users inside and outside your organization, using a variety of clients (ArcGIS for Desktop, browsers, and mobile devices).
Workflow C: Create a source mosaic dataset for each imagery collection, a derived mosaic dataset combining all your source mosaic datasets, and create reference mosaic datasets and from those publish a dynamic image services. When the parent derived mosaic dataset is updated, all image services will synchronize automatically.
Check out the next section to learn more about preparing your data before using the Managing Preprocessed Orthophotos workflow.