Learn how you can optimize and maintain mosaic datasets.
Mosaic dataset optimization
There are multiple ways that a mosaic dataset can be optimized for better performance or quality. In some workflows, this optimization does not need to be done at the start; it can be implemented after the images are made available as a service. This is sometimes referred to as providing a graded service, when the grade of the service improves over time. The advantage of this approach is that imagery can be provided as a service when value is highest and optimized after that.
Optimizations that you can make include the following:
- Change the format of the imagery to a format that is faster to access.
- Refine the geometry of the imagery. Typically, for both satellite and aerial imagery, the initial images are only known with approximate orientation parameters and can later be refined using better ground control, postprocessing of sensor parameters, or refining the terrain model
- Refine the radiometry of the imagery. In some cases, obtaining the most visually appealing imagery can require additional processing of the source imagery or the determination of better enhancement parameters.
- Change the properties of the mosaic.
For large mosaic datasets, it is important to index the fields that are used by the mosaic, such as the fields used in ByAttribute queries.
Mosaic dataset maintenance
Maintenance of mosaic datasets and image services typically involves the addition of new imagery. When creating source and derived mosaic datasets, this requires both to be updated. You can update source mosaic datasets in the following ways:
Add the rasters to the original source mosaic dataset. Typically, the same raster type that was used to originally add data is used to add new data.
Run the Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool on the source mosaic dataset. This reruns the originally used raster types and adds or updates the parameters of any new sources in the original workspaces. Pay attention to the parameters you set, because this tool can also overwrite changes you may have made to the items in the mosaic dataset.
- Use a new source mosaic dataset. In this case, a new source mosaic dataset is created to reference the new images.
Once the source mosaic dataset is updated and checked, you can update the derived mosaic datasets by doing either of the following:
- Run the Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool on the derived mosaic dataset. This checks all the source mosaic datasets to find new records. If a new source mosaic dataset was created, it must be added using the Add Rasters To Mosaic Dataset tool using the Table raster type.
- Since the creation of a derived mosaic dataset is generally very fast, re-create the derived mosaic dataset. This is often the quicker option.
You do not need to update (or re-create) referenced mosaic datasets, as they reference the derived mosaic datasets.