Available with Advanced license.
The ArcGIS platform provides tools and a wizard for creating products from satellite imagery using photogrammetric processing. This workflow focuses on using the ortho mapping capability in ArcGIS Pro Advanced.
GIS users often need to process satellite images to create a variety of 2D products, including orthorectified imagery (which may be exported as orthomosaics), digital surface models (DSMs), digital terrain models (DTMs), and/or stereo models comprised of one or more stereo image pairs. These data products are then used for visualization or analysis and may need to be shared with colleagues or the public.
To make photogrammetric processing more user-friendly, the ortho mapping capability in ArcGIS Pro offers a workflow-focused wizard for orthorectifying satellite images using the sensor model and an appropriate DEM. Users can use ground control points to ensure best horizontal and vertical accuracy, and use independent check points to measure the final accuracy. The images are managed using a mosaic dataset, which may be used directly to access images that are orthorectified on-the-fly, to view images as stereo pairs using the ArcGIS Image Analyst extension, or to view images individually from the sensor's perspective in image space. An orthomosaic, DSM, or DTM can be created as output data products for use in ArcGIS, or if desired, any of these products can be published as web-accessible services through ArcGIS Onlineor ArcGIS Image Server.
Explore the following resources to learn more about using ortho mapping in ArcGIS Pro to generate 2D products from satellite imagery. (Not sure where to start? Look for the star by Esri's most helpful resources.)
Note:
To use this workflow, you'll need ArcGIS Pro Advanced. You can publish data products to ArcGIS Online or your ArcGIS Enterprise portal. Viewing image pairs in stereo requires ArcGIS Image Analyst.
Imagery Workflows resources
Community-supported tools and best practices for working with and automating imagery and remote sensing workflows:
- Try out a hands-on ortho mapping tutorial for processing satellite imagery using sample data.*
ArcGIS Help
Reference material for ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Enterprise:
- Read an overview of the ortho mapping workflow in ArcGIS Pro.
- Learn how to set up a workspace for satellite imagery in ArcGIS Pro.
- When you configure your ortho mapping workspace for satellite data, be sure to use the proper raster type for your satellite. (Raster types also help manage multispectral bands and panchromatic sharpening behind the scenes.)
- Once the ortho mapping workflow is complete, you can use the adjusted mosaic dataset for stereo mapping in ArcGIS Pro.
ArcGIS blogs, articles, story maps, and technical papers
Supplemental guidance about concepts, software functionality, and workflows:
- Read a series of introductory blogs for ortho mapping, including getting organized with a workspace, getting adjusted, and getting results.
Videos
Esri-produced videos that clarify and demonstrate concepts, software functionality, and workflows:
- Watch a demo theater from Esri User Conference 2020 for demos and advice focused on aerial and satellite imagery. (27 min)
Developer resources
Resources and support for automating and customizing workflows:
- Review a guide on automating ortho mapping workflows and learn more about using the arcgis.raster.orthomapping module in the ArcGIS API for Python.
- Use these ArcGIS REST API calls to control ortho mapping on a suitably configured server using remote web calls (use the Compute Sensor Model tool to perform block adjustment).
Esri Community
Online places for the Esri community to connect, collaborate, and share experiences:
- See what the imagery community is saying about creating satellite imagery products with ortho mapping.
* Esri's top picks