Create a mosaic dataset from satellite data for stereo mapping

Available with Standard or Advanced license.

If your satellite data has not been geometrically processed for stereo mapping, you can achieve that task by following this workflow.

Note:

Satellite imagery orientation must be described by a rational polynomial coefficients (RPC) model, which is typically imbedded in the image or included as a separate metadata file. For the list of supported satellite images, see Satellite sensor raster types.

1. Use the Create Mosaic Dataset tool to create a new mosaic dataset.
   1. Specify the geodatabase location for your mosaic dataset.
   2. Name your mosaic dataset.
   3. Define the x,y coordinate system for your data.
   4. Specify your z-coordinate system as the ellipsoidal-based WGS 1984.
   5. Click OK to run the tool.
2. Use the Add Rasters to Mosaic Dataset tool to add data to your mosaic.
   1. Choose the appropriate raster type for your satellite data.
   2. In the Raster Type Properties window, click the Processing tab.
   3. Expand the Orthorectification category.
   4. For Elevation Source, choose DEM.
   5. Browse to the DEM for your area of interest. If your DEM uses orthometric heights, check the Geoid check box.
   6. Click OK to accept the current raster type properties, and return to the tool.
3. Build bilinear pyramids.
   1. Expand the Raster Processing category.
   2. Check the Build Raster Pyramids check box.
   3. Click the Environments tab, and choose either BILINEAR or CUBIC for the Resampling technique parameter.
   4. Click the Parameters tab to return to the tool.

   Since most satellite data is very large, it is highly recommended that you build pyramids for each image to improve display performance. Building pyramids with bilinear or cubic resampling will allow the Terrain Following and Surface Snapping tools to be enabled.

4. Calculate statistics.
   1. In the Raster Processing category, check the Calculate Statistics check box.
   2. Click the Environments tab, and type 15 for both the X skip factor and Y skip factor parameters. This helps speed up the calculation of the statistics by sampling every 15th value in the x direction and every 15th value in the y direction.
   3. Click the Parameters tab to return to the tool.
5. Click Run to execute the tool.
6. Use the Build Stereo Model tool so that your mosaic dataset supports the stereo functionality.