Create a mosaic dataset

Available with Standard or Advanced license.

Create a mosaic dataset

Mosaic datasets are used to manage, display, serve, and share raster data. When you create a new mosaic dataset, it is created as an empty container in the geodatabase with some default properties to which you can add raster data. You must have write access to that geodatabase.

There are two ways to create a mosaic dataset. You can use the Create Mosaic Dataset tool followed by the Add Rasters to Mosaic Dataset tool, or you can work directly from the Catalog pane. The steps below demonstrate the second approach.

Create a mosaic dataset from the Catalog pane

1. Create the mosaic dataset.
   1. In the Catalog pane, locate the geodatabase where you want to save the mosaic dataset. To create a new file geodatabase, right-click the Databases folder and select New File Geodatabase.
   2. Right-click the geodatabase and select Create Mosaic Dataset.

      This will open the Create Mosaic Dataset tool. The output location will be the geodatabase you selected.

   3. Name the mosaic dataset and select an appropriate coordinate system. From the drop-down menu, you will have the option of matching the coordinate system to any of the layers already in the table of contents.
   4. Optionally select a Product Definition. ArcGIS Pro supports the most commonly used sensors. Select the type of imagery you are working with from the list and ArcGIS Pro will use information in the metadata of your imagery to intelligently manage it. Selecting a product definition will automatically populate the fields for the specifications of each band.
   5. Define the Pixel Type. Select the bit depth for your imagery if you know it.

   Your empty mosaic dataset will be created once you run the tool. Next, you will need to add your imagery to the mosaic dataset.

2. Add imagery to an empty mosaic dataset.
   1. Use the Add Rasters to Mosaic Dataset tool to populate an empty mosaic dataset.
   2. From the Catalog pane, right-click on the mosaic dataset you just created and select Add Rasters.
   3. Use the same raster type as when you created the empty mosaic dataset. After you populate the mosaic datasets from the Catalog pane, this field will automatically be filled.
   4. For the input data, you can select a folder, an individual raster, or a set of rasters. If you select the folder, every raster of the specified raster type in that folder will be added to the mosaic dataset. Under the Advanced Options section, use the checkbox to include the subfolders.
   5. The rest of the fields are optional and pertain to creating overviews, pyramids, and calculating statistics. These options are dependent on the type of data you have and the kinds of analysis you want to perform.

When you add a mosaic dataset to the view, it will be added as a custom group layer. By default, you will see a Boundary, Footprint, and Image layer.