The Georeference tab contains all the tools you need to georeference your raster datasets. You can access the Georeference tab from the Imagery tab as follows:
- In the Contents pane, select the layer you want to georeference.
- On the Imagery tab, click Georeference to open the Georeference tab.
To access the georeferencing options, click the Imagery tab. In the Alignment group, click Georeference Options . A new window appears in which you can set default options for all your georeferencing sessions.
The Georeference modal tab has the following five groups:
- Prepare
- Adjust
- Review
- Save
- Close
Prepare
The Prepare group has tools to help you set up your source raster and your target datasets.
Button | Tool | Description |
---|---|---|
Search | Finds locations when you type an address, a place-name, or coordinate values. | |
Set Spatial Reference System | Allows you to set the coordinate system of the map. | |
Fit To Display | Places the raster you are georeferencing into the current display of the map extent. | |
Move | Shifts the raster you are georeferencing. You can manually shift the raster, or you can press the A key to specify the x- and y-shift in the text boxes. | |
Scale | Resizes the raster you are georeferencing. You can manually choose the anchor location for scaling. On the map, at the center of the raster, hover over the anchor and press the Ctrl key. When the vertex pointer appears, drag the anchor to the desired location. You can manually scale the raster, or you can press the A key to specify the scale factor in the text boxes. | |
Rotate | Rotates the raster you are georeferencing. You can manually choose the anchor location for the rotation. On the map, at the center of the raster, hover over the anchor and press the Ctrl key. When the vertex pointer appears, drag the anchor to the desired location. You can manually rotate the raster, or you can press the A key to specify the degrees in the text box. | |
Flip | Flips the raster horizontally or vertically. | |
Fixed Rotate | Turns the raster 90 degrees left or 90 degrees right. |
Adjust
The Adjust group has tools for importing or creating control points. It also allows you to choose the transformation or reset the source raster to the default location.
Button | Tool | Description |
---|---|---|
Auto Georeference | Automatically create control points for the source raster against a target raster. The source raster and target raster must be relatively close in terms of geographic location, spectral resolution, and spatial resolution for the autoregistration to work. | |
Import Control Points | Import the control points into the georeferencing session. If control points already exist in the control point table, you can choose to replace your existing control points as follows:
| |
Add Control Points | Add control point pairs to georeference your raster. First, click the location of the raster you want to georeference. Then, choose the corresponding location on the target. | |
Transformation | Set the transformation to use. The various transformations require a minimum number of control points before you can set the transformation. | |
Auto Apply | Update the display with each control point pair that is created. You can switch this option off if you do not want the display to update after each control point you create. | |
Apply | Update the display with the current control points and transformation. This is useful when Auto Apply is switched off. | |
Reset | Reset the raster to its original location. |
Keyboard shortcuts
While you are georeferencing, there are several keyboard shortcuts that can help you perform your task quickly.
Keyboard shortcut | Action | Comment |
---|---|---|
C | Override the active tool with the Explore tool. | |
Q | Roam. | Move the pointer in the direction you want. |
X and drag | Zoom out . | |
Z and drag | Zoom the view in or out . | |
L | Switch the visibility of the georeferencing layer on and off. | |
H | Switch the visibility of the control point ScreenTip on and off. | |
A | Specify the value for Move, Scale, or Rotate. | |
Esc | Cancel a control point while creating a control point pair. | |
Spacebar | Temporarily disable vector snapping (if snapping has been turned on). | |
F5 | Refresh the control point table. |
Review
The Review group has tools for quality control of your georeferencing results. You can use the Control Point Table to see the residuals of each control point. You can also select, zoom to, and delete control points.
Button | Tool | Description |
---|---|---|
Open Control Point Table | Show a table that contains control points and residuals. The Control Point Table opens based on the Tables setting of the User Interface options. | |
Select Control Point | Select and highlight a control point pair in the map display. | |
Zoom To Selected Control Point | Center and zoom in to a selected control point. To zoom in closer, click this tool multiple times. | |
Delete Selected Control Point | Delete the selected control point. | |
Delete All | Delete all the control points. When you choose to delete all control points, you are prompted to confirm that choice as follows:
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Control Point Table
The Control Point Table and the Review group are used to check the quality of the control points. The Control Point Table provides information regarding the control point pairs that have been created. Each row represents a control point pair and lists the starting coordinates, adjusted coordinates, and residual error. The sum of the errors is presented in the root mean square (RMS) error. The Control Point Table opens based on the Tables setting of the User Interface options.
Button | Tool | Description |
---|---|---|
Import Control Points | Import the control points into the georeferencing session. If control points already exist in the control point table, you can choose to replace your existing control points as follows:
| |
Export Control Points | Save the control points to a georeferencing text file. | |
Generate Report | Export transformation details and control points to an HTML report. | |
Add Control Points | Add an empty row to the table. This is useful when you want to manually type the control point coordinates. By default, this control point is unavailable. Check the Use Control Point box to activate the control point. | |
Zoom To Selected | Center and zoom in to a selected control point. To zoom in closer, click this tool multiple times. | |
Delete Selected | Delete the selected control point. | |
Delete All | Delete all the control points. When you choose to delete all control points, you are prompted to confirm that choice as follows:
| |
Degrees, Minutes, Seconds | Switch the coordinates between decimal degrees and degrees, minutes, and seconds. This option is only available when the coordinate system of the map supports degrees, minutes, and seconds. | |
Show Residuals in Meters | Switch the residuals from degrees to meters. This option is only available when your residuals are shown in degrees. | |
Make Selected Visible | Make the control point, which is selected in the map, visible within your control point table. When you have many control points, it is sometimes difficult to find the row in the control point table that corresponds to the control point selected in the map. When you use this tool, it will display the proper highlighted row within the control point table view. | |
Transformation | Set the transformation to use. The various transformations require a minimum number of control points before you can set the transformation. | |
Use Control Point | Switch the control point on and off in the georeferencing calculation and adjustment. Control point rows that are checked off will not be used in the adjustment of the raster and will not have the values affect the RMS error. |
Save
The Save group has tools to persist the results of the transformation. You can save to the current raster, save to a new raster dataset, or save the control points as a text file.
Button | Tool | Description |
---|---|---|
Save | Update the current raster with the control points and transformation you specified. | |
Save As New | Create a raster dataset with the control points and transformation you specified. | |
Export Control Points | Save the control points to a georeferencing text file. Note:Saving the ArcGIS Pro project does not save the current state of a georeferencing session. Export your control points before you close the project. | |
Generate Report | Export transformation details and control points to an HTML report. |
Close
Since this is a modal tab, the georeferencing session remains open and has the same raster layer as the target, even when you switch tabs or the contextual layer in the Contents pane. The Close group includes the Close Georeference button , which closes the modal tab when you are finished georeferencing the current raster layer.