Importing raster data

You can store one or more rasters in a geodatabase as:

• Individual raster datasets

• Mosaic dataset

• Raster catalog

You have already worked with the raster dataset in Chapter 9, Working with Spatial Analyst and Chapter 10, Working with 3D Analyst.

In this recipe, you will work with the mosaic dataset and the raster catalog.

A mosaic dataset creates a seamless view of two or more adjacent or non-adjacent images. In a mosaic dataset, all rasters have the same cell size, format, and coordinate system.

A raster catalog is a table that groups two or more raster datasets. In a catalog, rasters may have different cell sizes and different formats, but they must have the same coordinate system.

Getting ready

In this recipe, you will create a mosaic dataset using four rasters in the Enhanced Compression Wavelet (ECW) file format.

Note

For more details about the ECW raster format, refer to http://www.hexagongeospatial.com/products/data-management-compression/ecw.

All those four rasters are stored...