Basic Guidefinal PDF

Image Processor v.5.
1 User’s Guide
prjf=[rast,proj] //definition of the coordinate system of initial points location: rast – pixel coordinate
system; proj –coordinate system of the projection, specified in proj key.
prjt=[rast,proj] // definition of the coordinate system of final points location: rast – pixel coordinate
system; proj –coordinate system of the projection, specified in proj key.
Followed by the lines, describing control points in the following format:
FromX FromY ToX ToY Elevation
where,
FromX – coordinate of the initial point location along the X-axis (float data type).
FromY – coordinate of the initial point location along the Y-axis (float data type).
ToX – coordinate of the final point location along the X-axis (float data type).
ToY – coordinate of the final point location along the Y-axis (float data type).
Elevation – terrain elevation by coordinates [ToX,ToY] (float data type).
White-space character is used as a separator.
Example of the control points file contents:
//____________________________________________________________________________
proj=+proj=utm +zone=57 +ellps=WGS84 +datum=WGS84 +units=m
prjf=rast
prjt=proj
2210.999269225161 3210.002356559844 499340.750708413 7748106.168137929 0.000000
1130.999493339348 210.0022211833999 503224.6788334121 7795455.289675861 0.000000
2930.999071868946 2550.004121481156 513543.8218021626 7752653.676062516 0.000000
890.9989445464888 930.0050777258491 495324.8096927868 7787156.252485995 0.000000
3110.999278594607 1470.004214502588 522879.7108646622 7766212.18450616 0.000000
1671.000341702967 1409.997721268983 503190.0288334127 7775855.777395225 0.000000
//____________________________________________________________________________
Loading of specified ground control points from file
Loading of ground control points from file takes place in Open GCP List dialog. Execute FileLoad
GCP command of the main window or select FileOpen in List of GCPs window. As a result a
standard Windows file loading dialog will be loaded, which can be used to select the name of the required
file. Depending on the coordinate system, where there points have been saved in, the loading procedure
varies.
If initial and final location of control points are recorded in coordinate system of projection (prjf and
prjt keys of tic-file having the value of proj), however no addition action need to be done.
If initial location of
points is saved in pixel
coordinate system (prjf key
having the value of rast),
Specify Source Channel
dialog will be loaded (Fig.98).
List box Select Channel or
Fig.98. Specify Source Channel dialog
CCD – the raster
The information in this document is subject to change without notice Page 150 of 335
© 2002-2018, RDC «SCANEX» www.scanex.ru
Image Processor v.5.1 User’s Guide
channel, in which pixel coordinate system the initial location of the control point is saved, needs
to be specified.
Button OK – confirms the selection and loads the control points.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog without loading points.
If the final location of the point is saved in pixel coordinate system (prjt key having the value of
rast), Specify Destination Channel dialog will be loaded (Fig.99).
Fig.99. Specify Destination Channel dialog
List box Select Channel or CCD – the raster channel, in which pixel coordinate system the final location
of the control point is saved, needs to be specified.
Button OK – confirms the selection and loads the control points.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog without loading points.
Upon loading control points the application will pop up a window with the question (Fig.100). Here
it is required to specify, what to do with the pre-set control points.
Button Yes – carries out additional loading of control points from file, without deleting points
already setup in the project.
Button No – first deletes all preset control points, then loads points from the file.
If the application failed to find in the file the information about the coordinate system, for example,
in case of loading tic-files saved by the previous versions of ScanEx IMAGE Processor, then Load GCP`s
dialog will be loaded (Fig.101).
Fig.100. Query window
Fig.101. Load GCP`s dialog
Field GCP file – displays the name of the file being loaded.
“Auto name by From Raster”, “Auto name by To Raster”, “Auto name by From and To
Rasters” buttons are not applied to Load GCP’s Menu. If they are pressed the system will
display a loading error message.
Field GCP projection – parameters of the coordinate system of the control points being saved are
defined in form of a line in PROJ4 format.
Button – open Define Projection dialog to define projection described in section «Setting project
projection and resolution».
Group of control elements From – specifies the coordinate system of the initial location of control points .
Group GCP coordinates – selects the coordinate system.
Radio button Projection coordinates – coordinate system of projection defined in PROJ4 line in
GCP Projection field.
Radio button Pixel coordinates – pixel coordinate system.
Drop-down listbox Pixel coordinates raster and band – enables to define raster channel, in which
pixel coordinate system the coordinate points were saved.
Group of control elements To – specifies the coordinate system of final location of control points.
Group GCP coordinates – selects the coordinate system.
Radio button Projection coordinates – coordinate system of projection defined in PROJ4 line in
GCP Projection field.
Radio button Pixel coordinates – pixel coordinate system.
Drop-down listbox Pixel coordinates raster and band – enables to define raster channel, in which
pixel coordinate system the coordinate points were saved.
Button Save – saves list of ground control points to file.
Button Cancel – cancels saving and closes dialog.
Correction for rigorous model
Rigorous model – is a mathematical model enabling, using control points, to correct the satellite orbit,
the satellite and camera position during imaging. Information about the satellite position (velocity vector
and position), attitude angles and imaging equipment parameters, control points and DEM are used as
input parameters of the model. Correction is done using iteration method, enabling due to changes in
model parameters to minimize the RMS error in specified control points. Calculation of pixel projection on
the Earth surface is done by ray tracking. If a DEM is used during correction, pixel coordinates are
calculated with due account for the elevation, otherwise the zero value is applied (intersection with the
ellipsoid surface). This type of correction can be used only for data not geometrically processed in
advance and having strictly specific storage format. List of supported types of data is given in table below
(Table 1).
Table 1. Correction for Rigorous Model Macros: List of Data Types Supported by ScanEx
Image Processor
Data type Processing level Format
ASTER Level 1A HDF-EOS
Cartosat-1 (IRS-P5) (radiometric only) Super Structure
EROS-A01 Level 1A (radiometric only) Imagesat 1A; TIF, PASS
EROS-B01 Level 1A (radiometric only) Imagesat 1A; TIF, PASS, TQR
Resourcesat (IRS-P6) (radiometric only) Super Structure
FORMOSAT-2 Level 1A, 1B (radiometric only) DIMAP
KazEOSAT-1 Level1 DIMAP
KazEOSAT-2 Level0 DIAMP
RADARSAT-2 Level1 XML
IRS-1C\1D ScanEx – Level 1A, 1B (radiometric only) ScanEx HDF, Super Structure
Other suppliers (radiometric only)
SPOT-2\4\5 Level 1A, 1B (radiometric only) DIMAP
SPOT-6\7 Primary DIMAP 2
Pleiades 1A\1B Primary DIMAP 2
METEOR-3M ScanEx – Level 1A, 1B (radiometric only) ScanEx RSR
RESURS-О1 ScanEx – Level 1A, 1B (radiometric only) ScanEx RSR
OCEAN ScanEx – Level 1A, 1B (radiometric only) ScanEx RSR
To use iteration verification model, select command Transformation  Correction for rigorous
Model from main menu. Toolbar Correction for rigorous Model will be loaded (Fig.102).
Group Channel – defines the channel being processed.
Drop-down listbox – enables to select one of the channel supported by model.
Checkbox Glue Channels – activates correction mode fir all channels, loaded from one file using the
same parameters.
Checkbox Glue CCD – activates correction mode for all CCD-lines forming the raster image, loaded
from one file based on same parameters. This option is available only for PAN and WiFS
cameras’ data of IRS 1C\1D satellites.
Field Grid Step – specifies grid steps used for transformation in pixels.
Fig.102. Toolbar in the mode of correction for rigorous model
In group DEM – the drop-down list specifies the digital elevation model, which will be used in ortho-
rectification; if the DEM is not indicated, vertex corrections will not be taken into account.
Field Mean Height – in case of no DEM the average height of the location can be indicated on the
image for partial compensation of errors, related to the terrain.
Group Satellite Position – controls the satellite attitude angles correction.
Slider box, Field and Checkbox Roll – specifies the satellite attitude in X-direction. In the field (or
using the slider) one may manually set up the value of the angle correction in radians. Slider
scrolling increment is 1E-5. Checkbox – if checked, reports about the need to correct this
parameter.
Entry field order – sets up the order of the polynomial transformation for angle correction in Х
axis during automatic parameters selection. Becomes active after checking Roll.
Slider box, Field and Checkbox Pitch – specifies the satellite attitude in Y-direction. In the field (or
parameter.
Entry field order – sets up the order of the polynomial transformation for angle correction in Y
axis during automatic parameters selection. Becomes active after checking Pitch.
Slider box, Field and Checkbox Yaw – specifies the satellite attitude in Z-direction. In the field (or
parameter.
Entry field order – sets up the order of the polynomial transformation for angle correction in Z
axis during automatic parameters selection. Becomes active after checking Yaw.
Slider box, Field and Checkbox Date – specifies the time of correction, enables to compensate wrong
definition of imaging start time (in portions of a Julian day). Scrolling increment is 1E-8.
Checkbox – if checked, reports about the need to correct this parameter.
Checkbox Orbit correction – is intended for correction of the satellite orbit itself (not the satellite
position on orbit)).
Group Camera Model – controls the camera model and attitude angels.
Field and Checkbox IFOV – specifies the view angle of one detector of the scanner line in radians.
Checkbox – if checked, reports about the need to correct this parameter.
Entry field order - sets up the order of the polynomial transformation for compensation of linear
array distortion. Becomes active after checking IFOV.
Field Int. Time – sets up the time of creating one image line in milliseconds. Checkbox – if checked,
reports about the need to correct this parameter.
Entry field Nadir Pixel – determines the scanning center.
Corrections can be done both in manual and automatic modes.

Control elements should be activated during manual correction (field and slider) of the required
parameter by activating the respective Checkbox and entering changes in the field or doing correction by
moving the slider. If the value in the field was changed, and/or DEM was selected, press button Apply.
If case of automatic correction of parameters controls points need to be first set up. Minimal number
of points depends on the quantity and type of selected parameters. Approximate number of points for
processing of each type of data will be given below. During automatic correction the correction for
rigorous model is used, enabling to pick up the specified parameters to minimize the point errors.
For automatic selection of parameters control elements of the required parameters should be
activated and Adjust pressed.
To cancel all the
transformation (except
for ortho-correction)
press Reset. To cancel
ortho-correction
specify “none” in drop-
down list DEM and
then either press
Reset (to cancel all
transformation), or
Apply (to cancel only
orthocorrection).
To save introduced
changes press Save.
To exit correction
mode press Close.
Main model
parameters are shown
on figure below
(Fig.103). Fig.103. Main parameters of a rigorous model
The figure below illustrates main types of distortions and their sources (Fig.104).
Errors in time Errors in Roll Errors in Pitch
Errors in Yaw Wrong IFOV value Wrong Integration time parameter

Fig.104. Main types of distortions and their sources
Depending on the type of processed data the composition of the corrected parameters changes.
The table below shows the list of available parameters for each supported type of data (Table 2).
Table 2. The list of available parameters for each supported type of data
Data type Date Roll dRoll Pitch dPitch Yaw dYaw IFOV Int. Num
time
ASTER - + + + + + + - - 5 (9)
Pleiades 1A\1B - + + + + + + - - 5 (9)
SPOT-6\7 - + + + + + + - - 5 (9)
KazEOSAT-1 /2 - + + + + + + - - 5 (9)
Cartosat-1 + + + + + + + + - 5 (9)
EROS-A01 + + + + + + + + + 9 (15)
EROS-B01 + + + + + + + - + 5 (9)
Resourcesat + + + + + + + + + 5 (9)
FORMOSAT-2 + + + + + + + - + 5 (9)
IRS-1C\1D + + + + + + + + + 5(9)
SPOT-2\4\5 + + + + + + + - + 5 (9)
METEOR-3M + + + + + + + + + 9 (15)
RESURS-О1 + + + + + + + + + 9 (15)
OCEAN + + + + + + + + + 9 (15)
Radarsat-2 - + + + + + + - - 5 (9)
GENERIC (*) + + + + + + + + + 9 (15)
Num column of the table shows minimal reasonable, standard quantity of control points, required
during automatic parameters selection. During the correction of a big number of parameters, especially in
case of using polynomial correction of the 2nd and 3rd power, it is required to set up a big number of
control points. Otherwise there is a risk of making distortion system even more complicated due to
extrapolation of values, along with a decrease of the RMS error in points.
Universal model of the linear «push-broom» scanner
Besides the data types described above the application has the option to use the universal model of
the linear scanner for each type of data, which scanner has the appropriate design. To use such model it
is required to provide the parameters of orbit, sensor and the image itself to the application. This can be
done by creating with the help of the text editor an additional file with the required parameters in the
format described below (Table 3):
Table 3. Universal Model of a “Push-Broom” Liear Scanner: Text File Structure

<?xml version="1.0"?> Mandatory part - XML file title
<SCANEX_GENERIC_SCENE> Mandatory part – main tag
<PRODUCT_INFO> Mandatory part – product identifier SCANEX
SCANEX GENERIC SCENE</PRODUCT_INFO> GENERIC SCENE
<IMAGE_PARAMETERS> Opening tag of raster parameters
<NCOLS>inum</NCOLS> Image width in pixels
<NROWS>inum</NROWS> Image height in pixels
<NBANDS>inum</NBANDS> Number of channels
<NBITS>inum</NBITS> Radiometric resolution (number of bits per pixel)
</IMAGE_PARAMETERS> Closing tag
<CAMERA_PARAMETERS> Opening tag of scanner parameters
<INTEG_TIME>ms</INTEG_TIME> Time for creation of 1 image line in milliseconds
<IFOV>rad</IFOV> View angle of one detector of the scanner line in
radians
<dFOV>fnum</dFOV> Coefficient for polynomial correction of lens
distortion
<NADIR_PIX>inum</NADIR_PIX> Scanning center, number of image pixel,
corresponding to central detector of the scanner
line, in most cases – central pixel of the raster line
<CAM_ROLL>rad</CAM_ROLL> Camera displacement against center of mass of
the satellite along X-axis (in radians)
<CAM_PITCH>rad</CAM_PITCH> Camera displacement against center of mass of

the satellite along Y-axis (in radians)
<CAM_YAW>rad</CAM_YAW> Camera displacement against center of mass of
the satellite along Z-axis (in radians)
</CAMERA_PARAMETERS> Closing tag
<SCENE_ATTRIBUTES> Opening tag of scene parameters
<BEGINNING_TIME> Imaging start GMT time and date in the following
YYYY-DD-MMTHH:MM:SS.SSSSZ format:
</BEGINNING_TIME> YYYY – year
DD – day
MM – month
T – separator (in latin)
HH – hours
: – separator
MM – minutes
: – separator
SS.SSSS – seconds
Z – termination
<PLATFORM>text</PLATFORM> Name of the platform, this name will be displayed
in Information dialog
<SENSOR>GENERIC</SENSOR> Mandatory part - sensor name. Value of this tag
must contain the word GENERIC, and then the
additional name can be specified. For example
<SENSOR>GENERIC LISS-IV<\SENSOR>
</SCENE_ATTRIBUTES> Closing tag
<SCENE_GEOREFERENCE> Opening tag of orbital parameters and satellite
attitude angles
<TLE>tle</TLE> Definition of orbital parameters in form of NORAD
telegrams
<TIME_BIAS>ms</TIME_BIAS> Allowance for imaging start time in milliseconds
<TILT_ANGLE>deg</TILT_ANGLE> Off-nadir (tilt) angle in degrees
<ROLL_BIAS>deg</ROLL_BIAS> Rollу bias in degrees
<PITCH_BIAS>deg</PITCH_BIAS> Pitch bias in degrees
<YAW_BIAS>deg</YAW_BIAS> Yaw bias in degrees
</SCENE_GEOREFERENCE> Closing tag
</SCANEX_GENERIC_SCENE> Main closing tag
Abbreviations
text Text value
inum Integer value
fnum Floating-point number, floating-point number in

usual or scientific notation
rad Radians, floating-point number in usual or
scientific notation
deg Degrees, floating-point number in usual or
scientific notation
ms Milliseconds, floating-point number in usual or
scientific notation
tle Text value
Most of the used parameters can be found in accompanying information to the scene or Internet
page about the satellite. In addition, some parameters can be calculated manually.
For example, IFOV parameter value can be calculated applying the following formula:
IFOV = atan(pix_size/H),
where pix_size – is the nominal pixel size in meters, H – nominal height of imagery in meters.
NORAD telegrams are used in the model as the information about the orbital parameters,
representing a set of Keplerian elements of describing the satellite orbit. Access to telegrams can be
obtained on the Internet page http://www.celestrak.com/.
The created file has to have the name, corresponding to the name of the raster image and have
XML extension, for example for P6LN1B_050034D_070711.tif file it is required to create a file named
P6LN1B_050034D_070711.xml.
Example of the model parameters file contents is shown here:
____________________________________________________________________________________
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<SCANEX_GENERIC_SCENE>
<PRODUCT_INFO>SCANEX GENERIC SCENE</PRODUCT_INFO>
<IMAGE_PARAMETERS>
<NCOLS>12000</NCOLS>
<NROWS>12000</NROWS>
<NBANDS>1</NBANDS>
<NBITS>8</NBITS>
</IMAGE_PARAMETERS>
<CAMERA_PARAMETERS>
<INTEG_TIME>0.000877714</INTEG_TIME>
<NADIR_PIX>6000</NADIR_PIX>
<IFOV>7.1e-6</IFOV>
<dFOV>0.0</dFOV>
<CAM_ROLL>0.0</CAM_ROLL>
<CAM_PITCH>0.0</CAM_PITCH>
<CAM_YAW>0.0</CAM_YAW>
</CAMERA_PARAMETERS>
<SCENE_ATTRIBUTES>
<BEGINNING_TIME>2007-07-11T08:46:27.391Z</BEGINNING_TIME>
<PLATFORM>IRS-P6</PLATFORM>
<SENSOR> GENERIC LISS-IV</SENSOR>
</SCENE_ATTRIBUTES>
<SCENE_GEOREFERENCE>
<TLE>1 28051U 03046A 07190.58050074 .00000011 00000-0 25045-4 0 6321
2 28051 098.6831 264.2184 0002278 043.8596 316.2772 14.21644222193441
</TLE>
<TIME_BIAS>-4.200000e+000</TIME_BIAS>
<TILT_ANGLE>+1.880000e+000</TILT_ANGLE>
<ROLL_BIAS>+0.000000e+000</ROLL_BIAS>
<PITCH_BIAS>+0.000000e+000</PITCH_BIAS>
<YAW_BIAS>+0.000000e+000</YAW_BIAS>
</SCENE_GEOREFERENCE>
</SCANEX_IRSP6_SCENE>
____________________________________________________________________________________
Saving calculated geo-grid
To save data about the geolocation of the image, the file with calculated grid of latitudes and
longitudes in scanex geogrid format can be used. Saving such files is available both for geometrically
unprocessed (RAW) and corrected images.
For export of data about the geolocation Export Geo-Grid dialog is used, which can be opened
via File  Export Geo-grid
command of main menu (Fig.105).
In Channel group it is required to
select the raster layer, for
which the calculated
coordinate grid will be
saved.
In Output File Name group it is Fig.105. Export Geo-grid dialog
required to specify the

output file name with calculated coordinate grid, saved under *.gg0.ascii extension. Button
opens standard file opening dialog. By default the name corresponding to the name of the
file, from which the current raster channel was loaded, will be selected for saving. The step in
pixels, set by default in Preference (OptionsPreference) dialog in Coordinate Grid Space
entry field, will be used for saving coordinates.
Checkbox Save binary coordinates – when checked, coordinate grid is saved in binary format (files are
smaller and loading is faster in this case). If unchecked, it will be saved into ScanEx Geogrid text
format.
Button OK – generates the file of the calculated geo-grid.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog.
Coordinate grid file format saved by ScanEx IMAGE Processor
Coordinate grid is saved in form of a text file of the following format:

nSamples //number of records in lines.
nLines // number of records in columns.
start_pixel //displacement of the first pixel of raster with respect to first coordinate grid node
along X-axis is used, if the coordinate grid was saved for raster fragment.
start_line // displacement of the first pixel of raster with respect to first coordinate grid node
along Y-axis is used, if the coordinate grid was saved for raster fragment.
step_pixel //grid step in pixels along X-axis.
step_line // grid step in pixels along Y-axis.
x0 //coordinate of the first grid node in pixels along X-axis.
y0 // coordinate of the first grid node in pixels along Y-axis.
x1 // coordinate of the last grid node in pixels along X-axis.
y1 // coordinate of the last grid node in pixels along Y-axis.
separate //separator, 0 value corresponds to “space”.
delimiter //number accuracy format, 32 values correspond to float type.
points //list of coordinate pairs starts from the next row.
Global transformation and universal analytical model of sensor (RPC)
This type of transformations can be used if there is no data on the satellite and camera location
and attitude angels available, as well as in case of requirement to do additional data correction after
preliminary geometric correction. Besides, this type of transformations can be used for vector layers
correction. It is required to set up control points first to use the global transformation.
Several models can be used during global transformations:
 Rigid, Rotation – simple image shifting and rotation without changing scale.
th
 Polynomial – classical polynomial transformation up to 5 power.
th
 Rational Polynomial – rational polynomial transformation up to 5 power.
th
 Simple Polynomial – simple polynomial transformation up to 5 power.
 RPC – using of universal analytical model of sensor for data in OrthoKit, RPB, NITF, ALOS,
DIMAP2, Kanopus-V (xml), Radarsat-2 (xml), Resurs-P/P-GSA, SkyBox, Kazeosat
formats.
To start the correction run Transformation Global Transformation command from main
menu or press hot button on the toolbar. Global Transformation dialog will open (Fig.106).
List box Select Channels to Transform – specifies channels to be transformed. To select a channel it
is required to highlight its name with the left mouse button.
List box Vector Layers – specifies vector layers to be transformed. To select a layer it is required to
highlight its name with the left mouse button.
Group Transformation Model – specifies transformation model:
Radio button Rigid – simple shifting without changing pixel scale.
Radio button Rotation – rotation at the specified angle. If control points are setup, the rotation will
be done against the center of mass of the set points, otherwise – against the center of raster.
Radio button Rigid+Rotation – a simple shifting together with rotation.
Radio button Orthogonal – orthogonal model.
st
Radio button Affine – simplified polynomial model of the 1 power (affine transformation).
st
Radio button Projective – simplified rational polynomial model of the 1 power (projective
transformation).
Radio button Polynomial – polynomial model of the specified power.
Group Order of Polynomial – specifies the polynomial model power.
Group Type of Polynomial – additional parameters to the polynomial model are set up:
Checkbox Rational – toggles rational polynomial model activation.
Checkbox Simple – toggles simplified polynomial model activation (in this type of model the last
coefficient of the polynom is not used).
Entry field Max. Distortion – specifies the maximum distortion parameter when rational model is
used. The value of a standard deviation, multiplied by this field value is used as the threshold
value, when the value is rejected if this threshold is exceeded. If a higher threshold value is
set up (over 10) insufficient correction of distortions is possible (image artifacts are possible).
If a lower threshold is set up - output image will be very smoothed with lost details.
Fig.106. Global Transformation dialog
Radio button RPC – using the universal analytical model of sensor.

Group Format – specifies data presentation format:
 Auto - automatically defines the format of loaded RPC data.
 OrthoKit – IKONOS, GeoEye-1, Cartosat-1 (IRS-P5), Cartosat-2, KOMPSAT-2, etc. data
format.
 RPB – the format, used for Digital Globe data (QuickBird, WorldView-1/2/3).
 NITF – the format of images, which title already contains RPCs.
 ALOS – the format used for PRISM and AVNIR-2 cameras data of ALOS satellite.
 DIMAP2 – the format used for Pleiades 1A/1B, Spot 6/7 data.
 Kanopus-V XML – the format used for Kanopus-V data (in xml).
 Radarsat-2 XML – the format used for Radarsat-2 data (in xml).
 SkyBox – – the format used for SkySat data.
 Resurs-P – the format used for Resurs-P data (Geoton, KSHMSA).
 Resurs-P GSA – the format used for Resurs-P data (GSA).
 Kazeosat - the format used for KazEOSat data.
Check a corresponding flag Apply Ray Tracing Grid Repair in order tp apply Ray Tracing Method.
Thus you can specify maximum distortion value in Threshold () Field provided a universal
analytical sensor model is applied. Before ray tracing define its input into the computed value
of an image point coordinates. If this input is below a certain threshold, the ray is not
traceable. Threshold values are set via a number of standard distrprtions. This subgroup is
activated when selecting a transformation model via RPC coefficients.
Group Bundle Adjustment Model – specifies transformation model of RPC- coefficients correction
based on control points:
Radio button Off – transforms data only based on existing RPC-coefficients.
Radio button Rigid – correction with a shift.
Radio button Affine – affine correction.
^1 – correction by the 1st level polynomial model.
^2 – correction by the 2nd level polynomial model.
^3 – correction by the 2nd level polynomial model.
Flag Adjust RPC Shift and Scaling Parameters - activates the mode to adjust initial values as
well as latitudal and longtitudinal scale of RFM Model. This mode is available only for
Transfer and Affine correction models. The former corrects only the latitude and
longtitude initial value. The latter adjusts the initial value and scale.
Group Resample Grid – sets a new value of a grid step in pixel. The above grid is intended for
computations related to transformation of raster layers. See more details on the coordinate grid
in Raster Images Geometric Correction Section. Press Apply Button to record changes in New
Grid Step Field.
Group DEM – specifies the matrix of vertices, used in ortho-transformation:
Radio button of the list box – enables to select the raster channel, containing the matrix of vertices;
Radio button Build trend 3d GCP’s – builds the matrix of vertices based on the preset GCP points
with 3 coordinates, one of which has a height point.
Radio button Constant Height – activates the entry field, where average elevation value is
indicated, used in ortho-rectification using RPC model.
Group Options – specifies transformation options.
Group IRS-PAN or WiFS CCD – specify transformation parameters of PAN and WiFS sensors of
IRS-1C\1D.
Checkbox 1 – enables transformation only for first line.
Checkbox 2 – enables transformation only for second line.
Checkbox 3 – enables transformation only for third line.

Checkbox Only Calculate Model – calculates model without correction.
Button Reset All Transformations – cancels all introduced corrections using polynomial and local
transformations for the selected raster channels in Available Channels list.
Button Undo Last Transform – cancels / returns the last polynomial transformation for the raster
channels selected in Available Channels list.
To cancel transformation for vector layers, it is required to reload them into the application. On-the-
fly cancellation is not supported. To save transformation of vector layers, they should be saved in a
standard way, described in section «Saving and exporting vector layers».
Button Run – closes dialog applying polynomial transformation.
Button Close – closes dialog without saving changes.
RPC calculation
The software offers the function to compute direct and inverse RFM Model coefficients and save
them for the future. The fractional rational function may be computed by two methods. The first method
is based on DTM and ground control points (a terrain-dependent method). The second method is based
on adjusting several coordinate sets (normally four or five) rigorously obtained via the intersection
between a set of projection rays with different-level surfaces (a terrain-independent method). The first
method has certain restrictions related mainly to accuracy and density applied to calculate the DTM
function. See Study by Tao V., Hu Y. (2001) for more information.
To start the tool run Transformation  RPC calculation command from main menu (Fig.107).
Fig.107. Calculate RPC dialog
Drop-down list Specify Reference Raster — to set a layer intended for RPC coefficients.
Drop-down list Specify DEM Raster — set a DEM raster intended for surface adjustment.
Switcher Use Constant Levels – activates a computation mode via a terrain-independent method.
Activates management elements in Constant Levels Parameters Group.
Group Constant Levels Parameters – defines parameters of a terrain-independent method of RFM
computation:
Field Minimal Height – defines minimum elevation of an area covered by raster layer extent.
Field Median Height – defines average elevation of an area covered by raster layer extent.
Field Maximal Height – defines maximum elevation of an area covered by raster layer extent.
Button Get Values from DEM – sets border (minimum, maximum and median) area elevation
values for a selected DTM Model.
Field Levels – defines the number of level surfaces applied in coordinate computations.
Flag Equalize Levels by DEM Histogram – sets elevation levels for level surfaces depending on
statistical distribution (by histogram) of values obtained from DEM.
Switcher Use Existing Raster Grid and DEM – activates a mode of computations based on terrain-
dependent method. At that the reference layer must be orthotransformed via a DEM level
selected from a corresponding list.
Field Calculation Grid Step — defines the size of a regular grid for computation of coordinates.
Flag Calculate Inverse RPC — initiates a coefficient computation mode for a reverse RFM Model.
Button Calculate – launches RPC computation and then a standard Save Files Windows to specify an
output file with RPC coefficients and a saving directory. Eventually this operation generates an
OrthoKit (*_rpc.txt) format file containing RPC coefficients.
Button Cancel – cancels a dialog without saving new changes.
Tao V., Hu Y. A comprehensive study on the rational function model for photogrammetric processing,
PE&RS, 67(12), 2001, pp. 1347-1357.
Local transformation
When local transformation is performed, only part of image lying in control point impact radius is
transformed. Two parameters have effect on control point impact zone:
 Base Grid Level – base grid size.
 Count of Levels – number of subsidiary cells inside one base grid cell.
Hierarchy of transformation grids is overlaid on the image. Number of grids equals "Count of
Levels"; resolution of base and less detailed grid equals "Base Grid Level", resolution of each following
grid doubles. As a result the resolution of the most detailed grid equals Base Grid Level * 2^(Count
of Levels -1). Influence of the control point extends to the image area covered by 4x4 cells of the basic
grid:
Х Х Х Х
Х * Х Х
Х Х Х Х
Х Х Х Х
Asterisk marks the cell, where the control point is located.
In this way, to reduce impacts of the control point the "Base Grid Level" parameter needs to be
increased.
To use local transformation, select command Transformation  Local Transformation from
main menu, opening dialog Local Transformation (Fig.108).
List box Available Channels specifies channels, which need to be transformed. Click left mouse button
on the channel name to select it.
Group Transformation Model – enables to specify the required local transformation model.
Drop-down listbox Basis Functions – specifies function used in local transformation:
 Cubic B-Splines – multi-level cubic splines. When Cubic B-Splines is selected. The
coefficients of local transformation are calculated in grid nodes.
 Smooth RBF – radial basis
function in smoothing mode.
 Non Smooth RBF – radial basis
function without smoothing.
By selecting RBF – center of mass for
control points within the cell is
calculated.
Entry field Base Grid Level – specifies
base grid cell size, ranging from 0
to 8.
Entry field Count of Levels – number of
subsidiary cells within one base grid
cell, range from 1 to 10.
Fig.108. Local Transformation dialog
Button Reset all – cancels all introduced
changes using global or local transformation for selected in the Available Channels list raster
channels.
Button Undo\Redo - enables to move one step back\ahead in the executed transformation for selected
raster layers.
Button Apply – applies transformation.
Button Close – closes dialog.
Images automatic co-registration
Co-registration – is a combination of two or more raster images. To merge raster images, select one
of the rasters as a reference, then do the search and specify control points connecting the reference and
processed rasters and start transformation.
In automatic co-registration, control points combining the reference and processed rasters are
searched for using raster image automatic correlation method. The program enables to apply raster
image hierarchical multi-scale correlation method, allowing the user to search for control points with sub-
pixel accuracy for the images with different spatial resolution.
On the upper levels of the hierarchy, smaller copies of merged images are used for the search of
control points; on the lower levels the images themselves are merged (Fig.109). On each smaller level a
smaller local window size and search radius are used, since the parallactic displacement decreases on
each previous level and a big search radius setting is no longer required.
Fig.109. Scale pyramid
Use of this scheme allows for a much quicker transformation.

For the automatic image channels co-registration, open dialog Image Co-Registration by
selecting command TransformationCo-Registration from main menu or press hot key in

toolbar (Fig.110).
Fig.110. Image Co-Registration dialog
Group Reference Image – specifies the channel, which will be used for registration (reference
channel).
Group Floating Image – specifies the channel to register with the reference one.
Checkbox Glue – when checked enables to register all channels, loaded from one file.
Group Mask – specifies a vector mask, or selected rectangular area for co-registration (none value –
means that registration will be done within the limits of the whole loaded raster).
Group Transformation Model – specifies the geometric transformation type, used in registration.
Radio button Rigid – simple shifting without changing pixel scale.
st
Radio button Affine – simplified polynomial model of the 1 power.
st
Radio button Projective – simplified rational polynomial model of the 1 power.
th
Radio button Polynomial – classical polynomial transformation up to 5 power. Transformation
power is set up by the Order spinner.
Switcher B-Splines – transformation via multi-level cubic splines.
Entry Field Grid Base Size – sets the size of a basic grid cell, in 0 – 8 value range.
Entry Field Count of Levels – number of child cells in one basic grid cell, in 1 – 10 value range.
Button <== Remove – removes line from operation list.
Button <== Copy – copies parameters from operation list line to relevant dialog control elements.
Button ==> Reference – places Reference Image parameter in the selected operation list line.
Button ==> Floating – places Floating Image parameter in the selected operation list line.
Button Append ==> – adds a new line at the end of the list.
Button Insert ==> – adds a new line before selected line.
Button Replace ==> – replaces selected line with a new line.
Group Operation List – specifies rules (list of image registration operations) of control points searching
and image co-registration.
Flag Set Tie points instead of GCP – is applied to set points with pixel coordinates in basic
reference and adjusted rasters. Otherwise the points will be set against basic coordinates of
the current project.
Button Step – co-registers images with parameters, indicated in the selected line.
Button Set GCP`s – searches for control points with parameters, indicated in the selected line.
Button Clear – clears operation list.
Button Load – loads operation list from a file.
Button Save – saves current operation list to file.
Group Searching Parameters – specifies parameters for automatic searching of control points.
Entry field Range – specifies search radius; in pixels. Values are specified in pixels of Reference
Image with due account for current scale level.
Entry field Window Size – specifies the size of local window, used while searching for control points
in pixels. Values are specified in pixels of Reference Image with due account for current
scale level.
Entry field Step – specifies searching window shifting step in pixels. Values are specified in pixels of
Reference Image with due account for current scale level.
Entry field Scale Level – specifies control points searching hierarchical level. The value is specified
as the power of two, for example, value 0 corresponds to hierarchical level ^0 = 1; value 4
corresponds to hierarchical level 2^4 = 16, etc.
Entry field Max. GCP`s – specifies maximum number of found control points.
Entry field Threshold – specifies the reliability threshold of the picked up ground control points. The
adopted values range from 0 (keep all points) and up to 1(keep only those which are 100%
reliable). A decrease in the value brings to an increase in number of used points, whereas an
increase – to a reduction thereof.
Flag Use Multithreaded Version of algorithm – when activated accelerates coregistration via parallel
execution of transformation sub-tasks.
Button Register – performs co-registration based on search parameters, specified in created Operation
List.
Button Close – closes dialog
Ortho transformation
Ortho transformation operation can be done using a separate homonymous dialog too, besides via
Correction for rigorous model panel or dialog Polynomial transformation.
The ortho transformation dialog enables to run ortho transformation at the same time for several
images loaded into the application (batch ortho transformation). To open the dialog, run the
Transformation  Ortho Transformation main menu command. Ortho transformation can be done
both using rigorous satellite model and using RPC.
All rasters loaded into the application are shown in the list of appearing dialog. Digital elevation
model should be pre-loaded into the application. Now the rasters to be transformed need to be selected
in the list (Fig.111).
Fig.111. Ortho Transformation dialog
The List sets rasters to be orthotransformed. To select a channel left-click on its title.
Drop-down listbox DEM – specifies the raster with a relief that will be used for ortho transformation. Also
there is an opportunity to run ortho transformation per a fixed elevation value. To do so, select in
the drop-down listbox the Constant height value and indicate this elevation in the entry field to
the right.
Checkbox New grid step and entry field – enables to re-define the coordinate grid spacing when
conducting ortho transformation (see more about coordinate grid Raster images geometric
correction).
Checkbox Prefer RPC to
Rigorous Model – if
checked, ortho
transformation will be
carried out using RPC.
RPC-coefficient files are
Fig.112. Warning message during ortho transformation
loaded automatically.
For their successful
search RPC-coefficient files location should not be changed with respect to other data of source
images. If not checked, ortho transformation will be carried out using rigorous satellite model.
Button Run – when pressed, launches ortho transformation of selected in the list rasters.
In case all selected in the list rasters are not covered with the selected DEM, the following message
will appear (Fig.112):
Ortho Resampling
Ortho Resampling Window (Fig.113) is apllied for orthotransformation with resampling

(traditional orthotransformation method). It is launched via Transformation Command  Ortho
Resampling of the Main Menu.
Fig.113. Ortho Resampling dialog
The List in the upper window part is applied to select channels to be orthotransformed.
Drop-down list DEM – chooses a DEM tool for orthotransformation.
Group RPC Model Adjustment – defines parameters of RFM Correction Model based on ground control
points.
Drop-down List on the left – to set one of the available models:
 None – No correction made
 Rigid – Zero degree adjustments (shift)

 Affine – Affine correction
 ^1 – 1st level polynom
 ^2 – 2nd level polynom
 ^3 – 3d level polynom
Flag Adjust RPC Shift and Scaling Parameters – to activate the mode to adjust initial values as
well as latitudal and longtitudinal scale of RFM Model. This mode is available only for
Transfer and Affine correction models. The former corrects only the latitude and
longtitude initial value. The latter adjusts the initial value and scale.
Group Resulting Pixel Size – to set a pixel size of an output raster layer.
Switcher From Project – to set a pixel size according to the current project settings.
Switcher Raster Average – to automatically set a pixel size depending on initial data parameters
abd current projection.
Switcher Custom – to activate the right field, to manually define the size of an output raster pixel.
Group Resampling Filter – to select a resampling filter.
Switcher Box – to apply “Nearest Neighbour” filter.
Switcher Linear – to apply a bilinear filter.
Switcher Hermit Splines – to apply “Hermitian splines” filter.
See Toolbox Extent Section for more details on filter selection.
Field Resulting Grid Step – to define a transformation grid step for creating a new raster layer
(transformation grid will be applied for future transformation of a raster layer if required).
Flag Create Auxiliary Rasters – to save supplementary raster layers in the basic output layers in the
basic raster layer. The coordinates of an output raster lines and columns will be recorded as
brightnesses (lines separately from columns). These raster layers may be applied in Per-Pixel
Accuracy Assessment tool.
Button Run – initiates orthotransformation process.
Button Cancel – closes a dialog window.
Once processing is completed new raster layers will be created with the following name endings:
 _ ortho_warped – for a raster channel.
 _ortho_warped_x – for an auxiliary raster with coordinates of the initial raster columns.
 _ortho_warped_y – for an auxiliary raster with coordinates of the initial raster lines.
Canceling transformation
Depending on the selected transformation model it can be cancelled applying several methods:
1. The rigorous model was used during transformation, ortho-transformation was not carried out. In this
case to cancel the transformation press Reset button on the Correction for rigorous model
toolbar (Fig.114).
Fig.114. Correction for rigorous model toolbar fragment
2. The rigorous model was used in ortho transformation. In this case to cancel the ortho transformation
selected «none» in the drop-down DEM listbox and press Apply button. If both ortho
transformation and transformation based on control points need to be canceled, then select «none»
in the drop-down DEM listbox and press Reset.
3. Analytical (RPC), global or local model was used during transformation. In this case the transformation
can be cancelled applying several methods:
 Take a step back\forward from the made transformation for all loaded raster layers. To do so,
run the Transformation  Undo Last Transformation command. It is not recommended to
use this option, if several images are being processed, as it brings to cancellation of
transformation for all loaded layers.
 Take a step back\forward from the executed transformation for the selected raster layer. To do
so, in the dialog of the global or local transformation (Fig.115) select the required raster channel
and press Undo Last Transformation button (Polynomial Transformation dialog) or
Undo\Redo button (Local Transformation dialog).
Fig.115. Global or Local transformation dialogs
 Cancel all executed in the project transformations by selecting in the Select channels to
transform list of Polynomial Transformation dialog (or Local Transformation) the required
channels and press Reset All Transformation (Reset All)
4. Ortho Transformation (Ortho Resampling) dialog was used for ortho transformation. In this case
two options to cancel ortho transformation are available:
 If ortho transformation was carried out using RPC - Transformation  Undo Last
Transformation / Reset All Transformation commands can be used. Cancellation applies to
all rasters, involved in ortho transformation.
 If batch ortho transformation was carried out using rigorous model – the same Ortho
Transformation (Ortho Resampling) dialog can be used. Select in it rasters, for which ortho
transformation need to be canceled, select «none» in the DEM drop-down listbox and press
Run button (Fig.116).
Fig.116. Ortho Transformation cancelation via homonymous dialog
Per-Pixel Assessmen of Transformation Accuracy
The software offers the option of per-pixel assessment of transformation accuracy based on
different transformation models. This tool may be applied to justify the choice of a particular
transformation method and compare transformation results generated by different methods. It is
launched via the following Main Menu Command: Transformation Grid Difference, which will
display Difference Window (Fig.117). The tool may be helpful to compare transformation results
obtained through the traditional method (Ortho Resampling Tool) based on raster layers with
coordinates of lthe initial raster layer lines and columns (described in Ortho Resampling Item) and to
compare transformation grids.
Fig.117. Grid Difference dialog
Group Reference Rasters – to define a raster layer that will be used as a master sample to assess
accuracy.
Switcher Gridded Raster – activates a drop-down list on the right. It is applied if a raster layer
transformed against transformation grid will be set as a master sample.
Switcher Warped Index Rasters (X and Y) – activates drop-down lists on the right. It is applied if
a raster layer transformed by a traditional method will be set as a master layer. Select an
auxiliary raster layer with column coordinates in the upper drop-down list
(_ortho_warped_x) and a raster layer with line coordinates in the bottom list
(_ortho_warped_y).
Group Compared Rasters – to define a raster layer, which wil be compared with a master layer.
Switcher Gridded Raster – activates a drop-down list on the right. It is applied if a raster layer
transformed against transformation grid will be set as a master sample.
Switcher Warped Index Rasters (X and Y) – activates drop-down lists on the right. It is applied if
a raster layer transformed by a traditional method will be set as a master layer. Select an
auxiliary raster layer with column coordinates in the upper drop-down list
(_ortho_warped_x) and a raster layer with line coordinates in the bottom list
(_ortho_warped_y).
Button Perform – initiates the process of creating a transformation error pattern.
Button Cancel – closes a dialog window.
Once processing is completed a new raster layer will be created. It’s name will correspond to the
master layer and have *_diff ending. This layer’s brightnesses will be based on the absolute difference
between the pixel coordinates of the master and compared rasters (transformation error pattern).
Exporting Pixel Coordinates of Raster Intersections
Sometimes spatial data analysis requires additional statistical methods, external processing
algorithms or softwares. In particular, identification of tie points in the area of intersection between two
images may require additional statistical surveys to explore correlations of coordinate changes.
ScanEx Image Processor offers to export coordinates of two rasters into an external txt file
covering the intersection between two rasters aor a selected region of the intersection area. The export is
executed in the pixel coordinate system of each raster. An output grid with step defined by the settings is
created in the intersection area. The node coordinates of this grid are retrieved from both rasters and
recorded as an output file for further surveys.
To apply this tool click on the Main Menu: Transformation Raster Pixel Coordinates,
which will load Export Raster Pixel Coordinates dialog box (Fig.118).
Fig.118. Export Raster Pixel Coordinates dialog
Drop-down list First Raster – to define the first raster layer, which will be applied to export coordinates
from the intersection area between two rasters.
Drop-down list Second Raster – to define the secondt raster layer, which will be applied to export
coordinates from the intersection area between two rasters.
Drop-down list Define Extent From – selects one of the options to set borders of the area containing
coordinate pairs of two intersecting rasters:
 Raster Intersection – export of coordinates in the whole intersection area of the set
ratsers.
 Selected Region – export of coordinates in selected region of raster intersection.
Entry Field Output Grid Step (Project Units) – defines a regular grid size to compute coordinates. By
default, this field indicates a project pixel size.
Entry Field Output File – sets the name and strage directory of a file with exported coordinate values of
raster intersection. Button launches a standard dialog box to open/save Widnows files.
Button Perform – initiates export of raster intersection pixel coordinates.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog window.
Once processing is completed a new txt file with a set name will be created. The file will contain 4
columns with the following values: X and Y pixel coordinates of the first image and corresponding X and
Y pixel coordinates of the second image. (Fig.119).
Fig.119. Output File Containing Pixel Coordinate Export Results of Raster Intersection
Block adjustment
This tool is intended for quick referencing of several adjacent scanned images between themselves
and control points at the same time.
The basic workflow to perform block adjustments
1. Loading rasters to the program.

2. Setting the order of their display.
3. Creating a new block adjustment project, grouping the data of one span if necessary.
4. Loading DEM for Orthotransformation.
5. Evaluation of the need to preprocess the data uses. To improve the efficiency of block adjustment for
the project data, it is desirable to perform orthorectification. Ortotransforming can be performed both
before starting work in the block adjustment project, but it is more efficient to use one of the tools
within the block adjustment project:
 in the case availability of only information on a rigorous sensor model - use the Ortho Correction
tool
 in the case availability of RPC coefficients, you can use the Ortho Correction tool, but it's best to
use the Block RPC Correction tool
6. Set the ground control points (GCP): For the Ortho Correction tool, it is mandatory to set a minimum
of 3 GCP, for the Block RPC correction tool, you can use only tie points, without GCP.
7. Set tie points through the block adjustment form.
8. Orthorectification: The presence of significant discrepancies between rasters in block adjustment may
be due to the use of inaccurate input parameters (rigorous model or RPC coefficients) for
orthorectification of initial rasters, as well as inappropriate DEM data. To reduce the errors of
subsequent block adjustment, there are two tools that correct the initial parameters of the rigorous
sensor model (orientation angles) or RPC coefficients (shifts and scale factors for longitude and
latitude) over which orthorectification is performed.
 In the case of RPC coefficients, it is recommended to use the Block RPC correction tool. In this
tool, the correction of the RPC coefficients of all the participating rasters is performed by the
iterative method. After finding the optimal solution, you can either just save the corrected RPC
coefficients, or save and perform orthorectification on them. For more accurate results of
correction of RPC coefficients in the instrument, it is recommended to use a DEM raster, which
will be used for orthorectification, otherwise the value of tie points heights will be estimated by
the RPC pair, which may introduce additional errors.
 In the case of a rigorous sensor model only, you need to use the Ortho Correction tool: this tool
performs iterative adjustment of the original metadata (RPC or rigorous sensor model
parameters) for each raster separately, after finding the optimal solution or finishing the number
of iterations, the program with the specified parameters immediately performs orthorectification
of the project rasters block equalization. Return to the initial state of the raster is possible
through the menu Transform-> Orthorectification: perform Ortho for project rasters without
DEM.
 If the rasters used in the block adjustment project are already orthorectified, you can
immediately switch to the adjustment.
9. Equalization requires both GCP and tie points if they have not been previously established, or if they
are not enough, before calculation of the block adjustment model it is necessary to check their
sufficiency and quality.
10. Calculation of the adjustment model. If the result is unsatisfactory, then the GCP and tie points are
adjusted.
11. Final stage - Block adjustment of the project and saving of the results.
12. For convenience of working with large projects, it is preferable to use the function of creating a
working project of the program as a whole (File - Open raster - Project settings - Save), if you
already performed orthorectification of project rasters, and this result is required to save, also need
agree with the request for re-saving the grid of the coordinates of the rasters.
Diagram of the complete block adjustment workflow
Loading rasters
Checking and Arranging order of rasters
New Block adjustment Project
Setting tie points
Extras. Setting ground If there are parameters of Loading

If RPC coefficients
control points (GCP) a rigorous sensor model DEM
Orthorrection tool and RPC block correction tool

orthorectification and orthorectification
Block adjustment
Validation and
Validation and
editing GCP and The result is editing GCP and Tie
Tie points good ? points
Yes
RMSE in
No No
tolerance?
Yes
Save the project with grid raster

coordinates or save the mosaic with
resampling rasters
Extended description of the order of work with the Block Adjustment tools
To create a project for block adjustment run Transformation  Block Adjustment command in
main menu. A new dialog Block Adjustment Project will appear (Fig.120).
Fig.120. Block Adjustment Project dialog
Setting up a new block adjustment project

First create a vector layer with a special structure of attributes, where all involved raster layers will
be included. This will be a file-description of the block adjustment project:
Button New Layer in the upper right corner of the dialog – when pressed opens the dialog to set up the
path to save and name for this special new vector layer. As a result of this operation an empty
vector layer will be created with the required fields of attributes: R_RasterUUID, G_RasterUUID,
B_RasterUUID, Info, Comment, UniqueNumber, GroupID (information in these fields is service
data, describing the adjustment project).
Drop-down listbox Raster Contours – a vector layer, describing the block adjustment project, can be
indicated here. In case of creating a new project by creating a new empty describing vector
layer, this new vector will be automatically selected in the drop-down list. In case of attempting
to select a vector layer with the structure of attributes, not corresponding to the file describing
the project, an error message will pop up.
Button Save Vector – when pressed, changes in the block adjustment project are saved to the vector
layer (number of composition of RGB-layers, etc.).
Now raster layers can be added to the block adjustment project. They can be added in two ways:
Button From current window – all RGB-layers opened in active RGB-window are automatically added
to the project. I.e. it is better first to set up display of all required RGB-layers in one RGB-window
and add them in the project in this way.
Button Add – rasters loaded into the application can be added into the adjustment project manually one
by one. After pressing the button the dialog Add a new RGB rasters set will appear, where
using Red, Green, Blue drop-down lists the required channels to make the RGB-composite need
to be selected (Fig.121). In case of operations with the monochrome images select the required
channel in Red drop-down list and check Monochrome layer.
Fig.121. Add a new RGB rasters set dialog
Before adding rasters to the project, it is important to set their optimal order in the active window
and in the block adjustment project.
After addition of the RGB-layer into the project it will appear in form of the line in the Layers
tabbed table of Block Adjustment Project dialog. The region, representing the border of this RGB-
layer will be added to the vector file of the project, the required attributive data will also be entered in it.
Tab Layers is a table with the following columns (Fig.122):
Column ID – displays the index number of the RGB-layers.
Column Group – displays, which group the layer belongs to. Layers, belonging to one group, will not
change location between themselves during further transformations. Consequently, single-pass
images are recommended to be united into the group straight after adding rasters into the
block adjustment project. Tie points for referencing raster of one group between themselves
will not be set up.
Column Red – indicates the RGB-layer raster, entered into the red slot of the RGB image.
Column Green – indicates the RGB-layer raster, entered into the green slot of the RGB image.
Column Blue – indicates the RGB-layer raster, entered into the blue slot of the RGB image.
Fig.122. Layers tab of Block Adjustment Project dialog
When selecting a raster layer in this table, the vector region is also selected in RGB-window,
corresponding to the border of this layer. Double clicking on the raster layer from the list results in
scaling down to this layer in RGB-window.
Added RGB-layers (i.e. a set of rasters in slots of RGB-image), if needed, can be edited. To do so,
first select the layer in the list and then press Edit button. If it is expected that as a result of such editing
spatial coverage of RGB-layer will change, then Rebuild Vector Contour box should be checked in
dialog of RGB-layers editing.
Added RGB-layers can also be deleted from the project of block adjustment using Delete
Selected button. All similar changes are registered in the vector file describing the project.
Raster layers control buttons in Layers tab:
Buttons Move Up / Move Down / Move to Front / Move to End – change the sequence of selected
RGB-layers in tabbed table of Layers tab (display and sequence of layers in RGB-window does
not change).
Button Group – units selected raster layers in one group.
Button Ungroup – exclude selected raster layers from the group.
Button Sort Groups – sorts out all layers included into the project through the Group column.
Button Sort ID – sorts out all layers included into the project through the ID column.
Button AutoScroll to Selected – turns on/off mode, in which selection of vector contour (border of
raster) in the working RGB-window scrolls list of raster (tab Layer) or list of intersections (tab
Intersections) to the appropriate raster layer (you can use this mode in case of too long lists
Layers / Intersections).
Tab Intersections – represents a table, in which all raster intersection zones are displayed (except for
intersections of layers, belonging to one group) (Fig.123).
Fig.123. Intersections tab of Block Adjustment Project dialog
Rasters intersections table contains the following columns:

Columns ID1 and ID2 – contain the numbers of intersecting RGB-layers (these numbers correspond
to RGB-layers numbers in Layers tab).
Columns Red 1 and Red 2 – display the names of channels, located in red slots of intersecting RGB-
layers. The channel of “top” layer in the intersecting pair is indicated in the Red 1 column,
whereas the “bottom” layer – in Red 2 column. “Top” and “bottom” position of RGB-layers are
determined by the order they follow in Layers table.
Column RMSE – RMS deviations are reflected here (in projection units), calculated for each
intersection based on setup tie points and selected transformation method.
Column TP number – displays the number of setup tie points for each intersection of RGB-layers.
Evaluation of initial data, picking up of ground control points and tie points
To improve the efficiency of block adjustment, it is desirable to perform preliminary
orthorectification for the project data. For rasters with large systematic errors, for example, data from
satellite systems SPOT 2 or SPOT 4, or for rasters on mountain terrain, this phase is mandatory.
Ortotransforming can be done both before starting work in the block adjustment project, but it is more
effective to use one of the tools within the project. Because they allow you to pre-adjust the metadata of
the project rasters, after which the orthocorrection procedure will be more effective. The choice of the
optimal tool for orthocorrection depends on the availability of metadata:
 in the case availability of only information on a rigorous sensor model - use the Ortho Correction
tool
 in the case availability of RPC coefficients, you can use the Ortho Correction tool, but it's best to
use the Block RPC Correction tool
To perform this procedure, it is necessary:
 Load a DEM for all images covered by the Bundle Adjustment procedure (See Batch loading of
digital elevation models (GTOPO-30, SRTM, GDEM, AW3D30) )
 Load several ground control points in addition to reference data if available or set them by
one of the soaftware’s methods (See Geometric correction of images using control points)
Follow below rules whne setting or loading ground control points: the starting ground control
point coordinates system must be identical to the pixel coordinates system of a corresponding
raster (i.e. select a corresponding raster’s coordinate system or “Upper Layer Raster”
coordinate system (displaying oints in separate windows) out of “From” drop-down list in the
Ground control point Setting Menu. The endpoint coordinate system is defined by
geographical coordinates (Project Coordinates). For the Ortho Correction tool, it is
mandatory to set a minimum of 3 ground control points, but preferably more - 6-9 GCPs can
be sufficient for the entire territory. The Block RPC correction tool can be used with or without
ground control points. If the number of ground control points is less than 3, or if their the
coordinate system is incorrectly set, the program will give an error message.
 Set Tie points through the block adjustment form.
Tie points for intersecting portions of rasters should be set up at the next stage. Tie points,
basically, are control points, indicating interconnection of intersecting rasters. They are set up strictly in
pixel coordinate systems of respective rasters, i.e. the point start should be in the pixel coordinate system
of the raster, indicated in Red 1 column (Intersections tab), whereas the point end – in the pixel
coordinate system of the raster from Red 2 column. Points are set up automatically using co-registration
algorithm:
First the required parameters for automatic setting of points should be set up. The Tie Points
Setting Parameters group contains co-registration settings to set up tie points (see Fig.120):
Entry fields Range, Step, Window Size and Threshold – identical to similar settings in usual Co-
registration dialog (see section Co-Registration).
Spin box Start Level – initial hierarchy level (i.e. the biggest degree of decreasing the compared
rasters), starting from which the search for tie points will initiate during co-registration within
the images intersection zones. All other lower hierarchy levels will be automatically included to
search for points.
Drop-down listbox Channel for Co-Registration – enables to select RGB-image slots, based on
which the search for tie points will be carried out (Red / Green / Blue / RGB).
Spin box Maximal TP Number per intersection – limits the maximum number of tie points for
each rasters intersection.
Entry field Minimal Intersection Area - allows you to set the minimum size of the intersection of
rasters, less than which the search for tie points will not be performed.
Drop-down listbox Transformation – the method of transformation is set up here either for setting tie
points, or for adjustment of the entire project (depending on the operation being carried out).
Button Set Tie Points – launches the process of automatic setting/reset of tie points in intersecting
zones according to co-registration settings in Tie Points Setting Parameters group. The type
of transformation is preset in Transformation drop-down list. The recommended type of
transformation for setting the tie points is Affine.
Button Recalc Tie Point errors – when pressed, RMS errors for each intersection based on setup tie
points and selected type of transformation is recalculated.
Button Export Tie Points – when pressed, requests the catalog, in which tie points are further on
saved. Points are saved into a separate file for each intersection. name of each file is specified
based on the name of rasters, defining the start and end of points. It is important that tie points
are saved already not in the pixel coordinate systems, but in the geographic one. Existing ground
control points are not saved therewith.
Checkbox Apply to selected only – when this box is checked, tie points will be searched for only with
respect to selected intersections. This can be useful, in case for successful search for tie points
for different intersections it is required to apply different parameters of co-registration (for
example, the presence of narrow areas of intersection, requiring small size of search window;
presence of images in the project with different discrepancies, etc.).
In case of manual setting/additional setting of tie points it is required to make sure that the start
and end of points are in required coordinate systems (i.e. in pixel coordinate systems of raster being
connected). For fast preview of coordinate systems of the start and end of a selected point it’s better to
use Selected line in control points setting panel.
List of tie points can be previewed and edited via List of GCPs dialog (Transformation  List
of GCPs). When editing tie points, their number is recalculated independently. To recalculate the RMSE,
press Recalc Tie Point errors button.
Tie points checking modes
To check for correct setting of tie points, special modes can be used – Track Raster Layers,
Track TP Visibility, In new window:
Checkbox Track Raster Layers – when checked, visibility of all RGB-layers is deactivated in RGB-
window of block adjustment, except for those selected in the table of block adjustment project.
Checkbox Track TP Visibility – if checked, visibility of control/tie points is deactivated. Only tie points of
selected intersections of raster are displayed in working window, whereas their number is
indicated next to the checkbox. Rasters intersections are highlighted via Intersections. When
looking through the list of all control points “invisible” points take on “ No” values, whereas
“visible” points - “Yes” (Transformation  List of GCPs, column Active).
Button In new window – after pressing, a new RGB-window will be created. Selected in table via
Layers tab RGB-layers will be added to the new RGB-window in form of RGB-layers. If rasters
selecting was carried out via Intersections tab, then two new RGB windows will be created,
each displaying one of the RGB layers being connected (Fig.124). The source RGB-window with
all layers will be minimized.
Fig.124. Additional setting of tie points in two-window mode
In such mode (in two new RGB-windows, appearing as a result of selecting some intersection of
rasters in Intersections tab and pressing on In new window button) it is convenient to check the
quality of tie points setting, and to complete setting up tie points manually. Two new RGB-windows can
be located next to each other (for example, using Window  Tile vertical command). Prior to setting
a tie point, set up the Top Layer Raster value as coordinate system of start and end point in the control
points setup panel.
Orthorectification with the Ortho Correction tool
Orthorectification is performed using the Ortho Correction tool, the call button of which is located
at the bottom of the Block Adjustment Project window (Fig.120).
The Ortho Correction tool dialog box is used to select the error correction model and settings for
the main characteristics of the algorithm execution (Fig.125).
Fig.125. Ortho Correction window of Block Adjustment Project dialog
Drop-down list DEM – to define a raster layer, which will be applied as a DTM.
Flag RPC to Rigorous Model – if this flag is tagged, Orhocorrection will be nased on the universal
analytical sensor model. By default (when the flag is deactivated), Orthocorrection will be done
via Correction by Rigorous Model Method.
Group Rigorous Model Parameters – to set up parameters of Correction by Rigorous Model
algorithm:
Flag Correct Orientation Angles with the Order – when activated, instructs to correct satellite
orientation parameters by X (Roll), Y (Pitch), Z (Yaw) axes, including when setting
parameters automatically
Entry Field Correct Orientation Angles with the Order – sets a degree of polynomial
transformation to adjust angles when selecting parameters automatically. It is activated by
tagging a required flag.
Group RPC Parameters – to set parameters of Correction Algorithm via RPC coefficients:
Drop-down list RPC Model Adjustment – to select a model for correction of RPC coefficients via
ground control points:
 Rigid – a simple transfer without changing the pixel scale.
 Affine – a simplified polynominal 1-st level model.
Flag Adjust RPC Shift and Scaling – activates the mode to adjust initial values as well as latitudal
and longtitudinal scale of RFM Model coefficients. If Rigid Model is selelcted, it only corrects
initial values of latitude and longtitude. The second model model corrects both initial values
and the scale.
Flag Perform Initial Individual Correction – when enabled, instructs the system to perform pre-
correction of the position of each of the project rasters on the available ground control points
before block orthorectification of all rasters participating in the block adjustment project.
Flag Equalize TP Intersection Number – when activated, instructs to correct the weights of tie points
at raster intersections depending on their quality and quantity.
Entry field Interations of Block Correction – to set a maximum number of processing iterations. Once
completed, the algorithm will be terminated. Alternatively it may be stopped earlier, if admissible
mean square deviation has been reached (set in Admissible MSD entry field).
Entry field RMSE Tolerance Value – to set an admissible value of mean square deviation. Once
reached, the algorithm will be terminated. It may be stopped earlier on completing a set number
of iterations. Indicated in project units.
Flag Define a New Grid Step – when activated signals on the need to recalculate the computation grid
with a new step value.
Entry field Define a New Grid Step – to set a new value of coordinate grid step. Entered values should
be based on the spatial resolution of the project and adjusted data as well as parameters of the
DTM applied for orthocorrection.
Button Run – initiates orthocorrection process for all imagery uploaded into the Bundle Adjustemnt
Project.
Button Close – closes a dialog box.
Once Orthocorrection is completed, it will launch a message widnow displaying its results and
demonstrating final parameters: number of interations and mean square deviation values of ground
control points, tie points and the average mean square deviation (Fig.126).
Fig.126. Message with Results of Orthocorrection Procedure
If adjustment ground control points are set in the wrong coordinates system (for instance, the
starting point indicated in geographical coordinates as well), or there are fewer than three, the software
will display an error message is response to Othrocorrection attempts (Fig.127).
Fig.127. Error Message Window in response to Orthocorrection Procedure: Insufficients number

of ground control points or incorrect choice of starting and endpoint coordinate systems
Orthoranformation with the Block RPC Correction tool

The Block RPC Correction dialog box for correcting RPC coefficients is called up by the RPC
correction button located at the bottom of the Block Adjustment Project window (Fig.120). This
dialog box allows you to configure the parameters for finding the best solutions for correcting the RFM-
model, to save the changed RPC-coefficients, and also to perform ortho-transformation of the project
rasters directly by the corrected metadata (Fig.128). If you use reference points in this tool, it is
important that they have a different altitude setting than the one originally assigned (-9999), otherwise
the program may incorrectly shut down or issue a solution without taking into account an GCPs (with
GCPs error value of zero).
Fig.128. The Block RPC Correction dialog box, available from the Block Adjustment Project
Group Correction Parameters allows you to specify settings for correcting the RFM-model:
Flag Use Tie Points (No GCPs) – indicates the type of points that will be used in the correction
process.
Flag Equalize Tie Points in Intersections - when turned on, it indicates the need to correct the
weights of the tie points (TP) in the intersections of the rasters, depending on their number
and quality.
Entry field Solver Iterations – allows you to set the maximum number of iterations to solve the
problem of finding the minimum of the function corresponding to the errors between the
participating GCP and TP. When the specified value is reached, the algorithm will be stopped,
or the algorithm will be stopped earlier in the event that will be achieved values of the root-
mean-square deviations specified in the entry field Solver RMSE.
Entry field Solver RMSE – allows to set the allowable value of the minimum root-mean-square
deviation when searching for the minimum of the function corresponding to the errors between
the participating GCP and TP. When the specified value is reached, the algorithm will be
stopped, or the algorithm will be stopped earlier, after the specified number of iterations has
been completed. Specified in project units.
Entry field Iteration of Correction – allows to set the maximum number of iterations for block
correction of RPC-coefficients on the basis of the function calculated by the solver. When the
specified value is reached, the algorithm will be stopped, or the algorithm will be stopped
earlier in the event that the allowed values of the root-mean-square deviations specified in the
entry field RMSE Tolerance value.
Entry field RMSE Tolerance value – allows to set the allowable value of the minimum root-mean-
square deviation for block correction of RPC-coefficients. When the specified value is reached,
the algorithm will be stopped, or the algorithm will be stopped earlier, after the specified
number of iterations has been completed. Specified in project units.
Flag In addition to Offsets, correct the Longitude and Latitude scale factors of RPC – when
the flag is included, in the block RPC correction also adjusts the values of the normalizing
scaling factors of the rational polynomial.
Flag Make use of DEM data for Correction – when activated, instructs the program to take into
account the heights from the selected DEM layer in the drop-down list when the solver is
running and the subsequent block RPC correction.
Group Orthotransformation Parameters allows you to specify settings for performing
orthorectification of rasters with modified RPC coefficients:
Flag Perform Orthotransformation with corrected RPC – when enabled, instructs the program
to perform orthorectification (without resampling) of the project rasters according to the
modified RPC coefficients.
Flag & Entry field Define new Raster Grid step – allow you to redefine the grid step during
orthorectification (more about the transformation in Raster images geometric correction).
Drop-down list DEM – allows you to select a layer with a digital elevation model from the list of rasters
loaded into the program. Becomes active when you enable one of the flags: Make use of DEM
data for Correction or Perform Orthotransformation with corrected RPC.
Flag Do not use previously saved Orthokit RPC files – in the active mode, excludes files with RPC
coefficients, which were received by this tool earlier (*. icrpcd), from the search for solutions. In
block RPC correction only the original RPC will be used. In the off state, the program use the
corrected RPC file, if he exist, if not - the original RPC file.
Flag Save RPC Orthokit Files beside Raster Files – when enabled, instructs the program to save the
modified RPC coefficients in a separate file in the Orthokit format (* .icrpcd) in the location
folders of rasters participating in the block adjustment project.
Button Run – initiates the process of block RPC correction of project images.
Button Cancel – closes this dialog box.
Calculation of the transformation model and assessment of common error

Button Calculate model – when pressed, all rasters transformation model is calculated with assessment
of common transformation error (Final RMSE) and re-calculation of RMSE of tie points in each
layers intersection. Transformation type for model calculation is set up in Transformation drop-
down list (Rigid+Rotation/Affine). When model is calculated, no transformation is performed.
Besides, when model is calculated, the log-file of block adjustment is formed and displayed.
Contents of block adjustment Log-file:
 The first part of the log-file describes input parameters of the model (raster layers in project;
transformation type; tie and control points for involved rasters; number of raster layers
intersections, etc.).
 Further on – calculated transformation parameters for each raster layer.
 Further on – all existing ground control and tie points and their calculated errors are consistently
displayed: title of the intersection-connection (names of two rasters, or Ground–raster); points
parameters – X1, Y1, X2, Y2 (coordinates of start and end of control/tie point in project
coordinates), dX and dY – remaining errors per X and Y, Dist – RMSE of the point.
 Further on in the list minimum, average and maximum values of errors are enlisted in the same
order (dX, dY and Dist) in each intersection (including the «Ground» layer)
In this part of the log-file list it is convenient to view mean/maximum error values in layers’
intersections (including errors for ground points), thus assessing the quality of referencing
between different layers.
 The value of the general transformation error is displayed in the very end of the log-file – Final
RMSE.
If required, the log-file can be saved by pressing Save button in the window with log-file.
Information on the error values for tie points and ground control points can also be viewed
through the list of GCPs, with which you can also select points with large errors and immediately edit
them.
Using log-file and List of GCPs, it is better to estimate the value of errors (both general error,
errors for stand-alone points). In case of admissible error values, you can proceed with the adjustment
operation, whereas in case of unsatisfactory errors values, either tie/control points need to be corrected,
or the transformation model need to be enhanced.
Raster layers adjustment:

Button Adjust rasters – when pressed, all involved raster layers are transformed, according to the
preset points. Same as during the model calculation, the block adjustment log-file is created and
displayed.
Checkbox Glue channels – used, if source images have more than three channels. If checked, the other
image channels (not involved in the RGB-image building) will be transformed as per similar
parameters.
Entry field Raster Block Adjustment: Relative Tolerance: – the value, determining the end of
adjustment process. If changes during iterations are less than that indicated in this field - the
adjustment is terminated.
The block adjustment project, if required, can successfully be saved in form of a common project of
ScanEx Image Processor. At the same time, if orthorectification of the project rasters has already been
performed, then it is necessary to agree with the request for re-saving the grid of the coordinates of the
rasters. To resume operations with the block adjustment, after loading the saved project, open Block
Adjustment Project dialog once again by running Transformation  Block Adjustment and
selecting in Raster Contours drop-down list the respective vector describing the project.
Raster images classification
Raster Image Classification Block comprises two parts. ScanEx Image Processor
Classification contains a set of tools for both unsupervised (ISODATA algorithm) and supervised
operations (directly distributed neural nets, a spanning-tree classifier and maximum entropy principle).
An additional module for thematic interpretation of ERS data (ThematicPro) is intended for thematic
interpretation of multilayer data, their visualization and interpretation via topography maps based on
several algorithms.
Unsupervised classification ISODATA
(Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique)

This algorithm is one of the most popular algorithms used for unsupervised classification
(classification without teacher). It is based on image clustering on the basis of difference between cluster
average values (minimal spectral distances between centers of classes).
There are several options of algorithm design; in our case the following logical sequence is utilized:
1. Initial cluster activation. Input data are first processed using principal component analysis (PCA)
method, and then initial location of spectral classes centers is identified on the basis of processed
rasters using standard deviation method. Number of classes is defined by user.
2. First iteration. At this stage all image pixels are assigned to classes according to criterion of least
distance between class average value and pixel brightness value, forming clusters. Euclidean
metric is used as a measure of distances comparison.
3. Then average values are recomputed in classes. The same technique is applied to the next step
of correlation of clusters resulting from the previous step with spectral classes. Clusters may
merge or split depending on preset threshold values. Then again average values are recomputed
and new clusters are formed.
4. This procedure is repeated until clusters are able to merge and split or upon reaching the
maximum number of iteration set by user.
The outcome of the processing is a new raster layer containing resulting clusters merged per
membership of spectral classes. Produced spectral classes are coded from minimal average to maximal
average and numbered starting unity.
The subsequent processing deals with thematic interpretation of produced spectral classes. To
assign produced spectral classes to thematic ones, an associated toolkit is to be used, which is discussed
in the “View Legend” section.
To define algorithm parameters apply Unsupervised Spectral Classification dialog box, to be

launched by menu command: Classification  Unsupervised  Spectral Classification (Fig.129).
Fig.129. Unsupervised Spectral Classification dialog
List Input Rasters – indicate spectral channels to be processed (no more than 32 output channels).
Drop-down list Normalize Date by – to normalize selected channels through one of the following
options:
 None – not to be pre-normalized;
 All Samples Stats – normalize all raster pixels;
 Trainig Samples Stats – normalize only pixels specified as trainng samples.
Group Vector Mask for Training – to set parameters of cluster initialization:
Drop-down list – to set an area border represented by a vector mask or certain rectangular and
specified via Select Region tool.
Drop-down list Weights Field – to specify fields with weight coefficients for training within the
mask.
Drop-down list Vector Mask for Classifying– to choose a vector layer setting the borders of
classification area represented by a vector mask or a certain rectangular and specified via Select
Region tool.
Group Classification Method and Parameters – to set parameters of unsupervised raster
classification:
Drop-down list Classification Method – to set one of the sofware methods:
 ISODATA – iterational self-organizing method of data analysis (available in TematicPro
Module);
 Neural Gas – algorithm for adjustment clustering of input data (available in TematicPro
Module);
 SOM – “self-organizing maps” algorithm (available in TematicPro Module);
 Batch SOM – modified SOM algorithm with an option to select an OpenCL computation
device (available in TematicPro Module);
Each method offers basic and additional parameters.
ISODATA Classification Method:
Drop-down list General Parameters:
Entry field Number of Clasters – sets a maximum number of spectral classes. The maximum
admissible number is 255.
Entry field Maximum Interations – sets a maximu number of processing iterations. If the
specified number is reached, but no self-organisation in place, the algoritmwill be
stopped.
Drop-down list Expert Parameters:
Entry field Maximum Merged Cluster Pairs – sets the maximum number of cluster pairs to be
merged in one interation.
Entry field Minimum Samples per Cluster – sets the minimum admissible number of pixels in
a cluster. If this number is below the set value, the cluster will be deleted, and its pixels
assigned to the closest class or classes.
Entry field Split Operation Standard Deviation Threshold – sets the maximum admissible
standard deviation within a cluster. If a standard deviation in a cluster exceeds the set
value, the cluster will be split into two parts.
Entry field Merge Distances Threshold – sets the minimum distance between average cluster
values. The clusters will be merged if the distance between their average values is below
the specified figure.
Entry field Standard Deviance Multiplier in Split Operation – sets an admissible mean
square deviation for split clusters.
Entry field Without Normalization – contains “Yes” or “No” and is applied to run the elgorithm
without normalizing distances.
The Block below drop-down lists of parameters contains additional interactive specifications. If a
user selects some parameter in the upper menu, this block dislays detailed corresponding
explanations.
For user’s convenience, all parameter fields contain typical averaged values. Once they have been
changed, new values are displayed in bold type.
Group Output Rasters – contains parameter setting fields for output rasters:
Entry field Elements raster name – is applied to set up the title of layer containing classification
results;
Flag Create Probabilities raster – activates the option to create an additional probability layer;
Entry field Create Probabilities raster – is applied to set up the title of layer containing
probability values;
Flag Mask Samples with Uncertainty – during activation all uncertain resulting values will be
hidden.
Entry field Resulting Classificator File – specifies the name and path to save all set up values of
spectral classification parameters.
Button Classify with an Existing Clasifier – is intended to choose a previously saved file with
classification parameter settings.
Button Train and Classify – initiates the process of unsupervized spectral classification.
Button Cancel – closes a dialog box without classifying and saving the st parameters.
A new raster thematic layer entitled “ISODATA_Elements” will be automatically created
following classification. If Create Probabilities Raster flag is tagged, the system will automatically
generate a layer of additional probabilities, which is “ISODATA_Elements_Prob”. For further
processing of reults apply View Legend toolbox (See “Displaying Classification Results (View Legend)”).
Supervised Classification.
Neural Networks of Forward Propagation.
Algorithm description for neural networks of forward propagation

Neural networks of forward propagation use classic neurons with sigmoid activation function. If
input signals of jth neuron are defined as x1, x2,…,xn it will build the following function:
yj   n
x w ji
i 1 i  , : yj   n
i 1 
xi w ji , where yj – of output jth neuron, wij – weight of connection,
connecting jth neuron with its input signals, which can be both input signals of neural network and
output neurons from the previous layer, and   - sigmoid:   I  

1
.
1  e I
In general, the neuron model looks as follows: cumulative neuron input is defined as the weighed
sum of input signals I   i wi xi , whereas neuron output y   ( I ) is the activation function from
its cumulative input. Used as the activation function for sigmoid  (a)  1/(1  eca ) the neuron
activates the logistic regression.

As the neuron’s model builds the function from its inputs, the neurons can be combined based on the
function superposition rules, obtaining more complex models called multi-layer perceptrons (MLP – Multy
Layer Perceptron) or artificial neural networks of forward propagation that can be regarded as the
amplification of the logistic regression.
For such a model parameters definition (learning of neural network in terminology of the artificial
neural networks theory) the standard least squares method is used. The quadratic error function is built
1
(Rumelhart, 1986): E (w )  
2 i
( yo
(i )
( w )  d i ) 2
, depending on the neurons weights of all the
network w, where summing up is done throughout all the existing input vectors with the known
response di that should be modeled (it should equal the value on the neuron output yo , located on the
upper level of the superposition functions executed by the network neurons).
To minimize the received error function a standard approach to solve the system of normal
equations is used based on iteration method of gradient descent with only one difference: the use of
functions superposition enables to quickly calculate all the weights derivatives, which number may rise up
to several thousands. As a result of recursive procedure we have the formula to update the weights wij
(connecting the output of i th neuron of the network with the input of j th neuron) as per the gradient
 E ( w)  E dy j  I j E
descent methods: wij       , where   w
 wij  y j dI j  wij  y j k k jk
 E dyk
(summing up is done on all neurons connected with the output of j th neuron), and  k   ,
 yk dI k
which enables to get the recursive formula of recalculation  k , moving inside the superposition from the
network output to inputs (therefore the method has the name of “error backpropagation”):
  dy dyo
 j    k w jk  j for all neurons, except for output ones, and  o  ( yo  d ) for the
 k dI  j dI o
output neurons.
In this way having the source data on the input of the neural network and making forward
calculations, as set up in the superposition, we may calculate I k values, and after that, moving in reverse
direction, calculate the corrections for the weights, etc.
Neural network improvement methods used in ScanEx Image Processor
Here we have the description of several methods to expedite neural network learning and to improve
the quality of the output models. Learning epoch – is when the neural network learning method is
applied to all elements (vectors) of the input set of data.
Prime Offset. As the derivate of the activation function is used in the teaching speed calculation
formula, the zero value of this derivative will give us the zero rate of change in weights. If a standard
sigmoid activation function is used, its derivative is close of zero even at low values of cumulative input of
neuron, thus bringing to «freezing» (a low rate of changes) in weight and a low learning speed. The use
of a small (about 0.1) offset, added to the sigmoid derivative, enables to provide for weights changes
even in this case.
Weights Natural Decay. To avoid unlimited increase of weights (in particular, due to the prime
offset), the  parameter of natural weights decay is used in teaching by adding of   wij value to
 E ( w)
derivative on each increment. In this way, at the zero value of the derivative the weight will
 wij
tend to zero, which ensures better quality and stability («conservatism») of the forecast when neural
network will be used further on.
Use of Momentum. In some cases, especially when high values of learning speed are used,
weights start to vary in oscillating fashion, when first all weights increase, then decrease and then
increase again, etc. This happens because the weight values “skip” the optimal position due to a very
high learning speed. To avoid such a staggering behavior of the weights, a standard method for
optimization algorithms is used, when during the changes in weights their previous values are taken into
account and the actual weight changes value wij' (t )  (1   )  wij (t )    wij (t  1) is
calculated as the weighted total of changes, calculated on this increment, and the previous changes; 
moment is used as the weight, taking on a value from 0 to 1.
Data Random Change. In some cases it is known that the observed values of input and output
parameters have a random error with preset propagation (in our case the output values error is
calculated using Monte-Carlo method). In this case addition of random values with preset propagation in
the learning process allows improving the neural network teaching quality.
Quick Propogation Algorhitm. Quick Propogation algorithm is used to expedite the learning
process, where learning speed is an adaptable parameter, calculated during the learning for each
 E ( w)
individual weight using quadratic approximation: if gij (t  1) – gradient , calculated on the
 wij
increment t-1, gij (t ) – gradient, calculated on increment t, then the learning speed value  is
calculated as  ij  gij (t ) /( gij (t  1)  gij (t )) . To avoid excessively high speeds caused by the calculation
artifacts, the maximum rate of  parameter change is usually limited.
Topology of building neural networks of forward propagation
Neurons of neural network are organized

into the layers so that output signal of the i-
layer goes to the inputs of all neurons of (i+1)-
layer. Any neural network has at least two
layers – input, containing the «receptors» of
input signals, and output, containing output
neurons, which ensures the application of
simple detection algorithms. In addition, this
program enables to detect one or two more
Example of neural network topology without the
intermediary (hidden) layers that ensure
hidden layer
solution of more complex tasks (Fig.130). Large
number of layers is not required, as one hidden
layer is enough to resolve a task of any degree
of complexity. It should be noted that the
number of output layer neurons equals the
number of different classes that must be
recognized (discriminated). Usually, in the
layer, preceding the output one, almost the
same number or more neurons are located as
the number of classes being discriminated
(output neurons). Example of neural networks topology
with one hidden layer
As an example we have the artificial

(simplified) task of selecting several types of
natural objects on a LANDSAT 7 image (Image
in standard 4-5-2 synthesis - Fig.131), as
indicated in the legend below (Table 4):
Example of neural networks topology with two hidden

layers: 7 neurons are used in the first hidden layer, 3
– in the second
Fig.130. Examples of neural networks topology
Table 4. Part of LANDSAT 7 imagery legend, Fig.131

№ Color Comments
1
Young (mostly restored after felling) coniferous forests
2 Old-growth (within the limited of strict nature reserves) coniferous

forests
3
Grassland vegetation (winter crops, meadows)
4
Open water
5
Open ground (ploughed fields, residential areas)
6
Broad-leaved forests
Fig.131. LANDSAT 7 image in 4-5-2 composite
Brightness in channels 2, 3, 4 and 5 were used for classification. Vector learning layer with
reference objects is shown below (Fig.132):
Fig.132. LANDSAT 7 image with overlaid vector layers
Neural network outputs have binary codes with a set of 7 units, corresponding to the required
class. Thus, for example, “open water” class is coded with the output signal vector (0,0,0,1,0,0,0),
whereas «Open ground » class – with vector (0,0,0,0,1,0,0). As the output signal of each output layer
neuron may take random values from 0 to 1, the error may take random values within [-1,+1] range as
well. For display in the status bar the RMS error on all input pixels, averaged on all classes (output
neurons), is used.
A gradient algorithm (the well-known Quick Propagation) is applied in learning process using the
calculation of derivatives for each weight based on error back-propagation and optimal increment of
gradient descent based on quadratic approximation.
Classification result is shown on the figure below (Fig.133).
Fig.133. LANDSAT 7 image classification result
Classification using neural network

Neural Net Classification applies Supervised Spectral Classification tool, which is launched by
Classification  Supervised  Spectral Classification items of the Main Menu. This requires to
preset Classification Method – Neural Network (Fig.134).
Fig.134. Supervised Spectral Classification dialog, Classification Method – Neural Network
List Input Rasters – to indicate spectral channels covered by classification.

Group Training Labels Source – define a source of training sets for learning:
Switcher Vector – when activated requires to apply a polygonal vector layer as a source of master
samples. The right-hand drop-down list is meant to select a vector layer.
Drop-down list Codes Feild – to select one of the attributive fields belonging to the above vector
layer and containing codes of thematic classes. The latter must be represented by positive
integral values, provided thir number does not exceed 50.
Drop-down list Weights Feild – to select one of attributive fields of the above vector layer
containing weight values of thematic classes.
Switcher Raster – when activated requires to apply a thematic raster layer as a source of master
samples. In this case the following shall be considered: brightness codes of the set layer will be
qualified as numbers of thematic classes. At that the algorithm will work correctly if the number
of brightness classes does not exceed 50. The classes must be sorted ascending from 1 to
maximum value without without omissions. The right-hand drop-down list sets a thematic
raster layer.
Group Vector Mask for Classifying– to set a bounding area for classification.
Drop-down list – to select a vector mask or a set rectangular area (Selected Region).

classification:
 Neural Network – classification algorithm based on Neural Networks of Forward
Propagation;
 Classification Trees – raster classification algrorithm based on a Tree-type classifier.
Each methods offers basic and additional parameters.
For “Neural Networks” classification method they are as follows:

Drop-down list Neural Networks Topology – defines a neural network topology:
Entry field Number of Detected Elements – displays a number of thematic class training
sets obtained from a specified source. “NA” value signals that the source of training
sets is incorrect (the number of thematic classes is over 50).
Entry field Hidden Layers – to set the number of hidden layers:
 0 – no hidden layers;
 1 – one hidden layer;
 2 – two open layers.
Entry field Neurons in First Layer– to set a number of neurons in the 1st hidden layer.
Group Learning Parameters – sets parameters of a neural network training:
Entry field Maximal Error – sets a mean square error. Once it’s achieved training is
qualified as as successful.
Entry field Maximum Epochs – sets the maximum number of training epochs (cycles
applying the whole input set of pixels).
Entry field Learning Rate – sets training speed, with typical values ranging from 0.001 to
0.1. If this value is big the neural network trains faster, but can “slip past” the best
value. Lower values facilitate better quality of the network training, though requires
more time. In order to decide whether this parameter should be reduced, users
must track the changes of the mean square error during training. If changes
fluctuate, the value should be reduced.
Entry field Error Sampling – sets a step to crosscheck the quality of neural network
training. Error checking applies each N-th sample from an output set not involved in
training.
Drop-down list Use Seed – requires to apply the random number generator. Generates
“Yes” and “No” values.
Entry field Seed Number– sets the initial value of the random number generator. It is
intended to produce the same result on different computers.
Group Expert Parameters – to set additional parameters of a neural network training:
Entry field Sigmoid Prime Offset – sets sigmoid derivative shifting required to avoid
collapse of a neural network. This “collapse” occurs, if the summary input signal of a
sigmoid function is too big by amplitude. In this case the applied training algorithm
can not change the neural network weight, and training ceases. This parameter
guarantees that value areas with sigmoid function is close to 0 change weights.
Typical values range from 0.0 to 0.1.
Entry field Momentum – sets “intertia” (memory) parameter of a neural network, with the
value ranging from 0 to 1. This parameter “memorizes” previous weight changes,
which prevents dramatic changes. If the value equals to 0, the neural network each
moment applies for training only brightness values of the next input pixel with prior
training history “forgotten” (prior pixel training result). If the value equals to 1, the
neural network ceases training. The value ranging from 0.0 to 0.3 often helps to
avoid error changing fluctuations.
Entry field Weight Decay – defines “natural descent” of wij weight values. This parameter
sets the speed of weights magnitude decreasing. This helps to avoid “collapse” of a
neural network, which “forgets” prior training unless this raining recurs (to reduce
the influence of outliers). The above parameters has small negative values.
Entry field Score Threshold – sets a parameter defining required classification accuracy.
The parameter for which classification is considered to be correct.
Drop-down list Hyperbolic Arctangent Error – when activated requires to convert an error
from [-1,+1] range into  ,  range, which also sometimes helps to avoid
“collapse” of a neural network. Then training mainly focuses on input data with
maximum errors. This may degrade the general result if these data correspond to
surges and anomalous values.
Entry field Sample Weight Parameter – to change effects of sample weights during
training. If the weight has infinite value, its power is proportional to the ratio of 1 to
the value specified in this field.
explanations.
Group Output Rasters – contains parameter setting fields for output rasters:
Entry field Element raster name – is applied to set up the title of layer containing classification
results;
probability values;
Flag Mask Uncertain Results – during activation all uncertain resulting values will be hidden.
Button Classify – initiates spectral classification process via Neural Network.
Below is a status line fragment (Fig.135), indicating percentage of incorrectly classified pixels (13%
of a check sample, a required response rate not exceeding 0.1) and mean square errors per all classes
(0.1630 in the chack sample).
Fig.135. Neural Network Classification in Progress: Status Line Fragment
A new raster thematic layer entitled “NeuralNetwork_Classes” will be automatically created

following classification. If Create Probabilities Layer flag is tagged, the system will automatically
generate an additional probabilities layer – “NeuralNetwork_Classes_Prob”. For further processing of
obtained results apply View Legend toolbox (See “Displaying Classification Results (View Legend)”)
Tree-type classifier
Description classification algorithm using trees

The algorithm of teaching tree-type classifiers is based on the book of Ripley, 1996. the
application has an algorithm of teaching a set of tree-type classifiers, each of which is trained on a
random subset of training sample. During classification the resulting class is defined by voting (through
the entire set of trees), whereas its probability is assessed as the ratio of trees that “casted their votes”
for it to the total number of trees.
As all the tree-type classifiers, the application uses in each tree top verification of one variable
value (one of the channels) that is compared with the threshold, i.e. the tops are binary classifiers.
During training part of the training sample that falls within it during classification using the
currently existing tree is “assigned” to each top. each top (vertex) is assessed for the necessity (the
homogeneity degree by classes of training sample, the number of elements) and for “utility”
(classification quality improvement) of its further division and if it is non-homogenous (different classes
are assigned to it) and there are a lot of elements assigned to it (in excess of the set up threshold), then
an attempt is made to split this vertex.
The following deviance is used during the assessment of heterogeneity of the vertex from the
viewpoint of the need to split it:
D  2c nc log  c
nc
where summing up is done for all classes с, falling within this vertex during the training, - is the
number of training sample elements, falling within the vertex and

c - is the probability of the class
класса с in this vertex, corrected for a priori probability of classes. If the deviance of the vertex is minor
(constitutes only small part of the deviance of the root vertex), then further splitting of the vertex is
considered unnecessary. Another criterion of the requirement to split is the number of training sample
elements, related to the vertex - if it is small, then further split is also inappropriate.
Select a variable (image channel) and the threshold value based on which the split will take place
(i.e. the rule check in each vertex Ch  a j , where Ch - is the value in selected channel and a j – is
another j-th threshold). As a measure i ( pc ) of homogeneity of distribution of probabilities pc of classes

in tree vertex (during the assessment of applicability of splitting this vertex) the entropy is used
i( pc )   pi ln pi , where pi – is the probability of i-th class; entropy equals zero, if only one classes
is assigned to the vertex (the vertex is “clean”), and maximum, where the probability of all classes for
this vertex is the same (the vertex is not informative). For splitting the tree suing the selected threshold
and threshold channel we will get the evaluation of homogeneity reduction equaling
i  i ( pc )   p(Ch  a j )  i( pc | Ch  a j )  p(Ch  a j )  i ( pc | Ch  a j ) 
i.e. the weighted (by probabilities of finding its way to new vertexes) total of heterogeneity of new
vertexes is deducted from the vertex heterogeneity value. The split that maximizes such value is selected
as the next one for splitting.
Classification using trees
For classification of raster layers using tree-type classifier the Supervised Spectral
Classification, available after selecting Classification  Supervised  Spectral Classification
command from main menu. The following is to be set: Classification Method – Classification Trees
(Fig.136).
Fig.136. Supervised Spectral Classification dialog, Classification Method – Classification

Trees
List Input Rasters – to indicate spectral channels covered by classification.
Group Training Labels Source – define a source of training sets for Neural Network learning:
Switcher Vector – when activated requires to apply a polygonal vector layer as a source of master
samples. The right-hand drop-down list is meant to select a vector layer.
Drop-down list Codes Feild – to select one of the attributive fields belonging to the above vector
layer and containing codes of thematic classes. The latter must be represented by positive
integral values, provided thir number does not exceed 50.
Drop-down list Weights Feild – to select one of attributive fields of the above vector layer
containing weight values of thematic classes.
Switcher Raster – when activated requires to apply a thematic raster layer as a source of master
samples. In this case the following shall be considered: brightness codes of the set layer will be
qualified as numbers of thematic classes. At that the algorithm will work correctly if the number
of brightness classes does not exceed 50. The classes must be sorted ascending from 1 to
maximum value without without omissions. The right-hand drop-down list sets a thematic
raster layer.
Group Vector Mask for Classifying– to set a bounding area for classification.
Drop-down list – to select a vector mask or a set rectangular area (Selected Region).
classification:
 Neural Network – classification algorithm based on Neural Networks of Forward
Propagation;
 Classification Trees – raster classification algrorithm based on a Tree-type classifier.
Each methods offers basic and additional parameters.
For “Classification Trees” method they are as follows:
Group General Parameters – sets parameters of training a spanning-tree classifier:
Entry field Number of Detected Elements – sets a number of elements (classes) in the traning
sample.
Entry field Number of Trees – sets the number of trees involved in training. Each tree is trained
via randomly chosen subsetting. Typically several tens of trees are applied. The
increased number of trees results in longer classifier training.
Entry field Percent of Samples per Tree – sets a share (in per cent) of training samples per
one tree of the total number of samples.
Entry field Samples Maximum – sets the maximum number of pixels applied in training. If the
amount of pixels in rasters exceeds the specified number, random fixed-volume
subsetting is selected from the above. The recommended value for modern computers is
in the order of 100,000.
Group Additional Parameters – to set up additional training parameters of a spanning-tree
classifier:
Entry field Minimal Cut – to set the minimum number of samples related to a tree’s terminal
nodes (leaves), at which it may be split. This number is computed via weights of
samples. The recommended value is 5.
Entry field Мinimum Leaf Size – to set the minimum number of samples realted to a tree’s
terminal nodes (leaves). The recommended value is 10.
explanations.
Group Output Rasters – contains parameter setting fields for input rasters:
Entry field Element raster name – is applied to set up the title of layer containing classification
results;
probability values;
Flag Mask Uncertain Results – during activation all uncertain resulting values will be hidden.
Button Classify – initiates spectral classification process via Neural Network.
A new raster thematic layer entitled “Trees_Classes” will be automatically created following
classification. If Create Probabilities Layer flag is tagged, the system will automatically generate an
additional probabilities layer – “Trees_Classes_Prob”. For further processing of obtained results apply
View Legend toolbox (See “Displaying Classification Results (View Legend)”).
Principle of maximum entropy.
Description classification algorithm on the principle of maximum entropy.

One of the main problems during interpretation of images is the search for objects when only
“positive” information is available, i.e. only data about the location of this object or phenomenon. Such a
task is traditionally resolved applying intensity properties similarity - or empirical methods, such as the
method of the nearest neighbors, or purely parametric methods, requiring exact knowledge of intensity
probabilities distribution, where the phenomenon exists. In both cases the result depends on the user-
defined parameters, first of all those enabling to differentiate essential for interpretation features from
accidental noise, and is more likely the art, than the science.
To reduce subjectivity in scientific research studies the principle called “Occam razor” is applied
consisting in the selection of out of all possible descriptions of the one that has minimum complexity and
does not bring to the algorithm the recognition of information missing in data. Mathematic expression of
this principle in our case is the principle of maximum entropy, briefly described below.
Let’s take a look at the following task: to build a function of density of probability of presence of
a certain phenomenon A in n points in space, if there are variables values X  x1, x 2 ,.., x n  in these
very points in space, for example intensities in the image channels; let’s set this function as
f A (x), x  ( x1, x2 ,..., x p ) .
As there is no a priori information about the type of distribution f A (x) , then it is not possible to
use the traditional method of maximum probability for assessment of parameters. Therefore, we will be
searching for such distribution that “foretells” the available data not adding anything new and is a
continuous function. All available information about the distribution f A (x) is represented by the sample
X , which we consider representative, therefore we can assess sample statistics of distribution, for
example, mean intensity values or their covariance matrix. If the sample is big enough (this is usually the
case with respect to remote sensing data), then the f A (x) distribution sought for should have the same
statistics, which places restrictions on it in form of equations.
In general cases, if we have m functions gi (x), i  1,2,..., m from available variables, for
example g1 (x)  x1 , then their mathematic expectations E A  gi (x) = Gi are  gi (x) f A (x)dx , where

 - is the area of possible x values (for the image - the range of changes in intensity of channels). We
believe that these math expectations Gi are known and coincide with calculate per our sample means,
1
i.e. Gi   g (x k ) .
n k i
For the task formalization Jaynes (Jaynes E.T., 1957) suggested that the relative entropy should
be used or the Kullback-Leibler distribution difference measure (divergence) (Kullback, S., Leibler, R.A.,
1951). This measure (relative entropy) defines the distribution density function deviation f ( x ) from the
reference distribution density function f0 ( x) :
 f ( x)
S  f , f0    f ( x ) log dx
 f0 ( x)
and in case of no restrictions reaches maximum, when the function f ( x ) matches with the
reference one f0 ( x) .
Jaynes offered to use the limit of “point” distribution mA (x) as the reference one, all probability of
which is concentrated in known points (x1, x 2 ,.., x n ) of phenomenon A , and to search for distribution
f A (x) , that is the closest to it in terms of the indicated measure in restrictions are met. Therefore, we
get the task of maximization with restrictions in form of an equation:
 f  arg max S  f , mA 

 E f  gi (x)  Gi , i  1,2,..., m
which is resolved applying the method of Lagrange multipliers and brings to the Gibbs distribution
of the following type
e1g1( x )...m gm ( x )
1
f A (x) 
Z (1 ,..., m )
where 1 ,..., m - received during the solution Lagrange multipliers
Multiplier Z (1 ,..., m ) is so that the integral from f A (x) through the entire distribution area
was equal to one.
Dudi’k with collaborators (Dudı´k et al., 2004) offered for this solution to use the function of
logarithmic probability with a penalty (fine):
 ln  f A (x j | λ, g)   i i i
1
n j
where the desirable function of density f A (x | λ, g) has the above mentioned form of Gibbs
distribution, whereas the regularizing weights i impede “over-training”, i.e. prevent degradation of
distribution f A (x | λ, g) into degraded “point” distribution mA (x) and facilitate gradual change in
probability with the change in variables values. To calculate the normalizing constant Z (1 ,..., m ) the
“background” values of variables are used, selected at random for all the territory, covered with the
image.
As the application of probability density f A (x) is inconvenient, Steven and Dudi’k (Steven J.P.,
Dudik M., 2008) offered to transform the received probability density into the conventional probability,
taking on values from 0 to 1, which under certain conditions corresponds to the probability of the
phenomenon presence at the preset variables values:
e H f A (x | λ, g)
Q( A | x) 
1  e H f A (x | λ, g)
where H – is the entropy f A (x | λ, g) . One of the reasons for using such a formula is that the value
of negentropy is close to the mathematical expectation of the density logarithm f A (x | λ, g) , i.e. its
typical value that in its turn is by far different from zero only in places of the phenomenon presence:
 H   f A (x | λ, g)ln f A (x | λ, g)
Therefore for “typical” places of the phenomenon A we will have f A (x | λ, g)  e H and
Q( A | x) for them approximately equals 0.5. So, even though the used measure Q( A | x) is not exactly
equal to the probability of the phenomenon A presence, it is a monotonous function from such a
probability, whereas the 0.5 value can be used as the threshold for detecting the phenomenon presence.
Let’s review the use of only one variable Ch1 and the normal distribution of the phenomenon
probabilities with mathematical expectation, equal to 4.0 and RMS error equal to 2. Theoretical
probability density and the histogram, received for sampling from 500 values of Ch1, corresponding to
the presence of phenomenon, are shown below (Fig.137):
Fig.137. Distribution of probability of the observed phenomenon
Two functions were used as statistics: g1 (x)  x and g2 (x)  x 2 . As a result of application of the
above algorithm, the values 1  3.9776 and 2  -17.2319 were obtained, which correspond to the
values of mathematic expectation equal to 4.12 and RMS error equal to 2.39, that are close to the
initial. Comparison of received results with theoretic ones is shown below (Fig.138):
Fig.138. Comparison of assessment and theoretic distribution
So, when the covariance matrix is used (as in Scanex Image Processor application) we get the
possibility to approximate phenomenon distribution, for which the form of distribution is the unimodel
and close to the “bell curve”. The difference of the used approach from standard methods of distribution
approximation is that first of all, all information about the image is used when the distribution is built,
including intensity distribution in the place of phenomenon absence and secondly, the method allows the
use of random functions and not only the covariance matrix, which makes it more flexible. Thus, for
example, when using third order variables, the method enables to approximate nonsymmetrical
distributions, whereas when using the fourth order variables - distributions with the form, close to
triangle or rectangle.
Image classification by maximum entropy
To use this option in the application the Binary Classifier dialog is used (Fig.139). To open the
window run Classification  Supervised  Maximum Entropy  Binary Classifier command
from main menu.
Fig.139. Binary Classifier dialog
Drop-down list of Select Raster Layers group – enables to set up raster channels, involved in
classification. The channels used should have similar basis (the size in pixels, pixel resolution and
similar geolocation). If this condition is not met, a respective message pops up. To bring the
channels to the required type, use Extent toolkit.
Button Add – adds current channel to the list of the ones involved in processing.
The window below illustrates all channels involved in processing.
Button Remove – enables to remove the selected channel from the list of channels for processing.
Button Remove all – enables to clear the list of channels for processing.
Button Add all – enables to add all raster channels loaded into the application to the list of channels
for processing.
Group Vector mask for training – defines the vector
mask with samples used for processing.
Minimum allowable volume of samples
(minimum number of pixels forming the
samples) is 100 pixels. If the sampling volume
is below this minimum a respective message
pops up (Fig.140).
Drop-down list of the group – enables to select one Fig.140. Error message
of the loaded vector layers.
Checkbox Use the field condition – if checked, enables to use as samples only those vector objects
that meet the specified on the respective control elements condition.
Drop-down list – enables to select the vector layer’s attribute field that will be used to select
imported objects.
Drop-down list Condition – enables to set up the conditions:
 == - equality to value, specified in Value field.
 != - non-equality to value, specified in Value field.
 < - less than the value indicated in Value field.
 > - more than the value indicated in Value field.
 <= - less than or equal to the value indicated in Value field.
 >= - more than or equal to the value indicated in Value field.
Entry field Value – enables to set up the attribute field value of the vector object.
Group Vector mask for Classifying– enables to set up the area, in which classification takes place
after training of a set of trees.
Button Run – initiates processing.
During classification via Maximum Entropy method the system may display a warining message
(Fig.141) indicating weak correlation between one particular and all other channels involved in
processing. For instance, this occurs if the thermal channel is binarized with visible range and near IR
channels, which is not qualified as an error. Thus depending on the set task, binarization of this channel
combination is reasonable and may generate good results.
Fig.141. Warning dialog box: weak compatibility of channels
A new raster layer named class_probability, which pixels’ intensity values should be
interpreted as normalized within the [0-1] range probability of the sample presence in current pixel, will
be the processing result. For visualization of this raster layer the toolkit of the gradient palette can be
used. This option is described in section Raster display in gradient palette mode of this User’s Guide.
If needed, the received raster layer with probabilities can be standardized to another range (for
example, to the [0-100] range), or binarized using threshold values. To run these operations macros can
be used that are part of the software application delivery or own macros can be created.
To normalize probabilities into the other range the macros available by running Classification 
Supervised  Maximum Entropy  Quantize probability command can be used. The macros
dialog will appear (Fig.142).
In the Probability drop-down list – it is
required to specify the raster layer
with probabilities
(class_probability), created
automatically after classification
using maximum entropy methods
(Binary classifier).
In MaxVol entry field – specify maximum
value of the normalized output
raster layer.
Entry field in Output raster group – sets
up the name of the output raster.
Group of radio-buttons Domain – sets
up the calculation area, if more
than one raster channel is used:
Radio-button Union – sets up
calculations per general size Fig.142. Quantize probability dialog
of the used raster channels.

Radio-button Intersection – sets up calculations per rasters intersection area.
In this case these control elements are not used, as only one raster channel is processed.
Checkbox Output raster is in basis of the first input raster – cancels re-sampling of the
resulting raster into basis of working project.
Drop-down list Vector mask – enables to limit the processing area, suing vector layer or selected
rectangular area (Select region). This control element can be used only if Output raster is
in basis of the first input raster is unchecked.
Group Options – is intended for additional conditions.
Group of radio-buttons Resampling filter – sets up the convolution filter that will be used for image
re-sampling. More information about re-sampling is available in section "Extent toolkit" of this
User’s Guide.
Entry field Radius of computational filters – not applicable in this case.
Entry field Output raster «NODATA» value – enables to define the “no data” value for resulting
raster layer.
Checkbox Don’t determine Domain by the Vector Mask – activates/deactivates the application
during processing of pixels that fell within vector mask. This option can be used, if raster
fragment, lying beyond the polygonal object, can be processed.
Checkbox Ignore «NODATA» of the input rasters – excludes during processing input channels
intensity values, corresponding to “no data” value.
Button OK – confirms processing start.

Button Cancel – cancels processing and closes the interface dialog.
A new raster layer named «quantized_probability» will be created as a result of normalization,
which intensity values will be represented by integer values within the range [0-MaxVol].
For binarization of probabilities can be used one of the macroses available by running
Classification  Supervised  Maximum Entropy  Binarize probability or Binarize
probability+. The macros dialog will appear (Fig.143). The macros have identical functions excluding
one additional field of “Binarize Probability +”, which is “Max. Threshold” entry field.
Binarize probability dialog Binarize probability + dialog

Fig.143. Binarize probability dialogs
In Probability drop-down list – it is required to specify the raster layer with probabilities
(class_probability), created automatically after classification using maximum entropy method
(Binary classifier).
In entry field Threshold (Min Threshold – for «Binarize probability +» macros) – the minimum
allowable probability value is set up. To all values lesser than the indicated one the value
specified in Output raster «NODATA» value field will be assigned; to bigger values – the
ClassNumber value.
In entry field Max Threshold - the maximum allowable probability value is set up. To all values bigger
than the indicated one the value specified in Output raster «NODATA» value field will be
assigned.
In Entry field ClassNumber – the value, that will be assigned to all pixels having probability bigger than
the preset threshold value, is specified.
Entry field in Output raster group – sets up the name of the output raster.
Group of radio-buttons Domain – sets up the calculation area, if more than one raster channel is
used:
Radio-button Union – sets up calculations per general size of the used raster channels.
Radio-button Intersection – sets up calculations per rasters intersection area.
In this case these control elements are not used, as only one raster channel is processed.
resulting raster into basis of working project.
Drop-down list Vector mask – enables to limit the processing area, suing vector layer or selected
Group of radio-buttons Resampling filter – sets up the convolution filter that will be used for image
re-sampling. More information about re-sampling is available in section "Extent toolkit" of this
User’s Guide.
Entry field Radius of computational filters – not applicable in this case.
Entry field Output raster «NODATA» value – enables to define the “no data” value for resulting
raster layer.
Checkbox Don’t determine Domain by the Vector Mask – activates/deactivates the application
during processing of pixels that fell within vector mask. This option can be used, if raster
fragment, lying beyond the polygonal object, can be processed.
Checkbox Ignore «NODATA» of the input rasters – excludes during processing input channels
intensity values, corresponding to “no data” value.
Button OK – confirms processing start.
A new raster layer named «binarized_probability» will be created as a result of binarization.

For further processing of the normalization/binarization results the View Legend toolkit (see View
Legend).
References on images classification based on maximum entropy:

E.T.Jaynes (1957), Information theory and statistical mechanics, Physical Review 106:620
Kullback, S.; Leibler, R.A. (1951). On Information and Sufficiency. The Annals of Mathematical Statistics 22
(1): 79–86.
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estimation.- In: Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Conference on Computational Learning
Theory. ACM Press, New York, pp. 655-662.
Steven J.P., Dudık M. (2008) Modeling of species distributions with Maxent: new extensions and a
comprehensive evaluation, Ecography 31: 161-175
Additional Classifiers (OpenCV methods)
The module is used for pixel-by-pixel classification of multi-channel images by methods implemented
in computer vision library OpenCV [http://opencv.org]. The library is freely available, a detailed
description of the classification methods available on the above website.
Method parameters are fixed and are selected so as to provide satisfactory quality of results for all
occurrences. Some methods similar to the methods of OpenCV, implemented in the ScanEx Image
Processor in other models, and provide for user the choice of parameters.
To open the dialog of additional classification methods run Classification  Supervised 
Additional Classifiers command from main menu (Fig.144):
Fig.144. Additional Classifiers dialog
Drop-down listbox Classification Method – allows selecting the method of classification. Currently,
following methods are available:
 The Normal Bayes classifier is used for multivariate normal distribution datasets. In this
method the distribution of brightness of each of classes during training is represented as
multivariate normal probability density. During classification each pixel belongs to the class for
which the probability is the highest.
 K-Nearest Neighbors classifier. The algorithm caches all training samples and predicts the
response for a new sample by analyzing 30 of the nearest neighbors. The sample is assigned to
the class which is more prevalent among neighbors.
 Gradient Boosted Trees classifier. This method uses ensemble of weak prediction models
(decision trees, not more 200), which is growing during training process by the boosting method.
 Random Trees classifier. This method uses ensemble of weak prediction models (decision
trees, not more 500, depth of the trees not more then 5). Subset of training samples is picked
out randomly. During classification each sample is assigned to the class which is more prevalent
among trees predicted classes.
 Extremely randomized trees classifier. This method uses ensemble of weak prediction
models (decision trees, not more 500, depth of the trees not more then 5). Subset of training
samples is picked out randomly for this ensemble. The same input training set is used to train all
trees. During classification each sample is assigned to the class which is more prevalent among
trees predicted classes.
Checkbox Create Probability Raster – specifies the creation of a separate layer during the
classification. For each pixel of this input layer is recorded the probability that pixel is close to
the training sample distribution.
Group Trainig Label Source:
Radio-buttons Vector/Raster – these elements allow to select the source of thematic labels for
pixels. This can be either vector layer (with indicating of field in which are labels) or raster
layer, the pixel values of which are the labels.
Drop-down listbox Vector – allows selecting polygonal vector layer for teaching.
Drop-down listbox Code field – allows selecting field from vector layer database with thematic
labels.
Drop-down listbox Raster – allows selecting raster layer with thematic labels.
Drop-down listbox Vector Mask for Classification – enables to set up the area, in which classification
takes place.
Button Classify – initiates the classification process.
A new raster thematic layer entitled “Acronym_name_method_Class” will be automatically

created following classification, for instance, “NormalBayes_Class”. For further processing of obtained
results apply View Legend toolbox (see View Legend).
View Legend
View Legend panel is used for visualization and analysis of received results of supervised and
unsupervised classification. This display
mode can be used not only for
visualization of thematic and intensity
classification results, but of binary
rasters as well, etc.
Display  View Legend main
menu command is used to open View
Legend panel. As a result, View
Legend panel opens in the left part of
the active window, consisting of several
control elements (Fig.145). Fig.145. View Legend panel
The upper part of the panel has
the toolbar with buttons, each performing the

following functions::
– – save the created palette in file in Legend XML files format with *.icxleg extension.
– load previously saved palette for editing in Legend XML files format with *.icxleg extension.
– display only existing intensity and thematic classes.
– apply the selected visualization palette to the specified raster layer.
– display only selected classes.
– highlight preselected classes in yellow.
– Scan pixels of the legend raster tool used for feedback between active window and the legend
panel.
– reas color palette, saved in the raster.
– generation of color tints of thematic classes based on mean intensity values of the upper RGB
layer creating them.
– decode previously specified thematic classes and intensity values.
– open Vectorize selected classes dialog, described in «Automatic vectorization».
– закрытие инструментальной панели Показать легенду.

Select a layer for a legend in the drop-down list below the toolbar command buttons. All changes
in the selected layer may be visualized in the active work window.
If a single-channel image in index colors was loaded into the application, then it is possible to read
the color palette of this image from it (if it was not yet read automatically). To do so, press the color
palette read button . If this button is inactive, it means the raster does not contain saved color
palette. After that the button to use current color palette can be pressed to display the raster layer
with picked up color palette.
More information about the methods of saving raster channel using built color palette is available in
section «Saving single-channel images with color palette» of this User’s Guide.
It is required to select a layer, for which the legend will be created, under the toolbar in the opening
list. All changes with the selected layer can be viewed in the active window.
The main part of the panel contains the table with the following fields:
 Value column – displays the pixel intensity values or the number of a thematic class. Maximum
possible number of values/classes – 2048.
 New column – used to decode classes of thematic or intensity classification, therefore it is
required to specify the number of the assigned thematic class or intensity value.
 Vect. column – used for automatic vectorization of this thematic class or intensity. Enter “yes”
attribute to vectorize thematic classes by clicking with left mouse button on the corresponding
record in the field.
 Color column – used to specify the customized color to display the current thematic or intensity
class.
 Percent (Pixels/Projection Area) column – displays “representativity” of the class in percents
with respect to the total number of raster layer pixels.
 Comment column – used to enter manually the data about the current thematic class (field
length – up to 255 symbols).
With the right mouse button pressed on the table the

popping up context menu with a set of commands will appear
(Fig.146)
 Set new code command – enables to define the
value during re-coding for the group of selected
classes.
 Clear new code command – clears the defined for
recoding classes of intensity or thematic classification
in New column.
 Set to vectorise command – specifies the attribute
Fig.146. Command set of View
of vectorization («yes») in Vect. column for selected
Legend toolbar
range of values or classes.
 Unset to vectorize command – clears the vectorization attribute («yes») in Vect. column for
selected range of values or classes.
 Set color command – enables to assign color, which will be used to display the selected range of
thematic or intensity classes.
 Clear color command – cancels the use of current color for selected thematic or intensity
classes.
 Random colors command – specifies random color selection for the selected range of classes or
values.
 Select All command – enables to select all thematic or intensity classes of the raster layer.
 Drop-down list Display Area as – changes the areas display in Percent column. Areas can be
displayed as percents, number of pixels, projection units.
Thematic interpretation of intensity classes
Thematic interpretation process boils down to assignment of intensity values (e.g., results received
using ISODATA) to thematic classes. The application has an algorithm of building an adaptive color
palette by mean RGB values for the specified combination of bands and a number of tools enabling to
simplify thematic interpretation process.
To build an adaptive color palette it is required to do the following:
1. Deactivate button of using current color palette on the toolbar of the legend window.
2. Using standard raster layers control dialog View Settings, set up the required combination of
channels for upper RGB layer and set up its display parameters.
3. Press palette generation button on the toolbar of the legend window.
4. Activate button of using current color palette to display the specified raster layer with
obtained color palette.
Very often during the thematic interpretation it is required to assess the location of spectral or
thematic classes. The following tools can be used for such assessment:
Highlighting of raster layer pixels, belonging to selected in the legend window thematic classes. To
use this tool it is required to press button on the toolbar of the legend window. In this mode during
the selection of legend lines the pixels of the classified raster, belonging to selected classes, will be
highlighted in yellow.
Display of only those pixels of a thematic raster that belong to the selected in the legend window
thematic classes. To use this tool it is required to press button on the toolbar of the legend window.
Scan Pixels tool. This tool allows using a feedback between the active window and legend
window belonging to it. To use this tool it is required to press button on the toolbar of the legend
window then click with the left mouse button on the required pixel of raster layer, displayed in active
window. The line corresponding to the thematic class, which this pixel was assigned to, will be selected in
the legend window. This tool can be used together with Ctrl and Shift keys of the keyboard: when the
next pixel is selected with the Shift key depressed, it will be added to the selected ones; with Ctrl key
depressed – deleted from the selection. The tool will be deactivated, if the user presses the right mouse
button being in focus of the active window or uses any of the standard navigation tools (hand,
magnifying glass, etc.).
Both display modes and the Scan pixels tool can be used separately and together.
In addition, during thematic interpretation one may use the tools, available in Statistics of
Classes tab of View Settings dialog, described in section «Raster display in RGB and Grey mode» of
this User’s Guide.
Recoding and integration of thematic classes
One of the tasks of thematic interpretation is sometimes a requirement to integrate several spectral
classes into one thematic or to recode (assignment of a new integer number to a thematic class). The
following steps should be taken in the application to resolve such tasks:
1. Select a spectral or thematic class that requires processing in the legend window.
2. Assign a new integer code. If a single class needs to be processed, enter the required value in
New column of the table. If several classes need to
be processed, select the classes of interest and
press right mouse button being in focus of the
legend window and then select Set new code
command in the drop-down menu. Specify new
code dialog will appear (Fig.147). In New code
value entry field set up the required value and Fig.147. Specify new code dialog
press OK. The specified code will be assigned to
the selected spectral classes.
3. If recoded image needs to be saved, press button on the toolbar of the legend window.
Recoding options dialog of recoding the image will appear as a result (Fig.148):
Fig.148. Recoding options dialog
Здесь возможны следующие настройки:

Group Recode values under the mask – enables to set up the limiting area, used for recoding.
Drop-down list – enables to select vector mask or the setup rectangular area (Select region). If
None is selected, recoding is carried out for all image.
Checkbox and Entry field Use the following filling value for everything – enables to set up for
recoding the unified value for all pixels under the mask.
Radio-button Recode in original raster – saves results of recoding in source raster. If case of error it is
not possible to cancel this operation and return to source raster!
Radio-button Create new raster – saves recoding results in new raster with prefix
Recoded_from_«name of the source channel»
Button Apply – launches recoding process.
Button Cancel - closes dialog.
Automatic vectorization of intensity or thematic values
For vectorization of thematic or intensity value(s) set up the vectorization attribute «yes» in Vect
column in View Legend panel for the selected range of values or classes. Then press button on
the toolbar of View Legend to open vectorization dialog Vectorize selected classes (Fig.149).
Fig.149. Vectorize selected classes dialog
Group Destination Vector – specifies the resulting vector layer and vectorization parameters. Drop-
down list box enables to select one of the loaded vector layers to save vectorization results.
Group Parameters – specifies the vectorization parameters:
Checkbox Clear before insertion – if checked, enables to preliminary clear all objects from the
specified vector layer.
Checkbox Smooth vertices – if checked, enables to use alternative vectorization option,
allowing the user to reduce the number of vertices in the output polygonal objects.
Group Attribute code value – enables to define the field of table of attributes of the vector layer,
where the identifier of the class will be recorded.
Checkbox Set to Field – activates the class identifier recording into the attributive table;
Drop-down list box – enables to select the name of attributive field, where the class identifier will
be saved to.
Checkbox Use new values – if checked, assigns the value, specified for recoding of classes of
intensity or thematic classification in New column, to the classes being vectorized.
Group Simplification – is responsible for generalization and topology of output vector layer.
Checkbox Simplify with tolerance – if checked, reports about the requirement to do

generalization. Field to the right specifies the value of minimum distance between
adjacent blocks of the vector object. The values are specified in units of measurement of
the current map projection.
Checkbox Exlude overlapping – if checked, enables to avoid overlapping of polygonal objects.
Group Size tolerance – enables to exclude vector objects applying size principle.
Entry field Minimal area – specifies threshold in area. Objects with area less than indicated will
not be vectorized. The parameter is defined in units of measurement of the current
projection.
Entry field Minimal perimeter – specifies threshold in perimeter. Objects with perimeter less
than indicated will not be vectorized. The parameter is defined in units of measurement
of the current projection.
Flag Fill Regions with Legend Colors – when activated memorizes the set color of each
vectrorized class and applies it to all of its objects.
Checkbox Make use of Out-of-core temporary rasters - if checked, reports about the refusal to use
PC’s RAM memory during vectorization. This option can be useful in case of insufficient RAM or
processing of large-size rasters. This option may seriously slow down processing rate.
Button Vectorize – initiates vectorization.
Vector objects identification per classification results
(Determining the class of a vector region per dominant thematic class)

This algorithm is one of the popular objects identification algorithms, which pixels’ thematic class is
the same (parcel-wide classification). The examples of such objects are fields, sown with one crop type,
roofs of houses, tree tops, etc.
This algorithm is the majority, i.e. the class, which is dominating among its image pixels, is assigned
to the whole object (restricted by the vector polygon). If there is no such class, then the “Not detected”
class (0) is assigned to the whole object.
Therefore, this algorithm is used for post-processing of pixel-by-pixel classification of images using
the data on object geometry.
Object Identification dialog, opened via Classification  Object Identification command, is
used to determine the algorithm parameters (Fig.150).
Fig.150. Object Identification dialog
In drop-down listbox Objects Vector Layer – the vector layer with regions needs to be selected.
Drop-down listbox The resulting Identifier Field – enables to select the field of table of attributes, in
which the resulting object class will be entered.
Drop-down listbox Identifiers Raster – specifies the raster layer, in which image pixel classification
results are located.
Drop-down listbox Weights Raster – specifies the optional raster layer, where classes weights are
located (probability of correct classification) for classes of image pixel classification. Possibility to
get the probability exists with respect to classification using neural networks. If the probability of
correct classification is missing, then the none value should be selected from the list.
Entry field Minimal Part of Dominating Identifier, % – minimal part of the dominating class is
indicated here. Thus, for example, when specifying 70% value, at least 70% of pixels should
have the same class to assign this class to the entire object, otherwise “0” class will be assigned
to it, i.e. “not defined”.
Button Run – initiates clasterization.
Sampler Tool
Sometimes it is required to do the data analysis applying more complicated methods or external
processing algorithms, for example, using open statistic package R or to introduce additional information
into the attributive fields of a vector map, for example, introduce a mean value of an NDVI index within
the limits of a separate field or an agricultural region as a whole. The tool available in Raster sampling
(Fig.151) can be used to resolve this task. To evoke this tool run Classification  Sampler Tool
command from the main menu. The dialog enables to activate the following two operations:
 Mode of getting samples by the values of intensity, specified raster channels, in form of a text
file
 Mode of getting statistic properties, specified raster channels, within the limits of polygonal
objects of a vector map.
Fig.151. Raster sampling dialog
Listbox Select Input Rasters – selects the input raster channels.

Group Save samples to file – enables to save the sample taken by intensity values of the selected
images into a text file.
Checkbox Save samples to file – activates the mode of getting intensity samples.
Field and button «…» – used to define the name of output file. When «…» is pressed a standard file
saving dialog will appear.
Field Sampling step – specifies the pixel step during sampling.
Drop-down listbox Field delimiter – sets up the symbol that will be used as the delimiter of records.
Several options can be used:
 Tabulator – tabulation
 Semicolon – semicolon
 Comma – comma
 Blank – blank
 Enter here – the user-defined symbol or a group of symbols will be used as a delimiter of
records.
Checkbox Save coordinates – if checked, enables to save sampling pixel coordinates (if Pixel
numbers is not checked, saves coordinates in projection units).
Checkbox Pixel numbers – if checked, enables to save pixel coordinates in pixel coordinate system
in a text file (coordinates in projection units are not saved, checkbox Save coordinates
should be checked anyway).
Group Vector mask – enables to perform processing within the limits of a vector mask or the specified
rectangular area Select region.
Drop-down listbox Vector mask – mask type is selected in a standard way.
Checkbox Save object values from fields – enables to save the values of one of the fields of the
vector layer’s table of attributes at the same time with the intensity sample.
Group Per vector objects statistics – used to get statistic properties within the limits of polygonal
objects of a vector map.
Checkbox Save statistics to vector file – activates the mode of getting statistic properties.
Field and button «…» – used to define the name of the output file. When «…» button is pressed,
a standard file saving dialog will be opened. The application support saving of the results
in Mapinfo MIF and ESRI SHP formats.
Checkbox Save all source vector fields – enables to save all fields of table of attributes of
input vector layer in the sampling vector layer being created.
Checkbox Mean value – calculates and puts the mean value of intensity for each of the
specified raster channel within the limits of each polygonal object of a vector map into a
separate field of the table of attributes of the output vector layer.
Checkbox Variance value – calculates and puts the variance of intensity values for each of the
Checkbox Number of samplers – calculates and puts the number of pixels for each of the
Checkbox Min – calculates and puts the minimum value of intensity for each of the specified
channel within the limits of each polygonal object of a vector map into a separate field of
the table of attributes of the output vector layer.
Checkbox Max – calculates and puts the maximum value of intensity for each of the specified
channel within the limits of each polygonal object of a vector map into a separate field of
the table of attributes of the output vector layer
Checkbox Most frequent value – if checked, enables to calculate and enter into a separate
attribute table field of the output vector layer the most frequently used intensity values
for each of the specified raster channel within the limits of each polygonal objects of the
vector map.
Checkbox Percent of the most frequent value – the number of pixels with most frequent
intensity values in percent of total number of pixels, falling within the region being
processed.
Button Run – initiates the process.
Button Cancel – cancels the operation and closes the dialog.
Raster layers control
When resolving some tasks, for example context post-processing of the classification results, it
becomes necessary to create empty raster layers. For these purposes one of the algorithms can be used
in the application:
 Creation of an empty raster layer in the basis of one of the loaded channels.
 Cleaning (assignment of NODATA value to the pixel intensities) of the existing raster layer.
To create a new raster layer Create New Layer dialog is used that can be opened by running
Edit  Create New Raster Layer command from main menu (Fig.152).
Drop-down listbox Grid Source Layer –
specifies the raster layer loaded into
the application, which basis (pixel
size, size in pixels and geolocation)
will be used during the creation of a
new layer.
Entry field New layer Name – specifies
the name of the layer being created.
Checkbox Classified Layer – if checked,
inhibits interpolation during re-
sampling and raster display. When Fig.152. Create New Layer dialog
activated, Box convolution filter will
be used for this channel in all conversions. See more details about re-sampling in «Extent toolkit»
section.
Button Create – initiates operation.
Button Close – closes the dialog.
To clean the raster layer Clear Layer dialog is used that can be opened by running Edit  Clear
Raster Layer command from main menu
(Fig.153).
Drop-down listbox Layer to clear – selects
the raster channel loaded into the
program.
Button Clear – initiates the operation.
Fig.153. Clear Layer dialog
Image Fusion procedure
Image Fusion is the procedure of fusion of panchromatic image of high spatial resolution with
multi-spectral image of low spatial resolution in order to obtain multi-spectral image of high spatial
resolution.
There is a number of common methods to obtain such images:
 Arithmetic methods
 Methods of principal components analysis (PCA)
 Methods using direct and reverse transformation RGBHIS (Hue, Intensity, Saturation)
 Methods using direct and reverse wavelet transformation
 Statistic methods (Sharp Fusion algorithm)
 Methods using segmentation
The program enables to use all the above mentioned methods to get a synthesized image of high
resolution. To get images using PCA and wavelet transformation methods, the program has a special
tool. All other methods are working as scripts and can be used in the mathematic calculation
module and in SDK module.
Before starting Image Fusion, do the geometric correlation of processed images, otherwise the
result will be unsatisfactory.
Arithmetic methods
To use arithmetic methods of fusing images first go to Edit  Image Fusion menu. Then
select one of the available arithmetic methods – Multiplicative fusion / Brovey Transform /
Alternative fusion. Macros dialog will open (Fig.154):
In this dialog in NIR, RED, GREEN, PAN drop-down lists select the respective channels of loaded
images.
Entry field in Output raster group – sets up the output raster name.
Group of radio-buttons Domain – sets up the area of calculations, if more than one raster
channel is used:
Radio-button Union – sets up calculation per general size of the used raster channels.
Radio-button Intersection – sets up calculations per raster intersection area.
In this case these control elements are not applicable, as only one raster channel is
processed.
Checkbox Output raster is in basis of the first input raster – cancels resampling of the
resulting raster into the basis of working project.
Drop-down list Vector Mask – enables to limit the processing area using vector layer or selected
rectangular area (Select region). This control element can be used only if Output raster
is in basis of the first input raster is unchecked.
Group Options – is intended for

additional conditions.
Group of radio-buttons
Resampling filter – sets up
the convolution filter to do
resampling of the image.
More information about
resampling is available in
section "Extent toolkit" of
this User’s Guide.
Entry field Radius of
computational filters – in
this case is not applicable.
Entry field Output raster
«NODATA» value –
enables to set up the “no
data” value for resulting
raster layer.
Checkbox Don’t determine
Domain by the Vector Fig.154. Brovey Transform dialog
Mask – activates/deactivates
during processing the use of pixels that fell within vector mask. This option can be used, if it
si required to process a raster’s fragmen, lying beyond the polygonal object of the vector
layer.
Checkbox Ignore «NODATA» of the input rasters – excludes during processing input
channels intensity values, corresponding to “no data” value.
Button OK – confirms the processing start.
New raster layers will be created and uploaded into the system. Their internal names will comprise
titles indicated when launching a macro plus endings to specify channels (_NIR, _RED or
_GREEN).
To save a result in one of supported raster formats to your HDD, follow a standard file saving
procedure described in «Save Image» section.
Sharp Fusion algorithm
This method applies the modernized algorithm of iterative weighted transfer high-frequency
component obtained by the panchromatic band, on pre-resample multispectral channels. This
algorithm allows almost fully retain the original spectral characteristics of the multispectral data, along
with high-definition. The algorithm allows getting acceptable result when processing all types of data.
To use this method run Edit  Image Fusion  Sharp Fusion command from main menu
or press hot key in the toolbar. Sharp Fusion dialog will pop up (Fig.155):
Group and Drop-down list
Panchromatic Raster
Channel – specifies the image
with high resolution.
Listbox Multispectral Raster
Channels – specifies
multispectral low resolution
images.
Field with spin box Processing
window radius – sets up the
radius of local window used by
processing filters. In this case
the convolution filter is used.
The window size equals
(Radius*2+1)х(Radius*2+1)
of pixels, value Radius=1
corresponds to the local window
3х3 pixels.
Field with spin box Processing
iterations number – specifies
the number of image filtering Fig.155. Sharp fusion dialog
iterations.
Field Panchromatic hipass weight – sets up the weight of pan raster. The more is the weight, the
sharper the result will be. Optimal value – 1-1,5.
Checkbox Histogram matching postprocessing – activates procedure of bringing intensity range
of processed channels to intensity range of source channels.
Checkbox Exclude pan nodata from stats of MS channels – serves excluding from calculations
statistics of the territories, missing on PAN raster. Need to be used, if PAN and MS rasters
overlap badly (for example, on MS image there are a lot of areas, missing from PAN image).
This operation increases the duration of process, therefore it is recommended to use it as
needed and during batch processing
Checkbox Skip pyramid building for resulting rasters – when checked, enables to avoid building
pyramid layers for processing results, which enables to shorten processing time.
Button Fusion – initiates channel processing.
Button Cancel – closes dialog.
Image Fusion tool
There are two implemented algorithms of image fusion in the program:

1. Method of principal components (PCA).
2. PCA and multi-resolution analysis of wavelet for fusing high-resolution panchromatic and
multi-spectral images.
The combination method allows for getting good results during new generation data processing
(Ikonos, Quickbird, OrbView, Landsat-7), having a dynamic panchromatic channel range, different
from conventional data (SPOT, IRS etc.) and a channel of visible blue spectrum, incorporated into the
multi-spectral band. This option enables to obtain fused images in natural colors.
Fused color images can be obtained in three steps:

1. Model parameters computation for Fusion procedure.
2. Correction of parameters interactively.
3. Fusion with preset parameters.
The whole image is divided into clusters of 128х128 pixels, statistic parameters are computed for
each cluster separately. This allows for the following interactive correction and new images fusion.
After statistics computation, the clusters are sorted by quality (by maximal brightness dispersion
in cluster). Dispersion is used as an integral indicator allowing for the assessment of the image
structure. Normally, higher dispersion values correspond to the image with high details. In this case
the use of all clusters statistics during the model creation leads to better results. On the other hand,
high-contrast images with few details can also have high dispersion values. Application of all clusters
statistics in this case will not allow the user to build an adequate model.
Taking all this into account, the
program has tools, enabling to interactively
adjust the optimal quality of the output
image.
To use the special tool Image Fusion,

select command Edit  Image Fusion from
main menu, opening dialog PCA & Wavelet
Fusion (Fig.156).
Group Panchromatic Image Channel –
specifies the high-resolution image.
Listbox Multispectral Image Channels –
specifies multi-spectral images of low
resolution.
Group Mask – enables to set the output
image size. Fig.156. PCA & Wavelet Fusion dialog
Button Fusion – starts model computation.

Button Cancel – closes dialog PCA & Wavelet Fusion.
When computation is done, new working window named Fusion is opened and Fusion toolbar
appears (Fig.157).
Fig.157. Fusion window and panel
Window Fusion – shows preview of fusion results. To display the required channels, specify
display settings in dialog View Settings. View settings adjustment is available in Section «Working
windows and raster presentation, histogram handling».
Toolbar Fusion can be used to set model parameters and activate PCA and multi-resolution
analysis of wavelet for fusing high-resolution panchromatic and multi-spectral images
method, used in fusion.
Group PCA Settings – specifies model settings when the PCA method is used.
Entry field Filter –sets up the number of clusters used during output image fusion in normalized
percents (%/100). Values range - [0 – 1].
Entry field Offset – specifies the position of the first cluster in the list in normalized percents
(%/100). Values range - [0 - 1].
Checkbox Normalize – turns on channel normalization (value of each pixel is divided by standard
deviation).
Group Wavelet Settings – specifies settings during wavelet transformation.
Checkbox Use MRA – turns on wavelet transformation mode.
Entry field MR Levels – specifies number of levels of high-frequency wavelet coefficients, which
are replaced in principal components of low-resolution images. Values range - [1 – 6].
Entry field MR planes – specifies number of principal components of low resolution images which
are replaced by principal components of high resolution image.
Checkbox Smooth Output – activates the use of resampling filter Linear during image fusion.
Wavelets are not used for computation of PCA model; they are used only for decomposition of
high-resolution image and principal components in order to replace only high-frequency components
of images. Hence, before using of this method it is necessary to setup parameters of PCA model
computation. Use of this method can improve the output image color transfer, in case the use of PCA
method only yields pour results.
Button Apply – redraws window Fusion, applying changes made on fusion toolbar.
Button Compute – opens dialog Select Channel (Fig.158), enabling to select the channels for
fusion.
List box displays all low resolution

channels used in Fusion
model computation. To select
channels required for fusion,
click left mouse button on the
channel name in list box.
Checkbox Histogram Matching –
activate matching of intensity
range of channels being
processed against that of Fig.158. Select Channel dialog
source channels.
Button OK – starts fusing the selected channels.
New raster channels will be created and loaded into the program as a result. Channels’ parent
names will be used as internal names with added «_fus».
To save the results to hard disk in the required raster format, use standard file saving procedure,
described in Section «Saving processed images».
To exit Fusion mode, close working window Fusion. The model will be deleted.
Atmospheric haze interactive compensation
To compensate for the atmospheric haze, the program uses the «Haze Optimized Transform»
algorithm, developed by B. Guindon and Y.Zhang (Robust HAZE reduction: an integral processing
component in satellite-based land cover mapping). This algorithm is based on different correlation
between visible spectral bands with different atmospheric conditions. For example, with no
atmospheric haze inter-correlation of visible spectral channels is very high basically throughout the
entire the image (within all brightness range). But if there is some haze, the inter-correlation is
reduced. This fact allows building a «HOT image» haze distribution mask, used to correct the entire
scene.
Scene correction is done in two steps:
 Selection of an area on the image with no haze and building a mask (HOT image).
 Definition of the range, where the haze is located and spectral bands correction within
this range.
The following steps should be taken to perform a correction:
1. Select an area with no haze on the image. Such an area can be selected using vector mask or
Select Region tool (Fig.159).
Fig.159. Selected image areas
2. Run EditHaze Removal command of the main menu. Haze Removal Parameters
dialog (Fig.160) will appear, where spectral bands that will be used to build a haze mask
(HOT image) should be specified.
Fig.160. Haze Removal Parameters dialog
Group Clear Region Parameters– enables to select bands used to build HOT image. and site
selection without haze:
Drop-down listboxes Blue Channel and Red Channel – enables to select bands used to build
HOT image.
Drop-down listbox Clear Region – specifies the region selected as “free from haze”. The area
can be set up in form of a vector mask or the Select Region tool.
Checkbox Just compute HOT image – if checked, only haze distribution mask computation occurs
without possibility of further correction operations.
Button OK – initiates the haze mask calculations (HOT image).
To get a correct result it is important to specify the correct bands used to build the haze mask
(HOT image). One should remember that the algorithm is based on the inter-correction between the
visible spectral bands and if the spectral bands beyond these requirements are selected (e.g. visible
and infra-red) the result will be incorrect. To obtain a correct result, it is recommended to specify the
following bands (Table 5):
Table 5. Table of Correspondence: Recommended Data Types and Channels

Data type Bands
Landsat – 5, 7 (TM, ETM+) Blue and green, or blue and red (B1, B2; B1, B3)
Landsat 8 (OLI) Blue and green, or blue and red (B2, B3; B2, B4)
IKONOS (MS) Blue and green, or blue and red (MS 1, MS 2; MS 1, MS 3)
QuickBird (MS) Blue and green, or blue and red (MS 1, MS 2; MS 1, MS 3)
ASTER (VNIR) Green and red (VNIR 1, VNIR 2)
IRS – 1C/1D, P6 (LISS-III, Green and red (VNIR 1, VNIR 2)
LISS-IV MS)
SPOT – 2,4,5 (MS) Green and red (XS1 – ch3, XS2 – ch2). SPOT2/4/5 data are open in
Image Processor in NIR, Red, Green, SWIR

MODIS Blue and green, or blue and red (hkm_3, hkm_4; hkm_3, hkm_1)
Besides, this algorithm is adapted to the data with blue spectral band (Landsat, IKONOS,
QuickBird, MODIS) and its usage with other data types does not always yield good results.
After the haze mask calculations are complete (HOT image) the window of haze interactive
correction «Determine Radiometric Adjustment Parameters» will be automatically opened, as
well as the Haze Removal correction dialog (Fig.161).
Listbox Channel – specifies the band for
which the correction will be done.
Group Range – specifies the corrected
range.
Sliders – specify the range, where haze is
located.
Button Apply – applies automatic
brightness correction of the current
band (specified in Channel list
box) to the set range.
A graph of 2D histogram is in the central

part of the dialog, with haze mask
(HOT image) brightness values
specified in one axis, and current
band brightness – in the second
axis. The graph is shown in green.
Red diagonal line indicates the
degree of current band brightness
correction.
Sliders located below and to the left are
used for manual correction of the Fig.161. Haze Removal dialog
current band brightness.

Checkbox Show HOT Layer – turns on / off the visibility of mask haze (HOT raster) in the window
Determine Radiometric Adjustment Parameters.
Button Adjust – is used to generate derivative image after correction for the current band. The name
of the resulting image is formed from by the name of the current band and «unhazed» at
the end.
Button Close – closes the dialog and the Determine Radiometric Adjustment Parameters
window. Correction model is destroyed and the haze mask is deleted (HOT image).
3. At this stage, the range corresponding to the haze should be selected as follows:
 Specify the HOT band display (calculated haze mask) in RGB presentation slots of
Determine Radiometric Adjustment Parameters window
 Defining display window Determine Radiometric Adjustment Parameters calculated
haze mask, including flag Show HOT Layer.
 Define the range of the haze using Range group sliders of Haze Removal dialog. It is
recommended to set one of the bands used for haze mask (HOT image) calculations in
the Channel dialog list box.
In case of correct band selection for calculations of haze mask and of cloud-free region, the 2D
histogram will clearly show two orthogonal directions – image areas free from haze and those with
indications of haze. “Unhazed” areas will be displayed in black (Fig.162).
Fig.162. Display of haze and cloud free coverage (dark areas).
4. Perform correction for each spectral band using haze mask (HOT image) within the specified
range.
During the correction it is more convenient to set spectral bands in RGB slots of Determine
Radiometric Adjustment window instead of HOT image.
Correction can be done both in automatic and manual mode.
To do an automatic correction, set the required spectral channel in the Channel list box of
Haze Removal dialog and press Apply button. Channel brightness correction will take place within
the specified range – the position of the red diagonal line will be set up automatically (Fig.163).
In case of getting negative results, manual brightness correction can be done using the sliders,
located at the bottom and at the left-hand side.
Fig.163. Intensity correction in specified spectral channel (Haze Removal dialog)
After setting up correction for all channels, specify each spectral channel one by one in Channel
list box and press Adjust button. Post-correction images will be generated.
Notes:
For correct program operation, all images being processed should be of the same size.
B. Guindon и Y.Zhang (Robust HAZE reduction: an integral processing component in satellite-based

land cover mapping).
Creating images in natural colors (for data, not having a blue channel)
To get the image in natural colors it is required to have 3 spectral channels: red, green and blue.
A number of imaging systems (SPOT 2/4/5, UK-DMC2, Terra Aster, etc.) do not register blue band.
Two algorithms are integrated into the software to create images in natural colors.
First algorithm is used to calculate a new green channel Synth_Green based on Near Infra-Red
and Green bands. The following formula is used to calculate it:
Synth_Green = (3*Green + NIR) / 4.
The algorithm is opened with a command from main menu Edit  Spectral Transform 
Natural Colors 1. A homonyous dialog will appear as a result, in which it is required to specify the
spectral bands, which will partake in calculations (NIR and Green) (Fig.164).
In this dialog in NIR, GREEN drop-down lists

select the respective channels of loaded
images.
Entry field in Output raster group – sets up the
output raster name.
Group of radio-buttons Domain – sets up the
area of calculations, if more than one
raster channel is used:
Radio-button Union – sets up calculation
per general size of the used raster
channels.
Radio-button Intersection – sets up
calculations per raster intersection
area.
In this case these control elements are not Fig.164. Коррекция яркости в
applicable, as only one raster установленном спектральном канале (диалог
channel is processed. Устранение дымки)
Checkbox Output raster is in basis of the

first input raster – cancels resampling of the resulting raster into the basis of working
project.
Drop-down list Vector Mask – enables to limit the processing area using vector layer or selected
Group of radio-buttons Resampling filter – sets up the convolution filter to do resampling of the
image. More information about resampling is available in section "Extent toolkit" of this
User’s Guide.
Entry field Radius of computational filters – in this case is not applicable.

Entry field Output raster «NODATA» value – enables to set up the “no data” value for
resulting raster layer.
Checkbox Don’t determine Domain by the Vector Mask – activates/deactivates during
processing the use of pixels that fell within vector mask. This option can be used, if it si
required to process a raster’s fragmen, lying beyond the polygonal object of the vector
layer.
Checkbox Ignore «NODATA» of the input rasters – excludes during processing input
channels intensity values, corresponding to “no data” value.
Button OK – confirms the processing start.
To get an RGB-image in natural colors the following synthesis needs to be composed (using
View Settings dialog):
Red – source red band of the image
Green – Synth_Green
Blue – source green band of the image
The second algorithm is used to calculate two new channels – green (nc2_green) and blue
(nc2_blue). The intensity of three source channels are required for their calculation – NIR, Red,
Green. The algorithm is opened via the Edit  Spectral Transform  Natural Colors 2 main
menu command.
To get the RGB-image in natural colors the following synthesis need to be composed:
Red – source red band od the image
Green – nc2_green
Blue – nc2_blue
Resulting images in natural colors (and artificial channels) can be used for visualization only.
Image Mosaics
Conditions of correct creation of mosaics
Mosaic is the integrated raster coverage, obtained by seaming two or more overlapping images.
The following steps need to be taken to create integrated raster coverage:
1. Perform geometric correction. Geometrically co-registered images are used during the
creation of mosaics. Co-registration of rasters is described in section «Raster images
geometric correction».
2. Carry out color-balancing of images to get seamless coverage.
3. Create a vector mask with stitching boundaries overlapping the image («cut line»). This is
required in case of using images, received at different times of the year and in different
illumination conditions, when one and the same natural targets can differ in color (agricultural
fields in spring and fall periods, etc.) and color-balancing only can be not enough. Cut line
should be drawn along the “natural” boundaries, for example, along the river bank or forest
line, thus “hiding” it. In addition, gradual transition between images being stitched is ensured
due to the diffusion algorithm along the cut line. One should remember that the vector mask
created for that purpose should presented in form of a polygon (points and polylines are not
used) and drawn along the contour of the image being corrected and the boundaries of that
part of the image that is planned for inclusion into mosaics. Creation of vector masks is
described in section «Creating new vector objects».
Cut lines can be created both manually and using the tool for automatic seamline
rendering (see section Automatic seamline generation tool).
Displaying images in one active window
All images used for creation of mosaics should be displayed in one active window and geometric
correction should have already been done for them. To do that:
1. Load the image for creation of mosaics (see «Program data loading»).
2. Run geometric correction of images. When creating big mosaics for geometric correction it is
convenient to use Block Adjustment tool.
3. Open images in one window and locate them according to the selected priority. To do that:
3.1. Run Display  View Settings command from main menu or press hot button on the
toolbar. View Settings dialog will appear.
3.2. In View Settings dialog set up the first image in RGB composite, then go to Adjust Layers
tab and add the second and the next images (see «Raster display in RGB and Grey mode»).
3.3. To specify the sequence of images use «Up» and «Down» buttons of Adjust Layers tab in
View Settings dialog.
Color balancing
Color-balancing of images can be done applying two methods:

1. Manual palette set up. To set up the palette:
1.1. Run Display  View Settings command from main menu or press hot button on the
toolbar. View Settings dialog will appear.
1.2. In Adjust Layers tab select the working image.
1.3. Go to Adjust Colors tab and set up the image palette.
1.4. Color-balancing can be done in such a way for all images used in mosaics creation.
2. Automatic color-balancing.
2.1. In View Settings dialog set up the palette of reference (Reference) image (see item 1.1.-
1.3.). Its color properties will be used as a reference during the execution of automatic color
balancing. An image with a widest range of intensities in the used channels should be selected
as a reference image.
2.2. Run Edit  Spectral Enhancement  Color-balance Control command from main menu
or press hot button on the toolbar. Color-balance Control will appear (Fig.165).
Fig.165. Color-balance Control dialog
2.3. Then the test spots should be specified, using which color-balancing will be executed. Test
spots should be located strictly within the intersection zones of rasters being compared (i.e. the
reference and the corrected ones). One spot of the rectangular shape can be specified applying
Select Region tool, whereas by creating a vector layer with polygonal objects one may specify
several test spots of a free-form at the same time (Fig.166).
Fig.166. Тest spots in form of a vector layer
2.4. Select in Select Reference RGB Layers of Active Window listbox the reference image.
Sequence of RGB-layers corresponds here to the sequence of RGB-layers in View setting –
Adjust Layers dialog.
2.5. Select in Select RGB Layers of Active Window for Tuning listbox the tune image
(images).
When doing automatic color-balancing it is possible to select several reference rasters. Settings
of histograms for these reference rasters should be similar, for example, these could be single-pass
images. If it is not so, the following message will pop up (Fig.167).
Fig.167. Error message when selecting different reference rasters
Several tunable rasters can be selected at once. In such case for all indicated tunable rasters
similar balancing parameters will be applied, calculated per test spots. At least one of tunable rasters
must intersect with at least one reference raster (and a test spot must be within their intersection
zone). Otherwise the following warning message will pop up (Fig.168Ошибка! Источник ссылки
не найден.).
Fig.168. Error message in case of no intersection between reference and

tunable rasters
2.6. Then in drop-down list Vector Mask select either a prepared in advance vector layer with test
spots, or the selected region.
2.7. To run an automatic color balancing of the tuned image to the reference using statistic
properties of test spots, press Correct.
Button Reset – returns histogram settings of all rasters back to the status before opening Color-
balance Control dialog (i.e. before item 2.2).
Button Copy – applies reference raster histogram settings to the tunable one. This can be useful,
if the reference and tunable rasters are single-pass images.
Button Correct – carries out automatic color-balancing for indicated rasters using test spots.
Button Close – closes the Color-balance Control dialog.
Linear transformations of intensity of the channel being tuned to the intensity of the reference
one are used in color balancing. To improve the quality of the received result, you may choose several
test areas. The statistics of each following test area will be taken into account while building a linear
regression.
2.8. In case of processing a vast territory, color balancing can be done for separate groups of
images one-by-one. Repeat items 2.3. – 2.7. for each group. Respective Reference RGB
Layers and Tuning RGB Layers are selected in the lists of Color-balance Control dialog,
respective test spots are specified and all images are normalized to one color palette.
If the reference and tuned rasters are correlated badly, for example due to an intensity anomaly
(clouds, etc.) on one of the images or due to a poor-quality geometric correction, the automatic color
balancing may bring to inadequate results. In this case manual color balancing can be used (according
to item 1).
Color balancing results can be saved in form of image visualization parameters (in Color
Properties Data Files format with *.dat extension) for each required RGB-layer (see «Raster
display in RGB and Gray mode»). Also, the color balancing result is saved when saving the ScanEx
Image Processor’s project.
Creating cut line
«Cut line» is drawn in the area where images overlap. This is required in case the images
acquired in different seasons and under different illumination conditions are used, when one and the
same natural objects may vary on color (agricultural lands in spring and autumn time, etc.) and just
color balancing is not enough. Cut line should be drawn along its “natural” borderline, for example,
along the river bank or forest boundaries, thus “hiding” it. One should keep in mind that the vector
mask created for this purpose should be presented as a polygon (points and polylines are not used)
and drawn along the contour line of the image being corrected and along the boundaries of that part
of the image that is planned for inclusion into the mosaics. Creation of vector masks is reviewed in
section «Creating new vector objects».
1. Use Select Region tool to select the area, within which limits stitching will take place or load the
created vector layers with image stitching borders (see «Vector layers control»). When working
with vector masks it is convenient to activate the invisibility feature of used vector layers in the
options (Fig.169).
2. In View Settings dialog (see «Raster display in RGB and Grey mode») in Adjust Layers tab
select the working image and in the Vector drop-down list select the respective vector mask (or
Select Region). Press Apply button to cut the working image along the contour line of the
vector mask or the selected region (Fig.170).
Fig.169. Setting vector layer invisibility Fig.170. Cutting tuned image to match «cut
indicator lines» vector mask
3. Create cut lines for the required images.
4. Use «Measure Distance» tool to

measure the maximum distance for each image,
to which the image inside vector mask could be
“blended” when saving it. Gradual replacement
of the upper raster by the lower one occurs.
Saving of received mosaicking result to common
raster coverage is done in Save Mosaic dialog
(Fig.171) (see «Saving mosaicking results»).
Fig.171. Received mosaic
Automatic seamline generation tool
This tool is intended for automatic generation of cut lines within the rasters intersection zones
when creating seamless mosaics. The dialog window of the tool is opened via the Transformation
 Seamline main menu command (Fig.172).
Geometric transformation of all raster need to be carried our prior to creating seamlines. In
case of vast territory of geometric transformation the Block Adjustment tool can be applied.
Fig.172. Seamline Project dialog
1. For the beginning, two vector layers need to be created, one of which will be used to set up
prototypes of future seamlines (simple seamlines), whereas the second – to draw the resulting
seamlines themselves.
Drop-down listbox RGB Vector Layer – defines the vector layer, in which resulting seamlines will be
created.
Drop-down listbox Initials Vector Layer – defines the vector layer, in which prototypes of future
seamlines will be drawn.
These vector layers should have a special structure of table of attributes (different for
prototypes and for final seamlines), therefore it would be better to create new vector layers using
New layer buttons, located opposite each drop-down list. Upon the pressing the button and
indicating the saving path and name, the newly created vector layer will appear in corresponding
drop-down list.
2. Now you need to specify the desired order of the RGB-layers in settings of RGB-window (this will
be important for the future mosaic saving). Next raster layers can be added to the seamlines
creation “project”. They can be added in two ways:
Button From current window – all RGB-layers, open in active RGB-window, are automatically added
to the project. In other words, it would be better to set up the display of all required RGB-
layers in one RGB-window in advance and to include them into the project in this way.
Button Add – enables to add rasters loaded manually one by one into the application to the seamlines
creation project. After pressing the button the Add a new RGB rasters set dialog will
appear, in which the required channels should be selected using drop-down listbox Red,
Green, Blue to prepare an RGB-composite (Fig.173). In case of operations with monochrome
images select the required channel in the Red drop-down list and tick Monochrome layer
checkbox.
Button Apply – adds the prepared RGB-composite into the project.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog without changes.
Fig.173. Add a new RGB rasters set dialog
3. After adding the RGB-layer into the project it will appear in form of a line in the table of Layers
tab in Seamlines Project dialog. Whereas in the vector layer, selected in RGB Vector Layer list,
the region will be added, representing the borders of this RGB-layer. The required attributive
information will also be recorded in it.
Tab Layers represents a table with the following columns (Fig.174):
Column ID – displays the index numbers оf RGB-layers.
Column Group – indicates, which group the layer belongs to. Within the zone of intersection of
rasters belonging to one group no seamline will be created. Correspondingly, single-pass
images are recommended to be united into the group after their addition to the project.
Column Red – displayed the RGB-layer raster, entered into red slot of the RGB-image.
Column Green – displayed the RGB-layer raster, entered into green slot of the RGB-image.
Column Blue – displayed the RGB-layer raster, entered into blue slot of the RGB-image.
Fig.174. Seamlines Project dialog, Layers tab
When selecting a raster layer in this table the vector region is also selected in the RGB-
window, corresponding to the border of this layer. Double click on the raster layer from the list
results in scaling down to this layer in RGB-window.
Added RGB-layers (i.e. a set of rasters in slots of RGB-images), if needed, can be edited. To
do so, first select the layer in the list and then press Edit. Added RGB-layers can also be deleted
from the project of creating seamlines using Delete Selected button. All such changes are
recorded in the vector file describing the project (RGB Vector Layer).
Use Save Vectors button to save all changes in auxiliary vector files at any time (RGB
vector layer and Initials vector layer).
Buttons for control of raster layers in Layers tab:
Buttons Move Up / Move Down / Move to Front / Move to End – change the sequence of
highlighted RGB-layers in the table of Layers tab (sequence of layers in RGB-window does
not change therewith!). Changing the sequence of raster layers using these buttons will
impact the definition of which layer of the intersecting pair will be the “bottom” and which one
will be the “top”. Accordingly, it will affect the drawing seamlines.
Button Group – highlighted raster layers are united into one group. For layers from one group no
seamlines will be created.
Button Ungroup – highlighted raster layers are excluded from the group.
Button AutoScroll to Selected – turns on/off mode, in which selection of vector contour (border of
raster) in the working RGB-window scrolls list of raster (tab Layer) or list of intersections (tab
Intersections) to the appropriate raster layer (you can use this mode in case of too long
lists Layers / Intersections).
Tab Intersections – represents a table, in which all areas of rasters overlapping are shown (except
for intersection of layers, belonging to one group) (Fig.175).
Rasters intersection table consists of the following columns:
Columns ID1 and ID2 – contain the numbers of intersecting RGB-layers (these numbers
correspond to numbers of RGB-layers in Layers tab), where ID1 – displays the number of
“top” RGB-layer of intersecting pair, and ID2 – “bottom”.
Columns Red 1 and Red 2 – display the names of channels, located in red slots of intersecting
RGB-layers.
Column Object – presence (checked)/absence (unchecked) of seamline prototype is displayed
here.
Column Done – displays successful creation of seamlines.
When highlighting intersections in the table, vector contours of intersecting layers are also
highlighted, as well as seamline prototypes (if any).
Fig.175. Intersections tab of Seamlines Project dialog
4. At the next stage prototypes of future seamlines should be created for intersecting areas of RGB-
layers. Seamline prototypes are created in the vector files, selected in the drop-down list Initials
Vector Layer. When creating the prototype it should be remembered that all the line-prototype
(all its nodes) should be strictly within the area of RGB-layers intersection.
To create the line prototype the following is required:
 To highlight the required intersection of RGB-layers in Intersections tab. For better
display Track Raster Layers box can be checked – if ticked, only RGB-layers highlighted
in the project table will be displayed in the RGB-window of the seamlines creation project.
The required sequence of RGB-layers need to be specified at once as well – define, which
RGB-layer of the intersection will be “top” and which one will be “bottom”. RGB-layers
sequence can be edited in Layers tab using Move Up / Move Down / Move to Front /
Move to End buttons.
 Direct drawing of the line prototype can be done applying two methods:
1) Manual: press Draw Initial Line button and within the area of highlighted RGB-
layers intersection draw the line prototype (the tool for drawing the polylines will
be automatically activated after pressing this button).
2) Automatic: press Make Initial Line button – as a result line prototypes will be
automatically drawn within the highlighted RGB-layers intersections. Prototypes are
created automatically so that after further processing and rasters cutting, the
territories of “top” RGB-layers were included to the maximum into the resulting
mosaic.
 After creating the line prototype the corresponding layers intersection box will be checked
in the Object column (Intersections tab) (Fig.176).
Fig.176. Drawn seamline prototype within the intersection zone (highlighted in yellow)
To analyze the intersections it is convenient to use the display of intersecting layers in a new
RGB-window as a synthesis (Fig.177). To do so, select the required intersection in the table of
Intersections tab and press In new Window button. A new RGB-window with one RGB-layer will
appear, in which red and blue slots the channels of “top” layer are located, whereas the “bottom”
layer is located in the green slot. The source RGB-window with all layers will be minimized.
The geometry of seamlines prototypes can be edited in a standard way (vector layer with
prototypes should be variable).
Upon assigning a line prototype to the program, it will be considered further on that a concrete
form of the line has been assigned, near which the final seamline should be built. The degree of
proximity of the final seamline to the prototype line is specified by the search parameters (Initial
Zoom Level and Search Width), determined in the Parameters group of elements (Fig.174):
Fig.177. Displaying layers intersection in In new window mode
Field Initial Zoom Level: – determines the source scale, at which the line is created. Takes on
integer values from 1 and higher. If the parameter equals 1, then the seamline is built on
the source image. If the parameter is higher than 1, then an “approximate” line is first built
on the image, minimized by the factor of Initial Zoom Level vertically and horizontally,
which is later on used as another prototype to build the final seamline on the source image.
Entry field Search Width (pixels) – a parameter, setting up the width of the strip around the line
prototype, in which the final seamline will be created. The strip width (each side away from
the prototype line) constitutes Initial Zoom Level*Search Width pixels of the source
image.
Besides determination of the search area width, it is required to define an algorithm (a calculation
method) to search for seamlines. The following parameters are determining such algorithm:
Alpha, Maximal Gradient with Delta, Use Window Palettes.
Basically, the method of automatic building of the seamline is based on the following steps:
1. Building of the “tension” layer, proportional to the mismatch of images. Both the intensity
difference and the gradient are used to calculate the mismatch (or the intensity difference
gradient; in this case the line will go through the area of maximum match between the images), or
the gradient of intensity of the images themselves (in this case the line will follow the natural
borders of the image).
2. Building of the “cost distance” layer – shortest distance from “starting” point with due account for
built “tension” layer (Fast marching algorithm is used).
3. Building of the line with the minimum tension amount – the algorithm of the gradient descent from
the “end” point through the built “cost distance” is applied.
Therefore, two seamline building algorithm operation modes are possible, which are defined by
the way of calculating the “tension” layer:
 If Maximal Gradient with Delta parameter is not specified, then the seamline will be
built within the minimum of images’ intensities difference and the minimum of gradient
module of such difference. In this case the line in big homogenous areas of the image is
arbitrary, and the seamline does not coincide with natural borders on the image. Alpha
value regulates the input of two parameters, involved in calculation of the tension layer –
intensity difference of intersecting rasters and gradient, when building the tension layer.
 If Maximal Gradient with Delta parameter is specified, then the seamline will be built
within the minimum of images’ intensities difference and the maximum of average
intensity gradient module of the images, rather than intensity difference between the
images. In this case the seamline “detours” big homogenous areas of the image and
follows the natural borders. The time of algorithm operation in this mode is twice as much,
since first the statistic distribution of intensity gradient values need to be calculated (first
algorithm pass), and only then it can be used to build the tension layer (second pass of the
algorithm).
Parameters in the dialog, determining the lines building algorithm:

Entry field Alpha – parameter, assigning weights of intensity and gradient difference when
determining the tension. If the parameter equals 1, then only gradient is used; if it equals
0, then only intensity difference is used.
Checkbox Maximal Gradient with Delta – if checked, the seamline plotting is set up by
minimum of intensity difference and maximum of average intensity gradient of images at
the same time (i.e. the line follows the sharp borders on the image).
Entry field Maximal Gradient with Delta – the value, which is added to the gradient (as a
result the tension set up by the gradient will be no less than this value).
As the gradient calculation algorithm is different depending on the status of Maximal
Gradient with Delta checkbox, then when using the minimum of intensity difference
gradient as a tension (i.e. when Maximal Gradient with Delta box is unchecked), the
default value is specified, which equals 1, and when the Maximal Gradient with Delta
parameters is activated – the default value which equals 0.01 is specified. These values can
be considered as indicative, when selecting the values.
As the algorithm searches for the line with minimum total tension, then bigger
parameter values will be a “fine” for the line length and result (at very big values) in plotting
a straight line connecting two points, whereas at smaller values – it will result in
straightening the line).
If the parameter is below zero, then default value is selected.
Checkbox Use Window Palettes – if checked, the rasters intensity analysis will take place with
due account for executed contrast transformation (histogram stretch). Can be used when
creating seamlines without regard to maximum intensity gradient of images.
Entry field Line TOL (pixels) – specifies the accuracy to simplify the resulting seamline. The
accuracy is setup in pixels of project. If points of the line portion being analyzed between
vertices fit in the strip width equal to value in this entry field (from each side of the line),
then this line portion is replaced by the section, consisting of start and end points (sections
of maximum length are selected, and the algorithm works consistently from the line start).
Параметры в диалоге, определяющие алгоритм построения линий:
5. After setting up prototype lines, drawing of resulting seamlines can be started. Resulting seamlines
will already take shape of regions – within the raster layers intersection zone the line shape is
calculated by the described algorithms, whereas to form a region the “line” is extended along the
border of “top” RGB-layer in each pair of intersections.
To create the final seamline Actions group buttons are used:
Checkbox Apply to selected layers only – if checked, the action of all other buttons from
Actions group (creating seamlines, returning to source contours, cutting raster layers and
canceling cutting) will extend to selected intersections only. If unchecked – to all existing
intersections of raster layers.
Button Make Seamline – launches the process of search for seamlines for intersections, having
initial seamlines. Depending on the Apply to selected layers only checkbox status the
operation is carried out either with respect to all intersections, or selected ones only.
When drawing final seamlines for selected layers only, keep in mind that if “top” layer of the
selected intersection is also the “top” one in some other unselected intersections (and line prototypes
are also defined for them), then the final seamline will be drawn with due account for such other
intersections.
Button Reset Seamline – replaces drew final seamlines with the source borders of images.
Button Set Vector Mask – “crops” raster layers along final seamlines (per vector mask).
Button Unset Vector Mask – returns “overall” display of raster layers, limited by the vector mask.
In case of successful creation of the seamline, the checkbox in Done column of Intersections
tab will be ticked. If for some intersection this box is unchecked, it means the seamline was not
created. In such case try to edit the prototype line for this intersection and run again seamline
creation operation (checking Apply to selected layers only and selecting the required intersection).
Change of seamline search parameters may also help.
Received seamlines can be edited using usual methods (it is important that attributive data is
not lost during editing). The required contour (seamline) is better to be selected using Layers tab of
Seamline Project dialog – when selecting a raster layer via this tab, the corresponding seamline is
selected as well.
If needed, you can try to re-build part/all seamlines with other search parameters. To do so,
first return to source contours for required intersections and to “overall” display of raster layers (use
Reset Seamline and Unset Vector Mask buttons). After that re-run seamlines creation procedure.
In case of rebuilding the seamlines only with respect to selected intersections, first select the required
intersections and check Apply to selected layers only box.
Upon successful application of a vector mask to crop the raster layers (Set Vector Mask
button) you can proceed to further operations (assessing results / saving results / color balancing).
Saving mosaicking results
Saving of received mosaicking result to common raster coverage is done using Save Mosaic
dialog, which opens via main menu command FileSave Mosaic (Fig.178).
Fig.178. Save Mosaic dialog
Group Output File Name – specifies the name of the file being saved. With button pressed a
standard Windows file saving dialog window will be loaded. The format of the output file is
specified with *.tif extension (GeoTIFF format), *.img (Erdas Imagine Images) and
*.bmp (WINDOWS BITMAP). One should keep in mind that standard WINDOWS
BITMAP format maximum file size is limited down to 2 GB, and standard GeoTIFF – 4 GB.
Checkbox Split resulting file to tiles – activates splitting output raster to tiles according to
tiling settings.
Button Splitting options – opens tiling setting dialog (section Splitting option).
Button TIFF options – open TIFF creation settings dialog (section TIFF creation settings)
Group Output Pixel Format – specifies pixel format for saving data to file. The following formats are
available:
 byte – 8 bit format (integer);
 int16, uint16 – 16 bit format (integer, signed; unsigned);
 int32, uint32 – 32 bit format (integer, signed; unsigned);
 float32 – 32 bit format (floating);
 float64 – 64 bit format (floating).
Group Histogram – specifies histogram parameters when saving.
Checkbox Stretch for Pixel Format – normalizes original histogram for chosen pixel format.
Checkbox Apply Color Palette – when checked, image is saved in color palette specified in
dialog View Settings. The output format of the record will always equal 8 bits.
Group Resampling Filter – specifies convolution filter, which will be used for re-sampling. More
details on re-sampling are available in Section «Extent toolkit».
Group Georeference – enables to save data on the coordinate system and spatial resolution of the
saved image into additional files.
Checkbox World – saves geo-reference files for ArcInfo, ArcView.
Checkbox TAB – saves geo-reference files for MapInfo.
Drop-down listbox Clipping Mask – specifies which part of image to save. The mask can be either
selected rectangular area or vector layer.
Entry field Output No Data - enables to set up “no data” value for saved raster.
Group Output Pixel Size - allows setting another pixel size for saved raster.
Field Output Image Size – indicates size of output image in pixels.
Group Layers consist of two fields RGB Layers and Blend.
Fields RGB Layers default listing is from top to bottom, same as image raster layers under
Adjust Layers tab of View Settings dialog. Therefore, leave only those that are used in
mosaic creation, removing unused by pressing Remove under Adjust Layers tab of View
Settings dialog. All raster layers specified in this field will be saved to file as common
raster coverage - mosaic.
The size of “blending” the stitching borders can be specified against each record in RGB Layers
field in Blend field in units of projection measurements. This option enables to hide the
stitching border as a transparency zone is created from the stitching border’s edge to the
indicated value on the upper raster. Thanks to this, the upper raster is gradually replaced
with the lower one. Using this option increases time needed for mosaicking and requires
additional system resources.
Group Color Balance:
Checkbox Apply – activates recalculation of histograms of tuned images to that of the reference
(Reference) image based on Histogram Matching procedure within the limits of the
image color palettes. That means this checkbox is activated only if the color balancing was
performed per item 1 of Color balancing section and at the same time it is required to save
the full input range of the mosaic’s intensities. If the mosaic with current display parameters
needs to be saved (with current intensity and contrast settings), it is required to activate
Apply Color Palette checkbox.
In case of automatic color balancing of the histogram (item 2 of Color balancing section), the box
should not be checked as in the settings of pallets in Color-balance Control window the
histogram of tuned images is recalculated automatically to the histogram of the reference
image.
If Apply box is checked, the reference (Reference) image is selected in Reference layer drop-
down list in form of a raster layer «Layer…», to which histogram the histograms of the
other raster layers displayed in Static table will be reduced. Follow intructions below to
map saved mosaics with a preset hue balance:
 if selected from Color Balance group – save a color property file with *.dat
extention (See Raster Display in RGB and Grey Mode Section);
 if uploaded from mosaics file – apply a color property file created in accordance
with the above item.
Button Save – saves into the file and closes the dialog.
Button Cancel – closes dialog without saving to file.
Earth Model
The application enables to create and to visualize 3D model of the Earth. The principal model
components are: image of the Earth (images tiled in a mosaic); digital terrain model, used for
shadows calculation in the mode of “illumination” effect visualization; raster texture (image) of the
global cloud map used the visualization of the “atmosphere” effect. In addition to principal model
components textures for the visualization of the map of stars, the Sun and he Moon. The specified
model may have the following layers overlaid: vector layers with toponymic search based on the
attributive data, if needed; space vehicles movement trajectory and their ground tracks. In addition,
there is a possibility to pass from the global Earth model to local 3D models, created using 3D module
of the application. Using the built-in toolkit one may record animation video-clips. Earth model enables
to visualize the effect of “Earth surface illumination” depending on the current season and time. There
is a possibility also to change current date and time and to change the time scale.
The delivered software application is complete with a simplified Earth model, created using
global Earth coverage, prepared by NASA specialists within the frames of Blue Marble project with the
resolution of 8 kilometers per pixel. Run Terrain  Earth Explorer  Open Earth Model
command for its visualization (Fig.179). In needed there is a possibility to create own model.
Fig.179. Earth Model mode.
Visualizing 3D model of the Earth
To open the model run Terrain  Earth Explorer 

Open command from main menu. Earth window will appear.
In the left part of the window toolbar is automatically opened
(Fig.180). Use “mouse” device to navigate and browse through
the model. The scale can be changed using mouse wheel,
whereas navigation and rotations are done with the left mouse
button depressed.
Group Display – controls the visualization of effects and
textures and allows choosing the modes of operation
with the model. Main visualization effects settings
should be preset in Earth Model Preferences
window – see «Model parameters settings».
Checkbox Atmosphere – activates visualization of
“atmosphere”.
Checkbox Stars – activates the map of stars.
Checkbox Lighting – activates visualization of “Earth
surface illumination” effect.
Checkbox Sun&Moon – activates visualization of the Sun
and the Moon textures.
Slider bar Transparency – changes the “non-
transparency” effect of the Earth model.
Drop-down listbox Mode – sets up the mode of operation
with the Earth model.
 Select objects mode – enables to select vector
objects, overlaid on the model of the Earth.
Objects selection is done with the left mouse
button pressed.
 Alignment mode – gradual turn of the model
towards specified point. The latter is selected with
the double click of the left mouse button on the
model surface.
 Zooming Scene mode – gradual zooming in
towards the specified point. The latter is selected
with the double click of the left mouse button on
the model surface. Fig.180. Earth Model
 Change Color mode – enables to change the toolbar
color of the selected vector object using standard
Color dialog.
 Adjust text Origin mode – enables to move labels of vector objects using mouse
pointer.
Group Time – adjusts current time and date. The following date and time is used by default
(universal coordinated time – UTC).
Checkbox Simulate – activates simulation mode with respect to the set date and time.
Entry field Scale – sets up the simulation time scale (time change rate) and its direction. In the
set value is positive, the time will change clockwise at the rate that equals nominal rate
multiplied by the set value. If the value is negative – counterclockwise. If zero value is set,
the time and date will not change.
Entry field UTC – sets up using spinners or keyboard the initial time and date for simulation in
«hh:mm:ss dd.mm.yy» format (GMT).
Field below – displays current time and date. If simulation mode is activated, current time is
displayed with respect to the initial time and date set up in in UTC field.
Group Layers – displays the list of vector layers, local 3D-models and the list of space vehicles,
overlaid onto the Earth model.
Listbox in upper part of the group enables to activate/deactivate layer visualization. The “+” sign,
located to the left of the layer name, is used for visualization mode control.
The list, located in the middle of the group, displays objects of current layer.
Entry field Find – is used to search for a specific object in current layer.
Automatic relocation towards the object on the model is carried out, when it is selected in the list
or found using the search tool.
Listbox, located in the upper part of the group – is used for display of attributive information of
current vector object or the telemetry data of current vehicle.
Group Animation – contains the functional for recording animation tracks and video-clips.
Scale – displays key frames of the animation track.
Slider bar – specifies current key frame.
Field – displays the number of the specified frame.
Buttons:
> – Play/Stop Replay – playback/stop of the animation track;
<< – Previous Key Frame – move one frame back;
>> – Next Key Frame – move one frame forward;
R – Start/Stop Recording – record/stop animation track in video clip.
+ – Add Key Frame – add key frame in animation track;

- – Delete Key Frame – delete selected key frame;
X – Delete All Key Frames – delete all frames of the animation track.
Load – load animation track via standard file loading dialog.

Save – save animation track via standard file saving dialog.
Context menu is also used for operations with Earth model. Click with the right mouse button in
any location of Earth window to open it (Fig.181).
Checkboxes Atmosphere, Stars, Lighting, Sun and
Moon – duplicate Display group options.
Checkbox Wire Mode – activates model frame display
mode.
Checkbox Paint Objects – activates visualization of
vector objects. If the box is checked only text
label with the object’s name will be displayed.
Checkbox Satellite Tracks – activates satellite
trajectory display.
Checkbox Satellite Ground Tracks – activates
satellite ground track display.
Checkbox 3D Models – activate satellite’s 3D model
display.
Checkbox Text – activates visualization of text
signature of the object.
Checkbox Add Terrain Scene – enables to add a
local 3D model, created in 3D module of the
application, to the Earth model. More
Fig.181. The context menu available
information will be given below about addition
by right-click
of local 3D models.
Checkbox Zoom out – brings displaying scale to the input value.
Checkbox Attach to Object After Zoom In – allows “attaching” camera to the selected object after
zooming in. Can be used to monitor space vehicles.
Checkbox Floating Window – activates the mode and deactivates toolbar display.
Checkbox Add Vector Layer – enables to add vector layers into Layers list. More information will be
available below.
Checkbox Update TLE – enables to update orbital elements data of the space vehicles. More details
about orbital elements updating will be available below.
Adding and deleting vector layers
To add a vector layer on a 3D model it is required to close all vector layers opened in the
application, otherwise a message may pop up saying that vector layer cannot be loaded (Fig.182).
Fig.182. Error Window: uploading a new raster into the system
Open context menu pressing right mouse button on the toolbar or in the model visualization
window and select Add Vector Layer command. A standard file loading dialog will appear where the
name of the required vector layer needs to be specified. The application supports loading of vector
layers in Mapinfo MIF и ESRI SHP format.
After loading the indicated file a dialog window Add Layer for vector layer parameters set up
will be displayed (Fig.183).
Fig.183. Add Layer dialog
Entry field Layer Name – used to specify the layer name. Text entered in this field will be used when
the names of current layer in the list of layers are displayed.
Drop-down list Object Name – enables to select the field of the table of attributes, which values will
be used for identification and search for objects in the list of objects and for creation of text
labels of the object.
List Information Fields – enables to select the fields of the table of attributes, which values will be
available for review in the list of object’s attributes.
Group Color – controls the settings of color scheme during the vector layer display.
Color rectangle – specifies the unified color for all layer’s objects.
Entry field Alpha – specifies the threshold of the layer’s transparency. Value 255 – sets up
complete non-transparency of layer, value 0 – complete transparency.
Checkbox Random – activates the mode of random color attribution to layer objects.
Button OK – initiates loading.
Button Cancel – closes dialog without addition of layer.
To delete a vector layer, it is required to select the required layer from the list, to open context
menu pressing right mouse button and selecting Delete Vector Layer command.
Adding and deleting local 3D models
A local 3D model can be created using 3D module of the application. Earth model is connected
with 3Dmodule and enables to transfer from global coverage to a local and more detailed model. To
ensure gradual transition from the global to local model small raster textures can be created, showing
the contours of the local model. To do so, load the local model into 3D module (see description of 3D
module) and run Terrain Save Top View command from main menu. Required textures will be
therewith created automatically.
To add a local model open context menu by pressing the right mouse button on the toolbar or
in the visualization window and select Add Terrain Scene. In appearing standard file loading dialog
select the model file. Upon completion the Add Terrain Scene dialog will be loaded (Fig.184).
Fig.184. Add Terrain Scene dialog
Entry field Scene Name – is used to specify the name of layer. Text entered in this field will be used
to display the name of current layer in the list.
Color rectangle – specifies the unified color that will be used to display the model contour, if no
special textures are used.
Button OK – initiates loading.

Button Cancel – closes dialog without adding the layer.
To delete a vector layer, select the required layer in the list, open context menu pressing mosue
button and selecting Delete Terrain Scene command.
Updating telemetry data for space vehicles
Earth model enables to display the satellites trajectory and their ground tracks. Trajectories are
calculated based on NORAD telegrams in TLE format available on the Internet page
http://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/. Telegrams are calculated each day for all satellites on
the low-earth orbit. For more precise calculation of their trajectories the TLE telegrams should be
updated from time to time. To update the telegrams open context menu by pressing right mouse
button on the toolbar or in the visualization window and run Update TLE command. A message to
confirm the operation will appear (Fig.185).
Fig.185. Message confirming the files updating
If internet access is provided via a Proxy Server, enter its address correctly into the Earth
Model Settings dialog box.
TLE telegrams used by the application are stored in the root folder in terrain\EARTH\TLE.
Let’s use noaa.tle file fragment as an example:
____________________________________________________________________
TIROS N [P]
1 11060U 78096A 10154.86049605 -.00000018 00000-0 13584-4 0 4942
2 11060 98.9747 133.0223 0011581 93.5916 266.6583 14.17507424848772
NOAA 1 [-]
1 04793U 70106A 10154.45191323 -.00000031 00000-0 10000-3 0 5351
2 04793 102.0933 156.7235 0032327 129.0095 231.3867 12.53938882806941
NOAA 2 [-]
1 06235U 72082A 10154.06423759 -.00000027 00000-0 10000-3 0 6342
2 06235 101.3885 162.8055 0003500 323.1084 36.9747 12.53008231721416
____________________________________________________________________
Values of parameters for each space vehicle are represented in three lines:
 Satellite name
 First telegram line
 Second telegram line
By default the application enables to display the trajectory of all vehicles, which names and
orbital elements are available in TLE files, located in the abovementioned folder. If needed, TLE files
can be edited using any text editor by deleting parameters and names of redundant space vehicles or
on the contrary by adding the names and parameters of missing satellites.
Video-clip recording
There is an option to record a video-clip of the satellite’s flyby over the Earth surface. To start
recording a track containing a sequence of key frames must be created. Animation group (Fig.186)
of the Earth window tool panel is used for that. Control elements are described above.
To create a track and to record a video-clip:
1) Select the initial position of the model.
2) Press «+» button in Animation group. Specify a key
frame dialog will open (Fig.187).
3) In Specify a key frame dialog specify the number of the
key frame «0» for first and «1», «2», «3» for the next
respectively, etc. Press OK button. Fig.186. Animation group
4) Change the model display and location scale (move the

visualization area) and repeat items 2 and 3, each time
indicating the respective frame number. In this way the
sequence of frames for the video-clip will be created.
5) To delete a key frame select the respective frame on the scale
and press «-» button in Animation group.
6) To playback the track press «>» button in Animation group. Fig.187. Specifying a
7) To save the video-clip of the specified track press «R» button in key frame number
Animation group. Video Capture dialog will open (Fig.188).
Field Video File – specifies the file name

and the folder for saving (use
button). After file name

manually write down its
extension– *.avi.
Group Settings – sets up the settings of
the video clip being recorded.
Entry fields Port Size – set up the
size of the video clip frame (in
pixels, width and height
respectively).
Entry field Rate, frames/sec – sets Fig.188. Video Capture dialog
up the video recording speed
in frames per second ratio.

Button Start – opens the dialog Video
Compression, where codec for compression
of video clip is set up (Fig.189).
Button Cancel – closes the dialog without changes.
8) In Video Capture dialog specify the required

parameters and press Start. Fig.189. Video Compression dialog
9) In Video Compression dialog specify the codec
for video compression and press OK.
The video clip will be recorded and saved in the pre-defined folder.
Model parameters settings
To set up the model parameters Earth Model Preferences dialog is used, available during the
selection of Terrain Earth Explorer Preferences command from main menu (Fig.190).
Fig.190. Earth Model Preferences dialog
Group Data Files – defines the paths to Earth model files:

Field Rasters – specifies the path to raster texture of the Earth model with *.dat extension.
Field Vectors – specifies the path to the file with vector layers.
Field Scenes – specifies the path to file with local 3D-model description.
Group Earth Properties – specifies the display parameters of the Earth model atmosphere.
Field Atmosphere height, km – specifies the height of the atmosphere over the Earth surface
(km).
Field Atmosphere Speed, deg/h – specifies the speed of atmosphere rotation around the Earth
(deg/hour).
Field Proxy Server – specifies the proxy-server address in «ip_address:port» format. This setup is
required for loading and refreshing of TLE orbital elements files from site www.celestrak.com,
if there is not direct access from the PC to the Internet network.
Group Resources – specifies the external surroundings of the Earth model.
Field Sun – specifies the path to the file of texture used for the Sun visualization. The default
texture is sunmap.tga.
Field Moon – specifies the path to the file of texture used for the Moon visualization. The default
texture is moonmap.tga.
Field Stars – specifies the path to the file of texture used for the stars visualization. The default
texture is starsmap.tga.
Field Clouds – specifies the path to the file of texture used for the Earth atmosphere
visualization. The default texture is cloudmap.bmp.
Field Satellite – specifies the path to IRS.mesh file with 3-D satellite model used for
visualization of space vehicles’ trajectories.
Group Texture Handling – specifies the model display parameters.
Field Unpacking Time, ms – specifies the maximal time of textures unpacking (in milliseconds).
Field Memory Limit, Mb – specifies the maximum size of video-card memory used by the
application.
Checkbox Compress Auxiliary Textures – activates the mode of compression of all textures. Used
to increase the speed of 3D rendering.
Button OK – accepts the settings.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog without saving changes.
Creating the Earth model
There is a possibility to create own Earth model. To do so, it is required to have a raster file
used as basic texture. This can be one of the global satellite coverages, available within the frames of
the Blue Marble project on page
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/BlueMarble/BlueMarble_monthlies.php, as well as the
raster file with digital elevation model, available on the same resource or from other sources, used to
display the “shadowing” effect.
Raster images should be geo-coded in Latitude/Longitude pseudo projection and have the
information about the coordinates inside the file (e.g., GeoTIFF format) or in external geolocation files
(MapInfo TAB, ESRI World File). Preparation works can be done directly in the program.
To create own model it is required to run Terrain  Earth Explorer Create command
from main menu. Earth Creation dialog will be loaded (Fig.191).
Group RGB – sets up RGB-channels of the

new raster coverage.
Listbox – displays the files, loaded to
create raster coverage. It is
assumed to use the texture,
stored in one file and
consisting of several files (for
examples, Blue Marble global
coverage with the spatial
resolution of 500 meters in
pixels is stored in 8 files).
Button Add – enables to add a file
with texture into the list.
Button Remove – deletes the selected
files from the list.
Group Relief – specifies the file of the
digital elevation model. Fig.191. Earth Creation dialog
Listbox – displays the files loaded to

create a DEM.
Button Add – enables to add a channel of the DEM to the list.
Button Remove – deletes the selected channel.
Field Output – specifies the path to the folder of saving the created raster coverage of the Earth
model with *.dat extension.
Field Resolution – specifies using the spin buttons the
size of the matrix of pixels of the Earth model’s
raster coverage being created that is formed
based on the pixels matrix size of source data.
Group Quantiziers – specifies the coefficient of raster
data compression for each RGB channel and for
the DEM.
Button OK – initiates the process of raster coverage
creation. After the model calculation a message
pops up indicating the percentage of source data
compression during the creation of raster
Fig.192. Message with
coverage (Fig.192).
calculated statistics
For the visualization of the create model it is required to write down the path to the created
files in dialog window of Earth Model Preferences model settings.
Viewshed analysis
This analysis evaluates the surface from the viewpoint of visibility of separate parts by
delineating zones and building visibility/invisibility maps from a certain view point or multiple points,
set up by their position in space. Visibility analysis operation applications are connected with terrain
impact assessment (radio coverage zones) during projection of radio- and television broadcasting
stations, radio relay networks and mobile radio-link systems, as well as with similar tasks of evaluating
in visible range of electromagnetic spectrum, for example for projection of the watch towers network
of the fires monitoring services to minimize the number of such towers with specified design
parameters and areas, remaining beyond visual monitoring capabilities.
Before running the analysis it is important to make sure that the source raster of the DEM has
square pixels. If not so, to normalize the raster to working project basis the Extent toolkit can be used
(Tools  Extent). The projection units should be meters (to observe squareness of pixels).
To run the viewshed analysis the Viewshed analysis dialog is used (Fig.193), which can be
opened via the Relief  Viewshed Analysis command of main menu.
Fig.193. Viewshed analysis dialog
Drop-down list DEM raster - source raster (DEM).

Drop-down list Get Viewpoints from Vector – vector layer, containing point/points for monitoring.
Group Parameters – sets up viewshed search parameters. There is a possibility to limit the
viewshed search area, specifying horizontal and vertical view angles, view distance, vertical
shift of the object being monitored.
Entry fields Azimuth 1, Azimuth 2 – determine the start and end of the view direction of the
territory from each viewpoint (Fig.194). Determination of the territory for analysis is carried
out clockwise from Azimuth 1 to Azimuth 2. The value of parameters data can be from 0
to 360. The zero value is east-oriented.
Entry fields Vert 1, Vert 2 – upper and lower vertical view angles of territory from each
viewpoint. This parameter values are expressed in degrees ranging from 90 to -90.
Horizontal plane with vertical angle of 0 degrees is determined by Z-coordinate of the
viewpoint + Observer height parameter’s value.
Entry fields Radius 1, Radius 2 – determine inner and outer radiuses limiting the viewshed
search territory from each viewpoint. I.e. the sites, located closer to the viewpoints, than
Radius 1 value, will be excluded from analysis. The areas, located further than the Radius
2 value from the viewpoint, will also be excluded.
Entry field Observer height – determines vertical shift of the object being monitored with
respect to its Z-coordinate (rise of the viewpoint over the terrain surface). This parameter’s
default value is 1.5 (meters).
Azimuth
Vertical view angles determination Radiuses determination
determination
Fig.194. Viewshed search parameters determination
Entry field Refractivity coefficient – visible light refractivity coefficient in the air. Default value
is 0.13.
Checkbox Earth curvature correction – specifies, if the Earth’s shape should be taken into
account (checked), or it should be considered as a flat surface (unchecked).
Checkbox Binarization of resulting raster – if checked, the resulting raster will be two-colored
indicating only, if the location is visible from any of the applied viewpoints (raster value =1),
or not visible (raster value = 0).
Button Perform – initiates the process of raster coverage creation.
Output raster will be named «ViewShed». If the result represents a non-binary raster, it can be
interpreted as follows. Positive raster values - are areas of the location that are visible. The raster
value itself indicates, from which used viewpoints this area can be seen. I.e. if 5 viewpoints were used
and the raster value equals 5 - then this area is visible from 5 points. If the value is 3, then the are
can be seen only from 3 viewpoints, and so on. If the raster value is negative, it means that this
location is not visible from any viewpoint. The negative value indicates, how this area should be “lifted
up” to make it visible. (Fig.195).
Fig.195. Practical application of Visibility Analysis tool: several satellite images on the left,
“ViewShed” output raster on the right (the latter including analysis results: 2 view points, a
grey-painted blind zone for both points and green-painted visibility area from both points).
Building isolines per raster
There is an option to automatically create isolines per raster. To do so, run Relief  Isoline
Creation command. The Create isolines dialog will appear (Fig.196). This operation enables to
create isolines with a preset step between neighboring isolines and enables to select, in which form
the isolines should be created - in form of polylines or regions.
Group Source raster and
limit values – the
raster used for
operations and a
number of its
parameters are set
up here:
Drop-down list – is
intended for
selection of the
raster, used for
building isolines.
Entry field Low limit
value and
Checkbox Use
raster low
value – are
designed for
Fig.196. Create isolines dialog .
definition of
raster intensity
low limit. If the box is checked, the actual minimum raster intensity is used. If unchecked,
it is possible to determine the minimum intensity manually.
Entry field High limit value and Checkbox Use raster high value – are designed for definition
of raster intensity high limit. Action is similar to the one in the previous item.
Entry field Step value – is designed for definition of the step (in projection units), using which
the isolines will be built.
Entry field Nodata - is intended for definition of the “no data” value of the used raster.
Group Save isolines into the vector layer – parameters for the created vector are set up here
(information about operations with vector layers is available in section Vector Layers Control):
Drop-down list – is intended for vector layer selection, where isolines will be created. The layer
should preliminary open/created in the application.
Group Vector objects type – is intended for definition of the geometry type of the isolines being
created:
 Isolines – isolines will be created in form of polyline objects.

 Regions – isolines will be created in form of regions.
Checkbox and field Minimal perimeter – set up minimum perimeter of the contour being
vectorized in working session units.
Checkbox and field Minimal area – are active, if Regions geometry type is selected. Set up
minimum area of the contour being vectorized in working session units.
Checkbox and Drop-down list Store low limit value into the field – is intended for adding
attributive data to the created vector objects. In the drop-down list the field of the table is
specified, in which the low limit of the height value (for region)/height value (for polyline)
will be recorded.
Checkbox and Drop-down list Store high limit value into the field – is intended for adding
attributive data to the created vector objects. Active only if Regions geometry type is
selected. In the drop-down list the field of the table is specified, in which the high limit of
the height value
will be recorded.
Checkbox and Drop-
down list Store
the following
value – when
activated, enable
to set up value
that will be
stored into the
attribute table.
The attribute
table field, in
which this value
will be stored, is
specified to the
right in into the
following field Fig.197. Result of Create Isolines procedure .
entry field.
Checkbox Clean the vector layer before isolines insertion – if checked, enables to preliminary
clear the specified vector layer from all objects in it.
Button Create – initiates the process of creating isolines (Fig.197).
Arithmetic operations with raster layers
Many tasks arising in area of remote data processing require computations using “map algebra”
(arithmetic operations with raster layers). Examples of such tasks are vegetation indices computation
or conversion of pixel values to physical values such as temperature. Since formulas and constants
used in such tasks are specific both for image type and territory, the program provides means to
create image processing algorithms.
Dialog Image Calculator (Fig.198) contains arithmetic expressions interpreter and allows
the user to perform arbitrary arithmetic operations with images. To open dialog, select command
EditMacroImage calculator from main menu.
Fig.198. Image calculator dialog
Group Specify input data – declares variables and associates them with raster layers.
Left drop-down listbox – specifies variables names. In case processing template is used (see
below), all names of variables from template are located here.
Right Drop-down listbox – associates variables with raster channels.
Group Input data – shows declared variables and associated raster channels as a list.
Button – adds specified variables to Input data list box.
Button – removes selected line from Input data list box.

Group Output raster – specifies name of output channel.
Group Domain – specifies computation domain:
Radio button Union – specifies computation domain to union of all input channels.
Radio button Intersection – specifies computation domain to intersection of all input

channels.
raster into the working project basis.
Group Vector Mask – bounds computation domain with vector mask or selected rectangular
area.
Group Names – specifies variables (pixels, masks, statistics, constants):
For example, if variable name is A, then:
A – raster layer, used as input parameter for arithmetic functions.
id#A – raster layer identifier, used as input parameter for the processing function.
mask#A – raster mask (1 – pixel is present, 0 – pixel is absent).
min#A – minimal brightness value.
max#A – maximal brightness value.
mean#A – mean intensity value of the channel pixels, corresponding to the «А» variable.
std#A – standard pixel intensity deviation of the channel, corresponding to the «A» variable.
nodata#A – pixels with «no data» value.
PI – constant, Pi character.
pixsize – constant, image pixel size, used by some functions as additional parameter.
vmask – indicator of pixel-to-vector mask correlation (1 – pixel inside vector mask, 0 – pixel outside).
Group Functions – allows the user to select and insert function into the expression.
Upper field – short description of the function.
Drop-down listbox – required function is selected. Full list of accessible functions, operations,
operators and keywords is available in Section «Annex 1».
Group Combining Rules – specifies expression to compute. This is an arithmetic expression written
in terms of declared variables constants and predefined functions (listed below).
Group Options – additional conditions.
Group Resampling Filter – specifies convolution filter, which will be used for re-sampling. More
details about re-sampling are available in Section «Extent toolkit».
Entry field Radius of computational filters – specifies radius of local window for filters and
functions. Window size equals (Radius*2+1)х(Radius*2+1) of pixels. Radius=1 value
corresponds to local window of 3х3 pixels.
Entry field Output raster “NODATA” value – specifies the value that will be used as the “no
data” value (NODATA) for the output raster.
Checkbox Don’t determine Domain by the Vector Mask – activates/deactivates the use
during the processing of pixels that get into the vector mask. This option can be used, when
it is required to process a fragment of the raster, lying beyond the polygonal object of the
vector layer.
Checkbox Ignore “NODATA” of the input rasters – excludes NODATA value from processing.
Group Templates – specifies templates.
Button Refresh list – enables to refresh List box Templates.
Button Save template – saves text as processing template.
Button Clear Fields – clears dialog interface elements from records.
Button Run – starts computation.
Using processing templates
In case one and the same processing algorithm needs to be used, the program allows the user to
save processing templates. ScanEx IMAGE Processor (*.cmc) format templates are supported, stored
in directory MACRO. In addition, for processing convenience, when creating a macros the user may
shape it as an interface dialog as specify a path to this dialog via the application menu items.
Templates can be created both in visual and manual modes.
In case of creating a template in visual mode, it is required to:
1. Open Image calculator dialog.
2. Define the variables.
3. Describe the required actions in Combining Rules.
4. Specify the template name in Templates drop-down list. The location of the main menu
command can be defined in the template name. This command will be used to open the
template’s interface dialog. For example, when the template’s name Edit\Image Fusion\My
algorithm is specified, Image FusionMy algorithm command will be added in Edit
item.
5. Save the template. To do so, press Save template button in dialog. If the template is saved,
it is required to be placed into Macro folder of the root directory.
In addition, the template file can be created in any text editor. To do that, create a text file in
any available text editor, where using the variables, key words and functions, described in section
«Keywords», one can describe the required algorithm and save the ready template with *.cmc
extension into Macro folder of the root directory. An example of the template file contents is given
below: (Table 6):
Table 6. Row-by-Row Contents of a Processing Template File: Example

Line Keyword Action Description
1 name Edit\Morphological Definition of the template name and of
Operations\Thickening corresponding main menu item.
2 name 1049 Editing\Morphological Definition of the template name and of
operations\Thickening corresponding main menu item for Russian
version.
3 expr $radius 1 Re-definition of the filter radius
4 expr $var i=2 Declaration of the j variable and assigning the 2
value to it.
5 expr $var n=thick_niter Declaration of the n variable and assigning the
“thick_niter” variable to it
6 expr thickening(id#Растр,1) “Thickening” of input signal with the radius
value=1
7 expr $do Opening external processing cycle. The value of

n variable will be decreasing by one digit at each
cycle iteration.
8 expr $do Opening internal processing cycle
9 thickening(id#after_thickening,i) “Thickening” in the cycle with respect to the
result of the previous action. During the first
iteration of the cycle the action is done with
respect to the results of the action in line 5,
during further iterations – with respect to the
results of the previous one. The value of the
radius therewith changes depending on the
value of the i variable. . The value of i variable
will be decreasing by one digit at each iteration.
10 $while (i+=1)<=8 Closing internal cycle. Processing will be
interrupted, when the value of the i variable will
be over 8.
11 $set i=1 Assigning of value 1 to the i variable.
12 $while (n-=1)>=0 Closing external cycle. Processing will be
interrupted, when the n variable value will be
less than 0.
13 input Растр Definition of input variable with «Input» name,
corresponding to the raster channel. This name
will be used as a signature during the creation of
the graphic interface.
14 cinput thick_niter 32.000000 Definition of numerical variable that can be
entered via the graphical interface.
15 output after_thickening Definition of the output channel name.
16 domain 0 Processing area definition indicator. In this case
– Union value.
17 locWinRad 0 The value of the filter radius. In this case the
radius definition is impossible. The respective
element of the graphical interface will be
blocked.
18 nodata -9999 NODATA value for the output channel.
19 ignoreMask 0 Checkbox Ignore Vector Mask, unchecked in this
case.
20 ignoreNoda 1 Checkbox Ignore NODATA Value, checked in this
ta case.
21 filter 0 Definition of the resampling filter. BOX filter is
used in this case.

22 rawdata 0 Checkbox Raw Data, unchecked in this case.
Example of the graphical interface for the above described template is given below (Fig.199).
The delivery set consists of a
large number of processing
templates, all saved in Macro folder
and having interface dialogs.
Commands invoking them are located
in the items of the application main
menu.
Full list of accessible functions,
operations, operators and keywords
is available in Section «Annex 1».
Fig.199. Example of the graphical interface for

processing templates
Image texture features computation
Along with the described above speckle-noise filtering, another effective tool of radar images
preliminary processing is the computation of texture features or texture filtering.
Texture features are computed based on the brightness level co-occurrence in local rectangular
window, recorded as Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), first presented in the Kharalik
work. Co-occurrence is defined based on the pairs of pixels, separated by the specified direction and
distance. Thus for example, if the distance equals one pixel and the direction is horizontal, all pairs of
pixels within the window, located next to each other horizontally, are used for co-occurrence.
As during the use of full range of possible brightness (256) and a small window size almost all
cells of the built matrix will be empty, to create GLCM the entire range of the image brightness values
is divided into internals, inside which all brightness values are considered similar. Intervals can have
same brightness or pixel number in each interval
First method can be used, if image brightness histogram does not have expressed peaks and
covers the whole range of possible values. If brightness histogram has only one narrow peak, this
method will be result in a lot of empty matrix cells. In this case the second method is used, based on
the calculation of image brightness using such a set of intervals that the histogram area over each of
them is approximately the same (this allows for better GLC-matrix filling). Moreover, using brightness
histogram of only the interested part of the image, GLC-matrix filling can become even better,
consequently, improving the quality of the image texture features computation.
An own GLC-matrix is created for each direction and distance, in which cell (i, j) the possibility
of pixels having brightness values i and j are recorded. In this way, GLC-matrix is square, with
vertical and horizontal length equaling the number of used brightness levels (intervals).
In texture classification, usually certain averaged derived features of GLC-matrix are used
rather than proper matrix (Ошибка! Источник ссылки не найден.).
Specifying the probability, recorded in cell (i, j) of GLC-matrix via fˆ i, j  , we define:
Table 7. Directionally Averaged Parameters of GLC-Matrix
 y   i  fˆ i, j  – line average

i j
 x   j  fˆ i, j  – column average

j i
 y   i  i 2  fˆ i, j  – line average dispersion

i j
The texture features can be described as follows (Table 8):
Table 8. Texture features GLC-matrix

Angular Moment
 fˆ i, j 
2
angular moment,
i, j
Entropy entropy,   fˆ i, j log fˆ i, j 

i, j
Inv Diff Moment

 1  i  j  fˆ i, j 
1
inverse difference moment, 2
i, j
Diff Moment
 i  j  fˆ i, j 
2
difference moment,
i, j
Correlation
 i     j    fˆ i, j 
i, j
y x
correlation,
 y  x
Cluster Shade
 i      j    fˆ i, j 
3
cluster shade, y x
i, j
Cluster cluster prominence,  i      j    fˆ i, j 

y x
4
Prominence i, j
Sum Average sum average,  k  fˆ i, j 

k i  j k
Sum Entropy  
sum entropy,   fˆ i, j   log  fˆ i, j 
k i  j k  i  j k 
Sum Variance
 k     fˆ i, j  , где  s среднее сумм
2
sum variance, s
k i  j k
Diff Variance
 k     fˆ i, j  , d -
2
difference dispersion, d where difference
k i  j k
average
Diff Entropy  
difference entropy,   fˆ i, j   log  fˆ i, j 
k i  j k  i  j k 
To calculate texture features, select command EditFilteringTexture Features from main
menu, opening dialog Texture Analysis (Fig.200).
Fig.200. Texture Analysis dialog
Drop-down listbox Input Channel – specifies channel for processing.

Drop-down listbox Mask – specifies mask, within which limits processing will be done. If mask is not
specified, the whole image will be processed.
Group Texture Feature – allows to select calculated texture feature and configure its calculation:
Drop-down listbox – specifies calculated texture feature. List of available features shown in Table
8.
Field Distance – specifies distance, used during GLC-matrix computation (the more distance, the
bigger local window should be used to obtain enough pixels for calculation).
Field Range – specifies the local window size, used in GLC-matrix creation. Local window size is
calculated as (Radius*2)+1. For example, radius 2 value corresponds to the window 5х5
pixels (2*2+1)х(2*2+1).
Field Grey Levels – specifies brightness intervals number, used in GLC-matrix calculation.
Checkbox Equalize Levels – equalizes the brightness intervals by the number of pixels inside. If
checked, brightness intervals are similar in the number of pixels inside. If unchecked, equal
intervals are built regardless of number of pixels inside.
Button OK – starts texture feature calculation.
Button Cancel – closes dialog.
The above procedure generates a new raster layer and uploads it into the system. This layer’s
name will correspond to the computed parameter.
Robert M Haralick "Textural Features for Image Classification".
Change Detection
Change detection analysis per one channel
The program has two classic methods of change detection (Subtraction and Division) and
one alternative method (based on the use of principal components analysis).
Classic change detection methods are subtraction (in cases when additive changes are
assumed) and division (when multiplicative changes are assumed) of two images brightness values
after radiometric normalization as performed.
Advantages of these methods are simplicity, stability, and transparent interpretation.
Disadvantage is the assumption of linear proportion of brightness changes to the interested territory
changes for all image objects.
Advantages of division method are both simplicity and less strict requirements to radiometric
and atmospheric corrections. Disadvantage is nonlinearity (brightness changes from 20 to 40 and
from 40 to 80 give same result).
Aside from the above simple methods there are more complex schemes. Pixel values of two
images taken at different times are considered as point from multidimensional (here – two-
dimensional) space. In this case it is possible to build a function between pixels of two images more
complex than linear regression. This function describes “typical” transition between pixels of two
images (e.g. as probability distribution of pixels values from second image, having same brightness as
pixels from first image). One of the most effective ways to describe such a function is to use principal
components analysis (detection of direction of biggest change). This approach, in contrast with linear
regression, allows deriving model which is symmetrical to both images. In this case “typical”
distinction is estimated by first principal component, while second component (orthogonal to the first)
is used as a measure of deviation from trend. To take into account spatial context the brightness is
normalized using local dispersion (then same change in area of small local variation will be more
important than in area of large local variation).
For successful operation of the algorithms it is required to make sure that rasters being
processed meet the following requirements:
 Raster channels should be well co-registered.
 It is recommended to use the images, received on the dates from neighboring seasons.
 Images being processed should have one basis (should be of one size in pixels, spatial
resolution and coordinates of the upper left corner).
For images co-registration one of the algorithms of geometric correction can be used, described
in section «Raster images geometric correction» of this User’s Guide.
To bring the images to one basis built-in tools can be used, for example the Extent toolkit,
described in section «Extent toolkit», or the required channels saved in one file loaded again into the
application for processing. If the channels being processed do not meet this requirement a warning
message will be popped up and the processing will be suspended.
To run Single-channel change detection procedure it is required to do the following:

Run Edit  Single-channel change detection command from main menu. The Single-
channel change detection dialog will appear as a result (Fig.201):
Drop-down list Reference raster –
sets up the reference first
raster layer, used to search
for changes.
Drop-down list Comparing raster –
sets up the raster layer, used
to search for changes as
compared to the first raster.
In Change detection method group
– one of the available
methods can be selected:
 Radio-button
Substraction
 Radio-button Division
 Radio-button Principal
Components
Drop-down list Including vector
Fig.201. Single-channel change detection dialog
mask - enables to select one
of the options to limit the
search areas:
 Selected region – selected rectangular area.
 Vector layer – selected loaded vector layer.
 none – search will be carried out within the limits of all loaded raster.
Drop-down list Excluding vector mask – enables to exclude the preset area from analysis, selecting
one of the loaded vector layers (i.e. pixels within the limits а vector objects are excluded from
analysis):
 Vector layer – the selected vector layer. Raster areas, falling inside regions of this vector
layer, will be excluded.
 none – nothing will be excluded from the resulting raster.
Checkbox Create raster with probability values – the result of the operation is the raster layer,
which intensity values, shown within the range [0-1], indicate the probability of difference
between source images.
Checkbox Create binary raster with the following probability threshold – sets up the
representation of the result in form of a new layer, containing 1, if the preset probability is
exceeded and 0 - if not exceeded.
Button Run – executes the procedure.
To reduce the dependence of results on photometric correction quality the linear regression of
the raster being analyzed to the reference one is built up (per data within the limits of the preset
analysis area).
The result of the operation is the raster layer, which intensity values normalized to the value
range [0-1], indicates the probability of changes and/or the resulting binary raster, received applying
the preset threshold.
If Subtraction method is selected, the following operations are executed:
R = A - B А,
If Division meth is selected, the following operations are executed:
R = A / B А,
If Principal Components method is selected:
R = (PC2A*(A-SA)+PC2B*(BА-SBА),
where R – interim result, A – reference raster, BА – result of regression of the raster being
analized to the reference one, PC2A – multiplier of the second principal component for raster A,
PC2B – multiplier of the second principal component for raster BА, SA – mean value of raster A, SB –
mean value of raster BА (all values are calculated in the area, limited by vector masks).
Interim result is used for calculation of distribution, based on which the deviations probability is
calculated. For R values, corresponding to distribution median, the changes probability is considered
zero, for values, corresponding to probability of 0.05 and 0.95 the probability of changes is regarded
as equal to 90%, etc. The received probability values are used for creation of resulting rasters.
Let’s take the results of processing images (Fig.202): acquired from Landsat-5 (June 4, 1986,
Fig. А) and Landsat-7 (June 21, 2001, Fig. B), applying Subtraction method (Fig. C) and Principal
Components method (Fig. D).
А. Source image A B. Image B being analized (June 21, 2001)

(June 4, 1986)
C. Result of processing by Subtraction method. D. Result of processing by Principal

Red color indicates the detected changes, blue – Components method. Red color indicates the
the unchanged territories detected changes, blue – the unchanged territories
Fig.202. The results of Single-channel change detection procedure
During the visualization of the processing results the toolkit for building gradient palette can be
used, as described in section «Raster display in gradient palette mode» of this User’s Guide. Ready
color palettes change_abs.icp and change_rel.icp, stored in Palette folder of the root directory,
can be used as an example.
Multichannel change detection
One of the most up-to-date methods of detecting changes on multi-temporal images is MAD -
the Multivariate Alteration Detection, based on building multi-dimensional correlation between images
(canonic correlation analysis).
This method is related to pixel by pixel methods using linear intensity transformation. The
purpose of such linear transformation is getting a single-band image, reflecting maximum variability of
all channels between two multi-channel images. For the first time the MAD building procedure was
described in the works of Nielsen (1996) and Nielsen, Conradsen (1997).
If the intensity values of the first and second image channels are represented as vectors X and
Y respectively, which are assumed as normally distributed multi-dimensional random values, then the
difference of two images can be calculated as D = a’X – b’Y .
Similar to the principal components method, the vectors of coefficients a and b are selected so
that to maximize the dispersion of the D value provided the dispersions of addends are unitary, i.e.
var (a’X) = var (b’Y) = 1.
As the principal components method, this one named “generic problem of eigenvalues” enables
MADi
to get n of components (n – number of channels in each image), called , as well as n of
matching eigen vectors and eigen values (dispersions

 i2 ), i  1,2,..., n .
In case of “coordinated” (same for all the image) change of intensity of one image with respect
to another (for example, due to seasonality or change in imagery conditions), the sum of squares of
normalized
MADi should have the distribution  2 , which enables to calculate the statistics:
 MAD1   MADn 
2     ...   
 1   n 
Using this statistics as quantile of distribution

2 with n degrees of freedom, we can calculate
the probability of received statistics value for this pixel to correspond to the “coordinated” intensity
change and thus detect pixels with “non-coordinated” intensity changes that are candidates for the
places of changes, not explained by the general for the entire image trends.
Calculated in this way probabilities are the result of the change detection algorithm operation,
based on MAD method.
As an illustration during the algorithm description we will use comparison of two Landsat-7
images, acquired on October 10, 1999 (first image) and October 21, 2005 (second image). A forest
territory, where changes were mostly due to natural succession of forest communities, is used for
comparison (a strict nature reserve is in the left part; whereas logging sites, mostly old ones and with
no economic activities, are in the other part). Tree vegetation is represented both by coniferous in the
lower canopy) and broadleaved species (in the upper canopy); the forest itself is located east of Kazan
city on the left bank of the Volga River.
The image of the territory in standard 7-4-2 composite for both images is shown below. Red
line indicates the area, for which change detection is carried out (Fig.203).
Fig.203. Landsat-7 images: first (upper) - 1999, second (lower) - 2005. 7-4-2 composite
To conduct change detection using MAD method the respective dialog should be opened via
Edit  Multichannel change detection menu item (Fig.204):
Fig.204. Multichannel change detection dialog
Two groups are located on the form: the reference image channels list is on the left (with is compared
to), on the right – the list of channels of the image, on which changes are being detected as
compared to the previous one. Channels should be listed in the same order and their number
should match. It is possible to compare images, acquired using different sensors (for example,
Landsat-5 and Landast-7 images), but the channels should be close in spectral coverage.
Drop-down list at the top of each list and the Add button are used to add channels. Use Remove
button, located under the list, to delete channels from the list. To change the order - use
Move up and Move down, located under the list as well.
The area, for which change detection is performed, is specified using two groups with drop-down
lists:
Drop-down list Including vector mask - enables to select one of the options of restricting the
search area (i.e. specifies the area, included into the analysis):
 Selected region – selected rectangular region.
 Vector layer – selected loaded vector layer.
 none – search will be carried out within the limits of all loaded raster.
Drop-down list Excluding vector mask – enables to exclude specified area from analysis, selecting
one of the loaded vector layers (i.e. pixels within the limits of vector objects are not involved
in analysis):
 vector layer – selected vector layer. Raster portions, falling within regions of this vector
layer, will be excluded.
 none – nothing should be excluded from the resulting raster.
It is assumed that the selected vector layers do not go far beyond the limits of the image
(extent), therefore to reduce wasted time the layers should be preliminary cut approximately along
the borders of the extent (either in vector editor of the application or they should be prepared in an
third-party GIS).
Group Output rasters - allows program specify the type of output data for the calculation^
Checkbox Create raster with probability values – a raster layer is the result of the operation,
which intensity values, normalized to the [0-1] values range, indicate the probability of
difference in source images.
Checkbox Create binary raster with the following probability threshold – sets up the
representation of the result in form of a new layer, containing 1, if the specified probability
is exceeded and 0 - if not.
Button Run – executes the procedure.
The result of the operation is the raster layer, which intensity values, normalized to the [0-1]
values range, indicate the probabilities of changes, calculated applying the above method and\or
binary raster, taking on value 1, if the probability exceeds the specified threshold and 0 - if the
threshold is not exceeded.
Change detection results are shown below (Fig.205). The upper image - changes probability,
darker tone corresponds to bigger probability. Lower image - locations, where changes probability
threshold that equals 0.9 is exceeded, are shown in red. Locations, where changes at specified
threshold are not detected, are shown in green.
Fig.205. Detection results
Some places, where changes are detected, are shown in details below (Fig.206, Fig.207,
Fig.208).
Fig.206. Example of new logging sites detection in the central part of the area
Fig.207. Example of change detection on old clearcuts in the upper part of the area
Fig.208. Example of vegetation change detection in the area of ravine network in the lower
part of the image (due to seasonal factors and, probably, erosion)
More information about the method of multi-dimensional change detection is available in the
following studies:
Nielsen, A. A. Change detection in multispectral, bi-temporal spatial data using orthogonal
transformations. Proceedings of the 8th Australian Remote Sensing Conference, 1996, Canberra,
Australia, March.
Nielsen, A. A. and Conradsen, K. Multivariate alteration detection (mad) in multispectral, bi-temporal
data: A new approach to change detection studies. Technical Report IMM-REP-1997. 1997,
Technical University of Denmark Lyngby, 11.
Bands contrast equalizing for IRS-1C/1D PAN
This tool is a specific one and can be used for correction of different intensity and contrast of
separate CCD lines and data received by the pan camera of IRS-1C/1D satellites. This tool supports
IRS-1C/1D data stored in ScanEx HDF format. To equalize the contrast of sub-scenes (individual CCD
lines) of PAN images, it is required to run Edit  Equalize IRS CCD’s command from main menu.
IRS 1C\1D CCDs Equalization dialog will open (Fig.209).
Fig.209. IRS 1C\1D CCDs Equalization dialog
Group Channels – specifies the channel that is required to be processed.

Group Reference CCD – defines the reference CCD line, which intensity and contrast will be used as
a reference for correction:
Radio button Left – left band.
Radio button Center – center band.
Radio button Right – right band.
Button Equalize – performs equalization of bands contrast with respect to selected reference band
from Reference CDD.
Button Reset – cancels bands contrast equalization.
Button Close – closes dialog IRS 1C\1D CCDs Equalization.
During the correction of intensity and contrast the linear transformation is used, which
parameters are calculated within the area of the lines crossing. Therefore to support correct
calculations it is required to co-register the images first, using one of the tools, used in geometric
correction and described in section «Raster images geometric correction» of this User’s Guide. In
addition, the part of the image, virtually cut using Image Segments, described in section «Image
segments», can be used in calculation of transformation parameters.
SLC off correction for Landsat-7
Starting June 2003, due to technical problems Landsat-7 data has a defect – tapered areas with
no data, expanding from image center to the edges.
Correction process implies filling the tapered defected areas with data acquired in the past or
using data acquired by other sensors with more or less similar spectral properties.
The application has a special tool to correct this defect that can be opened by running Edit 
SLC OFF Correction command in main menu (Fig.210).
Fig.210. SLC OFF Correction dialog
Drop-down listbox SLC Off Channel – specifies defect channel.

Drop-down listbox Layer to be patched – specifies channel which will be used for correction.
Drop-down listbox Destination Layer – specifies name of the output channel.
Field Window radius – specifies radius of local window used for correction. Window size equals
(Radius*2)+1, for example at Window radius = 20 value – local window size will be
(20*2)+1 = 41x41 pixels.
Field Grid levels – number of levels of multi-level cubic splines used in correction. More information
about multi-cubic splines is available in Section «Local transformation».
To work with this tool the RGB channels being processed should be normalized to one basis,
otherwise the error message «Rasters are not compatible» will pop up. To normalize images to one
basis the Extent toolkit can be used, as described in section «Extent toolkit» of this User’s Guide.
Atmospheric correction
Description atmospheric correction algorithm
Optical sensors installed at Earth satellite vehicles register radiance power of the Earth surface
and atmosphere. At that the sensor registers only a part of backscattered radiation, which as a rule
equals about 80% with 0.85 mkm wavelength and about 50% with 0.45 mkm wavelength. The losses
are mainly related to two processes in the Earth atmosphere – absorption and scatter.
The main sourcers of absorption are atmospheric gases, primarily O3, H2O, O2, CO2, CH4 and
N2O. However, channel spectral ranges applied by SV sensors are specially selected to register
radiation in the so-called “spectral windows”. So, atmospheric gas absorption is not a critical factor in
this case.
In the process of atmospheric scatter a part of the incoming solar stream changes direction due
to its interation with non-absorbent aerosols (returns to the registration sensor). The rest of reflected
radiation goes through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth surface, which scatters it it back. At
that some part of Earth-reflected radiation is similarly diffused by the atmosphere, while the other part
reflects towards the Earth and then back from the Earth surface (the backscatter effect).
The procedure of registering and digitizing radiation quantizes continuous signal. Then it is
saved as digital numbers (DN) and recorded as pixel values of imagery received by the scanner. DNs
are normally converted via the following linear transformation:
LSAT  DN * GAIN  BIAS , (1)
where LSAT - spectral radiance registered by the sensor
Wm2 sr 1 m1 ; GAIN – multiplier; BIAS – shift.
The reflectance is computed as follows:
 LSAT (2)
p
Eo cos  Z ,
where Eo - extra-atmospheric solar invariable, Wm2  m1 ;  Z - the Solar zenith angle. Thus,
Eo  ESUN / d , где ESUN - - coefficient of extraterrestrial solar radiation defined for each spectral
channel, а d - distance from the Earth to the Sun as of the imaging date in astronomical units (au).
Radiance values obtained by (2) do not consider atmospheric effects, i.e. represent Top of
Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance.
Atmospheric effects may be measured via a parametric model of atmospheric correction based
on 6S method. Alternatively simplified Dark Object Subtraction (DOS) model may be applied
discarding aerosol absorption of radiation.
Radiance computation by DOS method may be rendered as follows:
 ( LSAT  LP ) (3)
p
Tv ( Eo cos  Z TZ  EDOWN ) ,
where Tv - Atmospheric transmittance along the path from the ground surface to the
sensor; TZ - Atmospheric transmittance along the path from the sun to the ground surface;
EDOWN - downwelling spectral irradiance at the surface due to scattered solar flux in the
atmosphere Wm2  m1 ; while LP - Upwelling atmospheric spectral radiance scattered in the
direction of and at the sensor en- trance pupil and within the sensor's field of view
Wm2 sr 1 m1 , i.e., the path radiance, which is computed as follows:
LP  LDOS  P(( EO cosZ TZ  EDOWN )TV /  ) , (4)
where LDOS - statistically significant small radiance value in the spectral class; P - percentage
of reflectance radiation ( EO cos Z TZ  EDOWN )TV /  ).

The software offers four DOS method options to convert radiance into reflectance differing in
definition of LP , Tv , TZ , EDOWN variables (Table 9):
Table 9. Methods to define variables for converting radiation power into DOS-based
reflectance at sensor
Method Tv TZ EDOWN
DOS1 1 1 0
DOS2 cos V cos  Z 0
DOS3 exp( r / cos V ) exp( r / cos Z ) R 550
DOS4 exp( r / cos V ) exp( r / cos Z )  LP
where r - optical density of Rayleigh scattering defined for each channel via formula
 r  0.008569 4 (1 0.0113 2  0.00013 4 ) ,  = center of a spectral channel wavelength in
 m ; V - visual axis deviation from nadir point; R 550 – zero optical density of aerosols in 0.55 mkm
range for Rayleigh Atmosphere Model.
Additional information on reflectance conversion and atmospheric correction via DOS1-DOS4 methods
may be obtained from the following studies:
Chavez, P. S. (1996). Image-based atmospheric correction—revisited and improved. Photogrammetric
Engineering and Remote Sensing, 62(9), 1025 – 1036.
The software offers an interface to 6S Library program code (Second Simulation of a Satellite
Signal in the Solar Spectrum). This parametric model of atmospheric correction may define surface
reflectance with regard for a sensor’s spatial position and orientation, lighting and atmosphere
conditions and reflectance of an underlying surface.
The model’s basic parameters are as follows:

 Imaging conditions including the Solar zenith angle and azimuth; visual axis deviation from
nadir point (imaging zenith angle); imaging azimuth; imaging data.
 Spectral range width for each processed channel.
 Atmospheric model (profile) to stimulate an absorption effect. There are seven standard
profiles to describe dependence of pressure, temperature and vapour and ozone concetration
on height:
Table 10. Parameters of standard profiles for stimulation of absorption effects

Profile name H2O concentration (g/cm2) O3 Volume (cm-atm.)
Tropical 4.12 0.247
Midlatitudes – summer 2.93 0.319
Midlatitudes – winter 0.835 0.395
Subarctic – summer 2.10 0.480
Subarctic – winter 0.419 0.480
USA standard - 62 1.42 0.344
 Aerosol model type to describe percentage of 4 core components: dust, hydrosoluble, oceanic
and sooty. 3 standard profiles may be offered:
Table 11. Parameters of standard profiles to describe aerosol types

Name Dust Hydrosoluble Oceanic Sooty
(V%) (V%) (V%) (V%)
Continental 0.70 0.29 0 0.01
Marine 0 0.05 0.95 0
Urban 0.17 0.61 0 0.22
Precalculated models are as follows: desert aerosol model, burning biomass (forest
fires) and stratospheric. Additionally a user may set his proprietory model based on
percentage of core components.
 Optical desity defined as aerosol density with 0.55 mkm wavelength or visual ground range in
km. Aerosol optical density is defined via the following dependency:
Table 12. Dependency of aerosol optical density

range of visibility (km) 0.55 mkm optical density
23 (no mist) 0.235
5 (strong) 0.78
 Reflectance of an underlying surface. The current software version offers Lambert Plane
Reflectance. To assess underlying surface reflectance users should select one of available
spectral profiles: foliage; pure water; sand; lake water. Alternatively they may set an average
reflectance value.
 Altitude.
See official 6S model web-site for additional information on its algorithm computation parameters at:
http://6s.ltdri.org/
DOS Interface
To define reflectance, apply Reflectance Calculation dialog window available via Editing ->
Reflectance Calculation command of the Main Menu (Fig.211).
Fig.211. Reflaction Calculation dialog
Group Rasters – sets channels to be processed.

Button Remove –
deletes selected
channels from
the above list.
Button Remove all –
clears the list of
processed
channel.
Button Add – launches
a dialog box to
select required
channels Fig.212. Select Rasters to be Added dialog
(Fig.212).
Set channels required to calculate reflectance via Select Rasters to be Added menu item.
Several channels at a time may be added via the following standard Windows
operation: left-clicking while pressing Ctrl or Shift button.
Button Add – to ass selected channels to Channels group.
Button Cancel – to close a dialog box.
Group Selected Raster Parameters – to select parameters of reflectance computaion:

Drop-down list Preset – to set preset parameters specific for a selected channel: coefficients of
satellite-recorded digital numbers scaled into at-satellite radiances; determining the status of the
Define Raster Black Radiance flag; minimum and maximum wavelength of a spectral channel;
coefficient of extraterrestrial solar radiation.
Button Save – to save preset values for further operations. To save changes, select a required
name or set new in the drop-down list and press Save button.
Controls to conversion To (W/m2/µm/sr) – to set coefficients for converting digital numbers
into at-satellite radiances (Wm2 sr 1 m1 ) :

Entry field Bias – to set a shift coefficient.
Entry field Gain – to set a multiplier.
These parameters shall be applied if brightness values were not converted into at-satellite radiances
at the uploading stage.
Flag Define Raster Black Radiance – activates the field to define the channel’s minimum
significant brightness value. If the field is not activated, this parameters is defined
automatically. At that the minimum significant brightness will have the value with a pixel
total not exceeding 0.01% of the channel’s general number of pixels.
Subgroup Spectral Bandwidth (mkm) – to define spectral parameters of a selected channel:
Entry field Values of Wlinf – to define the bottom boundary of a channel spectral range in
mkm.
Entry field Wlsup – to define the top boundary of a channel spectral range in mkm.
Entry field Solar Irradiance – to define ESUN coefficient of average extraterrestrial solar
spectral irradiance (W m2  m1 ) .

Subgroup Geometrical Conditions (Angles in Degrees) – to define imaging conditions.
Drop-down list Sun Zenith – to set the Solar zenith angle in degrees for the imaging
moment. It is computed as 90o  e , where  e - the Sun elevation angle in degrees.

If operational information contains the angle value for initial and terminal imaging
time and applies interpolation to define the Sun value, the drop-down list
automatically displays Raster Grid value. Otherwise the Solar zenith angle is applied
to the central part of the image.
Entry field Satellite Incidence – sets the angle of deviation of the optical axis of the scanner
from the nadir in degrees. If operational information contains the angle value for
initial and terminal imaging time and applies interpolation to define nadir angle value,
the drop-down list automatically displays Raster Grid value. Otherwise the average
deviation angle value is applied.
Entry field Month field – to set the ordinal number of an imaging month within a
corresponding year.
Entry field Date field – to set the ordinal number of an imaging day (date) within a
corresponding month.
Entry field Sun Distance – to automatically display distance from the Earth to the Sun as of
the imaging date in astronomical units (au).
Subgroup Atmospheric Parameters – to define atmosphere transparency for the imaging
moment:
Entry field Diffuse Sky Irradiance – to set the value of downwelling rayleigh scattering in
(Wm2  m1 ) . It is applied in DOS3 processing and defined as zero optical density of
aerosols in 550 mkm range for Rayleigh Atmosphere Model.
Group Atmospheric Correction Method – to select one of available atmospheric correction
methods.
Drop-down list – to select the method of converting initial values of spectral radiance into
reflectance:
 No Correction – without the use of atmospheric correction (TOA reflectance)
 DOS1 – conversion based on DOS1 correction model
Entry field Solar radiance in path radiance (%) – to set the Solar radiance percentage in the
path radiance volume. It is applied in DOS1-DOS4 conversion methods. As a rule, 1% is set
for visual range spectral channels and 0.1% for IR channels.
Flag Scale Output Data With the Factor – active if required to normalize output values into
integral values. The right-hand field sets a value normalization coefficient.
Button Perform – to initiate computation of reflectance.
Interface of 6S Atmospheric Correction
To define reflectance via 6S parametric model, apply Atmospheric Correction dialog box via
command Edit -> Atmospheric Correction of the Main Menu (Fig.213).
Fig.213. Atmospheric Correction dialog
Group Rasters – sets channels to be processed.

Button Remove – deletes selected channels from the above list.
Button Remove all – clears the list of processed channel.
Button Add – launches a dialog box to select required channels (Fig.214).
Fig.214. Select Rasters to be Added dialog
Set channels required to calculate reflectance via Select Rasters to be Added menu item.
Several channels at a time may be added via the following standard Windows
operation: left-clicking while pressing Ctrl or Shift button.
Button Add – to ass selected channels to Channels group.

Button Cancel – to close a dialog box.
Group Selected Raster Parameters – to select parameters of reflectance computaion:
Subgroup Geometrical Conditions (Angles in degrees) – to define imaging conditions.
Entry field Sun Zenith – to set the Solar zenith angle in degrees for the imaging moment. It
is computed as 90o  e , where  e - the Sun elevation angle in degrees. If

operational information contains the angle value for initial and terminal imaging time
and applies interpolation to define the Sun angle value. Otherwise the Solar zenith
angle is applied to the central part of the image.
Entry field Sun Azimuth – to set the Sun azimuth in degrees.
Entry field Sat Zenith – to set the angle of scanner visual axis deviation from nadir, in
degrees. If operational information contains the angle value for initial and terminal
imaging time, interpolation is applied to define nadir angle value. Otherwise the
average deviation angle value is applied.
Entry field Sat Azimuth – sets imaging azimuth, in degrees.
Entry field Month – to set the ordinal number of an imaging month within a corresponding
year.
Entry field Date – to set the ordinal number of an imaging day (date) within a corresponding
month.
Subgroup Spectral Conditions, Bandwidth (mkm) – to define spectral parameters of a
selected channel (in mkm):
Entry field Values of Wlinf – to define the bottom boundary of a channel spectral range.
Entry field Values of Wlsup – to define the top boundary of a channel spectral range.
Group Common Parameters – to define basic parameters of reflectance computation:
Subgroup Raster Data Units – to define units of channel’s brightness values in pixels:
Switcher Radianceses (W/m2/µm/sr) – brightnesses are presented as at-satellite
radiances.
Switcher TOA Reflectance – brighnesses are presented as TOA reflectance values.
Subgroup Atmospheric Model – to define type of atmosphere for simulating gas absorption.
Drop-down list Profile – to select one of available atmospheric profiles:
 No Gaseous Absorption (no gas absorption model is applied)
 Tropical
 Midlatitude Summer
 Midlatitude Winter
 Subarctic Summer
 Subarctic Winter
 US Standard 62
 US Standard 62 with Water Vapor and Ozone Contents
Entry field Water Vapor (g/cm2) – to define summary content of vapour (H2O); available
for US Standard 62 with Water Vapor and Ozone Contents model.
Entry field Ozone (cm·atm.) – to define summary content of ozone (O 3); available for US
Standard 62 with Water Vapor and Ozone Contents model.
Subgroup Aerosol Model (Type) – to define parameters of dispersion model:
Drop-down list Model – to select an aerosol model:
 No aerosols (no dispersion model applied),
 Continental (sra),
 Marine (sra),
 Urban (sra),
 Shettle for Background Desert Aerosol,
 Biomass burning,
 Stratospheric,
 Custom values (to define share of each compnenet in per cent).
Subgroup Volumic Percentage of Each Component (%) – is active if Custom values
aerosol model is selected; is intended to manually define composition of aerosols:
Entry field Dust-like – to set the share of dust component.
Entry field Оceanic – to set the share of oceanic component.
Entry field Water-soluble – to set the share of hydrosoluble component.
Entry field Soot – to set the share of soot field.
The total of components’ share in per cent shall equal to 1.
Subgroup Optical Depth Parameter – to define optical density for simulating Scatter:
Entry field Parameter Value – to set parameter of aerosol optical density.
Switcher Visibility (km) – interprets the set parameter as the maximum distance of
land-based monitoring in km.
Switcher Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm – interprets the set parameters as aerosol
optical density measured in 550 nm range (AOD550).
Entry field Height (meters) – to indicate average altitude.
Drop-down list get from – to automatically compute average elevation by the uploaded DEM.
Drop-down list Vector Mask – to outline a computation area by a vector mask or a rectangular area.
Flag Scale Output Data With the Factor – active if required to normalize output values into
integral values. The right-hand field sets a value normalization coefficient.
Topography Correction of Rasters
Topography Correction is intended to restore reflectance of low illuminated slopes of raster. At

that the reflectance values of identical objects located in areas with different illuminating intensity are
approximated.
Description of Topography Correction Algorithm
Solar radiance is a summary value comprising direct and diffuse fractions. Since shadowed
areas have non-zero values, users can define direct radiation component. Further on this helps to
restore surface reflectance values.
TC methods offered by this module are based on simulating illumination conditions alongside
DTM raster values. For more accurate correction, the DTM ratser shall have the same (or even
greater) spatial resolution as a spectral raster to be corrected. The cosine of angle between normal to
surface and direction of radiation is computed via DTM raster. This Illumination (IL) varies in the
range from -1 to +1 and may be computed as follows:
IL  cos p cos z  sin  p sin  z cos a  0 

where  p - slope angle,  z - Solar zenith angle, a - Solar azimuth angle, 0 - aspect angle.
TC methods to compute the values of reflectance of a horizontal surface (  H ) via registered
values of reflectance of an inclined surface (  T )may be described by the following formula (Table
13):
Table 13. TC Methods Offered by the Sofware:

K
 1 
 H  T cos p 
 IL cos 
Minnaert Correction with Slope (Riano et al. 2003)
 p 
K
 cos z 
 H  T cos p 
 IL cos 
Minnaert Correction with Slope (Law & Nichol 2004)
 p 
 cos z 
K
Minnaert Correction  H  T  
 IL 
  ILm  IL  
Cosine Correction (Civco 1989)  H  T   T  
  ILm  
 cos z 
Cosine Correction (Teillet et al. 1982)  H  T  
 IL 
where the following parameters are introduced in addition to prior values: ILm – total average
of all IL values in the area to be corrected, K – Minaert Constant.
Minaert Constant (K) may be set in the form by the user or automatically defined for each
corrected channel as a linear regression parameter (Table 14), where ln   H  and K are linear
regression parameters (Ошибка! Источник ссылки не найден.).
Table 14. Variants of Defining Minnaert Constant depending on Selected Algorithm

Minnaert Correction with Slope (Riano et
ln  T cos p   ln   H   K ln  IL cos p 
al. 2003)
 IL cos p 
Minnaert Correction with Slope (Law & ln  T cos p   ln   H   K ln  
Nichol 2004)  cos z 
 IL 
Minnaert Correction ln  T   ln   H   K ln  
 cos z 
If “Minnaert Constant Depending on Slope Angle” mode is activated, Minnaert Constant is
calculated for several slope angles. At that correction applies interpolated K value for a corresponding
slope angle.
Topography Correction Interface
Topography Correction dialog box is available via command Edit -> Topography
Correction of the Main Menu (Fig.216).
Group Channels – to set channels for
topography correction.
Button Add – launches Select
Rasters to be Added dialog
box applied to select required
channels (Fig.215):
List Rasters – to select rasters
for topography
correction. Fig.215. Select Rasters to be Added dialog
Button Add – to add selected
channels to Channels group.
Button Cancel – to close a dialog window.
Button Delete – deletes selected channels from the above list.

Button Delete all – clears the list
of processed channel.
Group Selected Raster
Geometrical Conditions
(in degrees) – to define
imaging conditions:
Entry field Sun Zenith – to set
the angle of scanner visual
axis deviation from nadir,
in degrees. It is calculated
as 90o  e , where  e -
sun elevation angle in
degrees. If operational
information contains the
angle value for initial and
terminal imaging time,
interpolation is applied to
define nadir angle value.
Otherwise the average
deviation angle value is
applied.
Entry field Sun Azimuth – to set Fig.216. Topographic Correction dialog
the Sun azimuth in
degrees.
Group Correction Method – to define the method and parameters for topography correction of
selected rasters.
Select one of available correction methods from below drop-down list:
 Minnaert Correction with Slope (Riano et al. 2003)
 Minnaert Correction with Slope (Law & Nichol 2004)
 Minnaert Correction
 Cosine Correction (Civco 1989)
 Cosine Correction (Teillet et al. 1982)
Flag Use Variable Minnaert Constant Depending on Slope Angle – available method based
on Minnaert Constant. If this mode is activated, Minnaert Constant is calculated for several
slope angles. At that correction applies interpolated Minnaert Constant for a corresponding
slope angle.
Flag and entry field Define Minnaert Constant Manually – to set a fixed Minnaert Constant
values for corresponding methods.
Entry field Minimal Illumination - to set minimum Illumination (IL) value.

Drop-down list DEM Raster – to select a DEM raster for computation of Illumination (IL), slope
angles and slope exposure.
Drop-down list Vector Mask – to outline a computation area by a vector mask or a rectangular area.
Flag Create Illuminance Rasters – activates a raster saving mode to save computed Illumination
(IL) values of selected raters, imaging conditions and DEM parameters. If the basis and
imaging conditions of several ratsers match, the system generates just one raster with
Illumination values.
Civco, D. L. (1989): 'Topographic Normalization of Landsat Thematic Mapper Digital Imagery',

Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 55(9), pp.1303-1309.
Law, K.H., Nichol, J. (2004): 'Topographic Correction for Differential Illumination Effects on Ikonos
Satellite Imagery', ISPRS 2004 International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.
Riano, D., Chuvieco, E. Salas, J., Aguado, I. (2003): 'Assessment of Different Topographic Corrections in
Landsat-TM Data for Mapping Vegetation Types', IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote
Sensing, 41(5), pp.1056-1061.
Teillet, P.M., Guindon, B., Goodenough, D.G. (1982): 'On the slope-aspect correction of multispectral
scanner data', Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, 8(2), pp.1537-1540.
Layout
The program allows the user to layout and to prepare processing results for printing.
To activate layout mode, select command Layout  Create Layout; new Layout window
and toolbar will be opened (Fig.217).
Fig.217. Layout mode
Hot key – creates new raster frame.
Hot key – creates new text frame.
Hot key – creates new legend frame.
Hot key – activates arrow tool, which is used for selecting, moving and resizing frames.
Hot key – moves selected frame to the foreground.
Hot key – moves selected frame to the background.
Hot key – enables to create a frame with a ruler.
Hot key – enables to create a frame with an arrow pointing to the north (the arrow icon
can be selected from the graphical file).
Drop-down listbox Select Frame – specifies the selection of active frame by the name.
Drop-down listbox View Scale, % – specifies display scale for the whole layout.
Layout properties setup
To select layout properties, select

command Layout  Layout
Properties, opening dialog Layout
Properties (Fig.218).
Entry field Dpi – specifies resolution in
dots per inch.
Fig.218. Layout Properties dialog
Field Background Color – specifies
layout background color.

Button Apply – applies changes and closes the dialog.
Button Cancel – discards changes and closes dialog.
It is possible to save a layout to file. Select Layout  Save Layout command from main menu
to save the layout; to load a layout - select Layout  Load Layout command.
Creating and configuring raster frame
To create new raster frame press hot key in Layout toolbar, and click left mouse button
on layout position where raster should be placed. A rectangular window with images will pop up
(Fig.219).
Fig.219. Creating raster frame
Active working window contents are copied to raster frame (including brightness, contrast, scale
and location settings).
To setup raster frame properties:
1. Select the name of required frame from the list box Select Frame in toolbar Layout or click
on the frame with left mouse button after pressing hot key .
2. Click right mouse button on selected frame or select command LayoutFrame Properties
from main menu. Dialog Raster Frame Properties will be opened (Fig.220).
Fig.220. Raster Frame Properties dialog
Group Frame Properties – sets up parameters of the frame display.

Entry field Frame Name – specifies frame name which will be shown in Select Frame list box of
Layout toolbar.
Group Background – specifies frame background properties:
Field Color – specifies background color.
Entry field Alpha – specifies transparency threshold within the range of [0-255], value 0
corresponds to complete transparency.
Field Map – allows loading background image.
Group Border – sets up the frame border properties:
Field Color – specifies the frame color.
Entry field Thickness, mm – sets up frame border thickness.
Entry field Width, mm: – sets up frame width (in mm).
Entry field Height, mm: – sets up the frame height (in mm).
The size of any frame may

be set by drawing
apart frame edges by
required distances.
Click on the grey
rectangular or a frame
angle, left-click and Fig.221. Changing frame Width and Height manually
drag it to new
position. (Fig.221)
Group Raster Properties – contains parameters for displaying raster data in the frame field.
Field Color Palette – specifies up the color palette file (*.icp, *.icxleg, *.clr). Presentation using
color palette is available for single-channel (mono) images.
Checkbox Interpolate colors between nodes – if the gradient palette is used (*.icp) to display
raster frame activates/deactivates display of smooth transitions between different colors
(nodes) of the palette.
Field Mask – enables to select one of the options to bound raster display region within frame:
 Selected Region – selected rectangular area;
 vector layer.
Group Map Grid Properties – specifies coordinate grid properties.
Group Label Style – specifies labels display parameters:
Group Font – specifies font parameters:
Field and button – is intended for transition into standard font parameters control
dialog.
Field Color – specifies font color.
Group Align – specifies labels alignment parameters:
Checkbox Top – toggles labels display at the top.
Checkbox Bottom – toggles labels display at the bottom.
Checkbox Left – toggles labels display at the left.
Checkbox Right – toggles labels display at the right.
Group Grid Style – specifies coordinate grid display parameters:

Entry field Origin X: – specifies X axis origin.
Entry field Origin Y: – specifies Y axis origin.
Entry field Step by X: – specifies grid step along X axis.
Entry field Step by Y: – specifies grid step along Y axis.
Field Color: – specifies grid color.
Entry field Width: – specifies width of grid lines.
Group Units – specifies units for coordinate grid:
 Map Units – specifies grid units to current project cartographic projection units
(meters, kilometers, pixels, or degrees depending on current projection).
 DD – selects decimal degrees as units.
 DMS – selects degrees in format “Degrees’ minutes’’ seconds ” (to specify grid
step in DMS enter degrees, minutes, and seconds separated by space; e.g. to specify
10 deg. 10 min. 20 sec. enter “10 10 20” to Step By field).
Checkbox View Raster – toggles raster display in frame window.
Checkbox View Map Grid – toggles coordinate grid display in frame window.
Button Create New Frame – creates a copy of the current frame.
Button Cancel – discards changes and closes the dialog.
Creating and configuring text frame
To create text frame press hot key in toolbar Layout, and click left mouse button on the
required layout location As a result rectangular window with [text] label will appear. To create or
modify the text select required text frame and click it with right mouse button or select command
LayoutFrame Properties; dialog Text Frame Properties (Fig.222) will appear.
Entry field Frame Name – specifies frame name which will be shown in list box Select Frame of
toolbar Layout.
Entry field Alpha – specifies the transparency threshold within the range of [0-255], value 0
Group Border – specifies the frame border properties:
Field Color – specifies border color.
Entry field Thickness, mm –

sets up the frame
border thickness (in
mm).
Entry field Width, mm: – sets up
the frame width (in mm).
Entry field Height, mm: – sets
up the frame height (in
mm).
Entry field Text – specifies text to
display.
Group Font – specifies font
parameters:
Field and button – is

used to move to the
standard font
parameters setup
dialog.
Fig.222. Text Frame Properties dialog
Field Color – sets up the font
color.
Button Fit to Text – resizes frame to fit the text.
Group Align – specifies text alignment parameters:
 Left – select left alignment of the text.
 Center – select center alignment of the text.
 Right – select right alignment of the text.
Button Create New Frame – creates a copy of the current frame.
Button Cancel – discards changes and closes the dialog.
Creating and configuring legend
Automatic creation of the legend is available for rasters, displayed using gradient palette, in
form of indexed colors (View Legend tool), as well as for vector layers (Fig.223). To create a legend,
do the following:
1. First create a raster frame (containing the resulting raster, represented in form of a gradient
palette / in form of indexed colors legend; mono channel raster; vector layer). When creating
a frame for raster, displayed using indexed colors it is important to make sure that the
required raster layer is activated in the RGB-display slots.
Fig.223. Creating and configuring legend
2. If raster using gradient palette/indexed colors needs to be displayed, first specify the file
used for painting the color palette (pre-saved) in Raster Frame Properties dialog of
Raster Properties group in Palette field.
3. Press hot key and click left mouse at any location of the layout; the vector layers legend
will pop up (depending on what is passed to the layout), color scale of gradient palette,
classes of raster in indexed colors.
To setup legend select the required legend frame and click it with right mouse button or select
command Layout  Frame Properties; dialog Legend Properties will appear (Fig.224).
Fig.224. Legend Properties dialog
Entry field Frame Name – specifies frame name which will be shown in list box Select Frame of
toolbar Layout.
Entry field Title – specifies the text that will be the title of the legend.
Checkbox Show – activates/deactivates legend title show mode.
Group Current Entry – is intended for setting up selected legend item:
Entry field Text – sets up the entered text as the legend item name.
Entry field Column – sets up the number of column for display of current legend group.
Checkbox Visible – activates/deactivates display of current legend item.
Button Edit – applies introduced in Current Entry group of elements changes.
Button Up – moves the selected legend element up.
Button Down – moves the selected legend element down.
Button Add Group – creates a new legend group.
Button Add Item – creates anew legend item.
Button Remove – removes the selected legend element.
The window below displays the legend, structure, style, order and names of its elements.
Entry field Alpha – specifies the transparency threshold within the range of [0-255], value 0
Group Border – specifies the frame border properties:

Field Color – specifies border color.
Entry field Thickness, mm – sets up the frame border thickness.
Group Fonts – controls font parameters:
Button and field Groups – displays and enables to go to the standard dialog of setting font
parameters for Groups legend elements. Field Color next to it sets up the font color.
Button and field Items – displays and enables to go to the standard dialog of setting font
parameters for Items legend elements. Field Color next to it sets up the font color.
Button and field Title – displays and enables to go to the standard dialog of setting font
parameters for Title legend elements. Field Title next to it sets up the font color.
Button and field Bar – displays and enables to go to the standard dialog of setting font
parameters for gradient scale legend element. Field Color next to it sets up the font color.
Group Parameters, mm – is intended for setting up the size of legend elements. All sizes are shown
in millimeters.
Entry field Line space: – sets up interline space between legend items.
Entry field Icon size: – sets up the width and height of the elements display style samples.
Entry field Gradient bar size: – sets up the gradient scale height.
Entry field Column width: – sets up the column width.
Group Margins, mm – is designed for setting legend elements margins:
Entry field Title: – sets up the margin for the Title legend element (from legend’s frame left
margin).
Entry field Groups: – sets up the margin for the Groups legend element (from legend’s frame
left margin).
Entry field Text: – sets up the margin for the names of the Item legend elements (from right
margin of the Samples).
Entry field Icon: – sets up the margin for the elements display style samples.
Button Close – discards changes and closes the dialog.
Vector layers legend is displayed in the form, in which it was set up via Symbology (Vector
layers control  Legend) dialog.
Saving layout to raster file
To save layout for further printing select command Layout  Save Image. Raster file in TIFF
format will be saved according to specified layout properties.
Printing layout
Prior to putting the layout for printing the page parameters should be set up. To do so, run
Layout  Page Setup command. The standard Windows dialog for setting page parameters will
appear. Here you may select the page orientation: portrait or landscape and set up the print margins.
Also, you may set up the paper size and source, from which the paper will be fed.
Group Paper – sets up the paper size and source:
Drop-down list Size – enables to select the paper size from the offered list.
Drop-down list Source – enables to select the paper source from the list.
Group Orientation – sets up either Portrait print (vertical, parallel to the long side of the
paper), or Landscape print (horizontal, parallel to the short side of the paper).
Group Margins, mm – specifies left, right, upper and lower (Left, Right, Top, Bottom)
paper margins. Measurement units - mm.
To go to print menu run Layout  Print command. The standard Windows dialog for
selecting printer, its properties, pages to be printed and number of copies will appear.
Annex 1
List of functions, operations, operators and keywords that are available when working with macros
in the program.
Functions
Table 15. List of functions that are available when working with macros in the program
Mathematic functions
Functio Description Name in dialog
sqr() Square squared value
abs() Absolute value and complex magnitude absolute value
sin() Sine of argument in radians sine
cos() Cosine of argument in radians cosine
tan() Tangent of argument in radians tangent
sqrt() Square root square root
exp() Exponential exponential function
log() Natural logarithm natural logarithm
log10() Common (base 10) logarithm logarithm, base 10
rand() Uniformly distributed pseudorandom random number
numbers
acos() Inverse cosine; result in radians Arccosine
floor() Round toward minus infinity floor function
ceil() Round toward infinity ceiling function
min(x,y) Smallest elements in array minimum of two args
max(x,y) Largest elements in array maximum of two args
pow(x,y) Base 2 power and scale floating-point raise to power
numbers
atan(x,y) Inverse tangent; result in radians arctangent of two args
finite(X) The function returns 0, if current Determines whether
intensity value (X) lies beyond the given values is finite
allowed intensity range (INF), or is not
a number (NAN), otherwise it returns 1.
The function can be used in the
following way: finite(X) ? X : 0, as a
result 0 value will be assigned to all INF
and NAN values.
isnan(X) The function returns 1, if current Check given value for
intensity value (X) is not a number not a number
(NAN), and 0 if otherwise. The function

can be used as follows: isnan(X) ? 0 : X,
as a result 0 value will be assigned to all
NAN values.
Relief processing functions
Function Description Name in dialog

rel_ev_class(id#X) Evance’s classification of forms of a rel: Evance Class
relief *
erel_x_grad(id#X) Vertical gradient erel: dx gradient
erel_y_grad(id#X) Horizontal gradient erel: dy gradient
erel_slope(id#X) Slope (radians) erel: Slope (radians)
erel_aspect(id#X) Aspect (radians) erel: Aspect (radians)
erel_profcurv(id#X) Profile Curvature erel: Profile Curvature
erel_plancurv(id#X) Plan Curvature erel: Plan Curvature
erel_tangcurv(id#X) Tangential Curvature erel: Tangential
Curvature
erel_gradient(id#X) Gradient erel: Gradient
rel_hillshade(id#X, scale, alt, Analytical shading (az- azimuth, alt- rel: Hillshade
az) altitude of light source, scale- scale
factor)
* This filter takes brightness values as relief vertices and classifies each point based on local
quadratic model, built using local window.
Below are the codes, recorded by the program as a result.
1 Watershed
2 Stream flow (river bed)
3 Flat place (plain)
4 Peaks (vertices)
5 Col (selliform)
6 Depression (water basin bed)
It is possible to control the scale of classified morphological objects by changing the window size.
Dialog Relief Settings (Fig.225), is used to specify threshold

filter values, opened by command Relief  Topographic
Analysis  Settings.
Entry field Tslope – specifies slope threshold value (in radians),
below which the parameter is considered as zero.
Entry field Tconvex – specifies surface curvature threshold value
(in meters).
Entry field Tdet – specifies model determinant (quadratic form).
Entry field Use Weights – specifies function weight.
Fig.225. Relief Settings

dialog
«General purpose» filters functions

gauss(id#X) Gaussian smoothing filter gaussian blur
emboss(id#X,pixsize) Emboss filter emboss filter
gauss_denoise(id#X,std#X) Gaussian Noise filter gauss denoise filter
repair(id#X) Repair NODATA value pixels repair bad pixels
denoise(id#X) Denoise filter denoise filter
median(id#X) Median filter median filter
blur(id#X) Smoothing filter blur
sharpenSoft(id#X) Sharpen filter with a soft kernel sharpen Soft
sharpenMedium(id#X) Sharpen filter with a medium kernel sharpen Medium
sharpenHard(id#X) Sharpen filter with a hard kernel sharpen Hard
Laplacian(id#X) Laplacian filter Laplacian highpass
filter
«Outlining filters» functions
edgeSobel(id#X) Sobel edge detector Sobel Edge Detector
edgePrewit(id#X) Prewitt edge detector PrewitEdge Detector
edgeRoberts(id#X) Roberts Cross edge detector Roberts Edge Detector
edgeGauss(id#X) Gauss edge detector Gauss Edge Detector
Морфологические операции
erode(id#X) Erosion Morphological Erode
dilate(id#X) Dilation Morphological Dilate
thinning(id#X,1) Thinning Morphological Thinning
prune(id#X,1) Pruning Morphological Prune

thickening(id#X,1) Thickening Morphological
Thickening
Функции «фильтрация спекл-шума»
sar_lee(id#X,nlook) Lee filter Lee Filter
sar_ench_lee(id#X,nlook) Enhanced Lee filter Enhanced Lee Filter
sar_frost(id#X,nlook) Frost filter Frost Filter
sar_ench_frost(id#X,nlook) Enhanced Frost filter Enhanced Frost Filter
sar_gamma_map(id#X,nloo Gamma filter Gamma Map Filter
k)
sar_kuan(id#X,nlook) Kuan filter Kuan Filter
Функции расчета регрессий
npregrLimits2(min#A1,max Calculation limits of non parametric Non Parametric
#A1,min#A2,max#A2) regression Regression: Set Limits
npregrPoint2(A1,A2,B) Calculation point of non parametric Non Parametric
regression Regression: Add Point
npregrCalc2(A1,A2) Calculation Non parametric regression Non Parametric
Regression: Calc.
Value
linregrPoint2(A1,A2,B) Calculation point of linear regression Linear Regression: Add
Point
linregrCalc2(A1,A2) Calculation linear regression Linear Regression:
Calc. Value
linregrCopy(N) Copy coefficients of linear regression to Linear Regression:
clipboard. N may take on values 2 and 3 Copy coefficients to
depending on the regression being clipboard
calculated. The function is used together
with the controller $set, e.g., $set
linregrCopy(2).
Функции расчета главных компонент
pcaStat3(mean#A1,mean#A Calculation statistics input images PCA: Set Statistics
2,mean#A3)
pcaPoint3(A1,A2,A3) Calculation point PCA: Add Point
pcaFwd3(pc,A1,A2,A3) Forward transformion principal components PCA: Forward
Transform
pcaInv3(ch,A1,A2,A3) Inverse transformion principal components PCA: Inverse
Transform
Функции приведения гистограммы
hmatchStat(min#A1,max#A Calculation statistics input images Histogram Matching:
1,min#A2,max#A2) Set Statistics
hmatchPoint(A1,A2) Calculation points Histogram Matching:
Add Point
hmatchTransform(A1) Histogram matching Histogram Matching:
Transform Pixel
Operations
Table 16. List of operations, that are available when working with macros in the program
Operations Description
|| Logical OR
&& Logical AND
| Bit-to-bit OR
^ Bit-to-bit exclusion
& Bit-to-bit
+ Addition
- Subtraction
/ Deletion
* Multiplication
% (Excess of the integer division)
<< Left shift
>> Right shift
Operators for comparison, logical:
Table 17. List of operators for comparison, that are available when working with macros in the
program
= Equal
!= No equal
> Greater than
< Less than
>= Greater than or equal to
<= Less than or equal to
AND AND
OR OR
LIKE Operator of lines comparison, used together with placeholders '%’ and ‘_’.
Placeholder '%' corresponds to several symbols or to none. The placeholder
'_' replaces one symbol exactly
Operators
Table 18. List of operators, that are available when working with macros in the program.
Expr1 ? Expr2:Expr3 Condition, if expression Expr1is true, expression Expr2 is executed,
otherwise expression Expr3 is executed
$do Expr1 $while Execution of expression Expr1 in cycle until expression Expr2 becomes true
Expr2
$radius Specify new radius
$var Declare variable
$set Calculate expression
$output Re-define output name
$delete Delete after calculation
$validate Compute pyramids and output raster statistics
Keywords
Table 19. List of keywords that are available when working with macros in the program
Keyword Destination
Name Calculation template name
Expr Expression for output raster computation
Input Input channel name (can be in several lines, if several variables are used)
Cinput Constant
Output Output channel name
Domain Specifies output raster : 0 – union, 1 - intersection
locWinRad Local window radius
ignoreMask Checkbox, don’t use vector mask: 1 : 0
ignoreNodata Checkbox, don’t use during calculations value NODATA : 0 : 1
Filter Re-sampling filter type : 0=BOX, 1=Linear, 2=Hermite
rawdata Do not use resampling: 0 : 1
Nodata NODATA value for output channel
Vector data processing functions
Table 20. List of vector data processing functions that are available when working with macros
in the program
val(str) Return a numeric part of string
len(str) Return a length of string
voType() Return a type of vector object (“P” – point, “L” – line, “PL” –polyline, “R” –
region, “MPL” – multipolyline, “MR” – multiregion)
voArea() Calculate an area of vector objects
voPerim() Calculate a perimeter of vector objects
Annex 2
MODIS data masks computation parameters setting
Configuration of masks computation for Options  Modis Masks in main menu.

General configuration is made using item Options  General in main menu.
Item Options  Modis Masks  General – opens configuration dialog MODIS Processing
parameters (Fig.226), allows for editing general parameters of mask computation.
Fig.226. MODIS Processing parameters dialog
Tab Channels’ Data Type – to set type of brightness values in uploaded rasters:
Group Choose a type – to select one of three possible values:
1. Digital Numbers – “raw” brightness values in digital numbers (DN) – available for all
channels.
2. Radiance – physical radiation values at sensor (radiance) – available for all channels.
3. Reflectance - dimensionless absolute reflectance values; only the values of channels 1
– 7 may be recalculated.
Group Clouds Masks – selects one of the algorithms of cloud detection used for computation of
masks Fire, LST, Sea / Ice, Land / Snow.
Radio button Clouds – selects use of Clouds mask.
Radio button Full Clouds – selects use of Full Clouds mask.
Button OK – closes the dialog and saves selected parameters.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog without saving selected parameters.
Fire detection parameters setting
Item Options  Modis Masks  Fires in main menu – opens fire detection configuration
dialog Fire Mask Parameters (Fig.227).
For fire detection program uses

algorithm described in ATBD-MOD-14
(MODIS Fire Products).
The algorithm depends on two main
st
parameters – temperature in 21 (4
nm) channel (the higher is the
temperature the more probable is a fire)
and difference between temperatures
st st
in 21 (4 nm) and 31 (11 nm)
channels (the higher is the difference, the
more probable is a fire).
A fire can be detected applying two
methods:
1. Absolute values of both above
indicators exceed some
predefined thresholds.
2. Pixel value considerably differs
from values of its neighbors.
Pixels which met these conditions but
detected as sun glint are neglected to be a
fire.
Fig.227. Fire Mask Parameters dialog

Group Fire Detection Thresholds
(Temperature, K) – contains
parameters which are used for automatic fire detection.
Fields – specify thresholds of variables, used in algorithm. The parameters for daytime (Day) and
nighttime (Night) are configured separately:
st
Entry field T4 – temperature threshold for 21 (4 nm) channel. All pixels with temperature higher
than this value are considered fires. Kelvin degrees are used as units for both daytime and
nighttime.
st
Entry field T4 (with delta) – specifies average temperature for neighboring pixels in 21
channel. Kelvin degrees are used as units for both daytime and nighttime.
st
Entry field Delta (T4 – T11) – specifies threshold for temperature difference between 21 (4
st
nm) and 31 (11 nm) channels. Pixels with temperature difference higher these thresholds
are considered fires. Kelvin degrees are used as units for both daytime and nighttime.
Entry field T4 std.dev.coeff – specifies a multiplier coefficient which shows how much pixel value
can differ from its neighbors. The coefficient is used in expression T4 > T4b +
T4.std.dev.coeff * dT4b, where T4 – temperature in 21st channel, T4b – average
temperature of the neighboring pixels, dT4b – standard deviation of temperatures of
neighboring pixels. For example, if T4 std.dev.coeff = 3, then pixel is considered to be

fire if its temperature 3 standard deviations larger than average temperature of its
neighbors.
Entry field Delta std.dev.coeff – a multiplier coefficient which specifies how much temperature
st
of a pixel can exceed temperature of neighboring pixels (for difference between 21 and
st
31 channels).
Entry field T4 no fire – specifies the value of the temperature in channel 21, below which the fire
probability is zero.
Entry field Delta no fire – specifies temperature difference threshold between 21st and 31st
channels, below which fire probability is zero.
Entry field T4 valid bkg. – – specifies temperature threshold, below which pixels are not
considered as neighbors.
Entry field Delta valid bkg. – specifies temperature threshold, below which pixels are not
st st
considered as neighbors (for difference between 21 and 31 channels).
Checkbox Apply exclusions of pixels with sun glints detected – toggles detection of sun
glints. Pixels detected as sun glints are not regarded as fires.
Group Log File – specifies the name and path when saving log-file. Information about the
coordinates of detected fires and their power is saved in log-file.
Button Save – saves specified parameters to file.
Button Load – loads previously saved parameters from file.
Button Reset – resets parameters to default values.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog without applying specified parameters.
Button Ok – closes the dialog and applies specified parameters.
Prior to fire detection, cloud detection is made with masks Cloud/Int Cloud or Full Cloud.
Pixels detected as clouds are ignored when detecting fires.
Clouds detection parameters settings
There are two implemented algorithms of cloud detection in the program: Clouds and Full
Clouds.
Item Options  Modis Masks  Clouds – opens Clouds mask configuration dialog
(Fig.228).
The approach used in Cloud mask cloud detection algorithm is based on the temperature
difference between 31st (11 nm) and 20th (3.7 nm) channels.
Fig.228. Clouds mask calculation parameters dialog
Group Land – specifies threshold values for cloud detection above land.
Groups Day и Night – specify daytime and nighttime threshold values:
st th
Entry field Free – specifies clear sky threshold. If difference between 31 and 20 channels
is less for a nighttime and greater for a daytime than this threshold, then the pixel is
a clear sky (the resulting mask has 0 at this position).
st th
Entry field Cloud – specifies cloud threshold. . If difference between 31 and 20 channels is
greater for a nighttime and less for a daytime than this threshold, then the pixel is
100% cloud (the resulting mask has 1 at this position). Pixels with values of
st th
difference between 31 and 20 channels between the above thresholds are
considered to be clouds with probability between 0% and 100%.
Group Sea – specifies threshold values for cloud detection above sea.
Groups Day и Night – specify daytime and nighttime threshold values:
Entry field Free – specifies clear sky threshold.
Entry field Cloud – specifies cloud threshold.
Button Save – saves specified parameters to a file.
Button Load – loads previously saved parameters from a file.
Button Reset – resets parameters to their default values.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog without applying changes.
Button Ok – closes the dialog and applies changes made.
Item Options  Modis Masks  Full Clouds in main menu – opens Full Clouds mask
configuration dialog (Fig.229). Mask computation algorithm used in the program is implemented
according to ATBD-MOD-06.
Fig.229. Global Cloud Mask Parameters dialog
Field Thresholds File – specifies path to file with mask computation parameters. The file is included
in the package with MODIS IMAPP data calibration program.
Field 1 km Ecosystem File – specifies path to file goge1_2_img. The file is included in the
package with MODIS IMAPP data calibration program.
Field 10 minute Ecosystem File – specifies path to file ecosystem.img.v1. The file is included in
the package with MODIS IMAPP data calibration program.
Field Leapsec File – specifies path to file leapsec.dat. This file is used in the program MODIS
IMAPP; it has to be updated weekly ( ftp://oceans.gsfc.nasa.gov/COMMON/ the file can be
placed to any directory).
Field Log File – specifies path to log file for Full Clouds mask.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog and discards changes made.
Button OK – closes the dialog and applies changes made. The program has to be restarted before any
changes made in this dialog take effect.
Land surface temperature computation parameters
Item Options  Modis Masks  LST in main menu – opens LST (land surface
temperature) mask configuration dialog (Fig.230).
The mask computation is based on “Generalized split-window LST” algorithm, described in
“MODIS Land-Surface Temperature Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document” (ATBD-MOD-
11).
st
As input parameters the algorithm uses temperature computed from emission values of 31
nd
and 32 channels, latitude for the initial approximation for temperature and air humidity, sensor
zenith angle; cloud and water masks are calculated to exclude corresponding pixels. For temperature
correction of all pixels the average emittance value is used (except for pixels classified as snow,
which use their own values). Aside from that, it is possible to specify masks for which temperature is
not computed (clouds, water).
Dialog LST Parameters – specifies masks of pixels excluded from temperature computation.
Checkbox Clouds mask – excludes
pixels classified as clouds
from temperature
computation.
Checkbox Water mask – excludes
pixels classified as water
from temperature
computation.
Checkbox Land snow mask – uses Fig.230. LST parameters dialog
separate coefficients for

pixels classified as snow.
Entry field No data value - sets up “no data” value, excluded during processing and calculation of
layer’s statistic properties.
Button Cancel – closes the dialog and discards changes made.
Button OK – closes the dialog and applies changes made.
Snow and ice detection parameters settings
For snow and ice detection two masks are used:

 Sea Ice – for detection of ice surface over shores, shelves, seas and oceans.
 Land Snow – for detection of snow surface over land, lakes, rivers and forests.
Item OptionsModis MasksSea Ice in main menu opens Sea Ice mask configuration
dialog (Fig.231).
Fig.231. Sea Ice mask parameters dialog
This algorithm uses ice definition according to Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI)
and Ice Surface Temperature (IST), described in ATBD-MOD-10. Index NDSI is similar to
vegetation index (NDVI) and is based on difference between adsorption of visible and infrared
radiation by snow. Hence, this algorithm is applicable only during daytime. During nighttime ice or
snow will not be detected. Index NDSI is equal to ratio between difference and sum of reflectance
th th
values in 4 (555 nm) and 6 (1640 nm) channels.
NDSI = (Band 4 – Band 6)/(Band 4 + Band 6)
It should be noted that clouds as well as ice and snow reflect visible radiation and adsorb
infrared radiation. This is the reason why the algorithm uses cloud mask and pixels detected as clouds
are excluded from snow index computation and considered as not having ice surface.
Pixel is considered to be covered with ice if NDSI value is equal or greater than value specified in
field NDSI threshold (0.4 by default) and Reflectance value in Band 2 (858 nm) is greater than
value specified in field Band 2(.858) Threshold (0.11 by default). Pixel is also considered to be ice
in case IST (ice surface temperature) is less than value specified in field IST Threshold (271.50 K by
default). Allowed cloud percentage is specified in field Clouds Threshold (% probability of clear).
In order for the algorithm to work correctly it is necessary to setup cloud mask precisely, since
undetected clouds can be falsely detected as ice surface. Besides, ice surface is detected only for
shores, shelves, seas and oceans, so presence of Land/Sea mask is necessary in the source file
MOD03 (which is processed in the program IMAPP). In other case all pixels are detected as land and
excluded from ice mask computation.
Button Save – saves specified parameters to a file.

Button Load – loads previously saved parameters from a file.
Button Reset – resets parameters to their default values.
Button Ok – closes the dialog and applies changes made.
For land snow and ice detection Land Snow mask is used.
Item OptionsModis MasksLand Snow in main menu Land Snow mask configuration
dialog (detects snow over land, lakes, rivers and forests) (Fig.232).
The algorithm uses snow definition based on Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) and
Ice Surface Temperature (IST) described in ATBD-MOD-10. Index NDSI is similar to vegetation
index (NDVI) and is based on difference between adsorption of visible and infrared radiation by
snow. Hence, this algorithm is applicable only during daytime. During nighttime ice or snow will not be
th
detected. Index NDSI is equal to ratio between difference and sum of reflectance values in 4 (555
th
nm) and 6 (1640 nm) channels.
NDSI = (Band4 – Band6)/(Band4 + Band6)
It should be noted that clouds as well as ice and snow reflect visible radiation and adsorb infrared
radiation. This is the reason why the algorithm uses cloud mask and pixels detected as clouds are
excluded from snow index computation and considered as not having snow surface.
Pixel is considered to be covered

with snow if NDSI value is equal or
greater than value specified in field
NDSI threshold (0.4 by default)
and Reflectance value in Band 2
(858 nm) is greater than value
specified in field Band 2(.858)
Threshold (0.11 by default) and
Reflectance value in Band 4 (555 Fig.232. Land Snow mask parameters dialog
nm) is greater than specified in field
Band 4(.555) Threshold (0.10 by
default). Allowed cloud percentage is specified in field Clouds Threshold (% probability of clear).
In order for the algorithm to work precise it is necessary to setup cloud mask precisely, since
undetected clouds can be falsely detected as snow surface. Besides, snow surface is detected only for
land, lakes, rivers and forests, so presence of Land/Sea mask is necessary in the source file MOD03
(which is processed in the program IMAPP).
NDVI and EVI vegetation indices computation parameters
The program allows computing vegetation indices NDVI and EVI according to algorithms
described in ATBD-MOD-13.
NDVI computation is possible for all scales (250, 500 and 1000 m).
NDVI = (BAND2 - BAND1) / (BAND2 + BAND1)
EVI computation is possible for scales of 500 and 1000 m.
EVI = ((BAND2 - BAND1) / (BAND2 + C1*BAND1 - C2*BAND3 + L)) + (1 + L)
Item OptionsModis MasksNDVI / EVI in main menu opens NDVI and EVI masks
configuration dialog (Fig.233).
Dialog NDVI/EVI parameters
– specify masks for excluding pixels
from vegetation indices computation.
Checkbox Clouds mask – excludes
pixels detected as clouds from
vegetation indices computation.
Checkbox Water mask – excludes
pixels detected as water.
Fig.233. NDVI and EVI masks parameters dialog
Entry field No data value - sets up “no
data” value, excluded during processing and calculation of layer’s statistic properties.
Button OK – closes the dialog and applies changes made.
Annex 3
Links to descriptions of some using algorithms (indexes):

 Tasseled Cap transformation (Classification  Indexes calculation  Tasseled Cap):
o LANDSAT MSS DATA (каналы 4 – 7, Digital Numbers): Kauth R. J., Thomas G.S.
Proceedings of the Symposium on Machine Processing of Remotely Sensed Data. Purdue
University; West Lafayette, Indiana: 1976. The Tasseled Cap – a graphical description of the
spectral-temporal development of agricultural crops as seen by Landsat; pp. 4B4–4B51
o Landsat 4 Thematic Mapper (DN), Landsat 5 TM (DN): Crist, E. P., R. Laurin, and R. C.
Cicone. 1986. Vegetation and soils information contained in transformed Thematic Mapper
data. In Proceedings of IGARSS' 86 Symposium, 1465-70. Ref. ESA SP-254. Paris: European
Space Agency
o Landsat 7 ETM+ (at-sensor reflectance): Huang, C., B. Wylie, L. Yang, C. Homer, and G.
Zylstra. “Derivation of a Tasseled Cap Transformation Based on Landsat 7 At-Satellite
Reflectance," USGS Staff - Published Research, Paper 621 (2002)
o Landsat 7 ETM+ DN: Lance D. Yarbrough, Greg Easson, Joel S. Kuszmaul . Proposed
workflow for improved Kauth–Thomas transform derivations. Remote Sensing of
Environment, Volume 124, September 2012, Pages 810–818
o SPOT-2 sensor (8-bit DN product): de Silva, M.R.L.F, 1991. Determination of “Tasselled Cap”
transformation parameters for images obtained by the SPOT satellite, Proceedings of the
Twenty-Fourth International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, 27–31 May,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Vol. 1
o IKONOS 2 (DN): Horne, J., 2003. A Tasseled Cap Transformation for IKONOS Images. In:
Proceedings of the ASPRS: 2003 Annual Conference and Technology Exhibition
o Quickbird 2 (DN 11-bit): Lance D. Yarbrough, Greg Easson, Joel S. Kuszmaul. QUICKBIRD
2 TASSELED CAP TRANSFORM COEFFICIENTS: A COMPARISON OF DERIVATION METHODS.
In “Global Priorities in Land Remote Sensing” October 23 – 27, 2005. Sioux Falls, South
Dakota

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Image Processor v.5.

Loading of specified ground control points from file

Fig.99. Specify Destination Channel dialog

Fig.100. Query window

Fig.101. Load GCP`s dialog

Correction for rigorous model

Fig.102. Toolbar in the mode of correction for rigorous model

Corrections can be done both in manual and automatic modes.

Errors in time Errors in Roll Errors in Pitch

Errors in Yaw Wrong IFOV value Wrong Integration time parameter

Universal model of the linear «push-broom» scanner

Table 3. Universal Model of a “Push-Broom” Liear Scanner: Text File Structure

<CAM_PITCH>rad</CAM_PITCH> Camera displacement against center of mass of

fnum Floating-point number, floating-point number in

Saving calculated geo-grid

required to specify the

Coordinate grid file format saved by ScanEx IMAGE Processor

Coordinate grid is saved in form of a text file of the following format:

Global transformation and universal analytical model of sensor (RPC)

Fig.106. Global Transformation dialog

Radio button RPC – using the universal analytical model of sensor.

Checkbox 3 – enables transformation only for third line.

Fig.107. Calculate RPC dialog

Images automatic co-registration

Fig.109. Scale pyramid

Use of this scheme allows for a much quicker transformation.

selecting command TransformationCo-Registration from main menu or press hot key in

Fig.110. Image Co-Registration dialog

Fig.111. Ortho Transformation dialog

Ortho Resampling Window (Fig.113) is apllied for orthotransformation with resampling

Fig.113. Ortho Resampling dialog

 Rigid – Zero degree adjustments (shift)

Fig.114. Correction for rigorous model toolbar fragment

Fig.115. Global or Local transformation dialogs

Fig.116. Ortho Transformation cancelation via homonymous dialog

Per-Pixel Assessmen of Transformation Accuracy

Fig.117. Grid Difference dialog

Exporting Pixel Coordinates of Raster Intersections

Fig.118. Export Raster Pixel Coordinates dialog

The basic workflow to perform block adjustments

1. Loading rasters to the program.

Diagram of the complete block adjustment workflow

Checking and Arranging order of rasters

New Block adjustment Project

Setting tie points

Extras. Setting ground If there are parameters of Loading

Orthorrection tool and RPC block correction tool

Save the project with grid raster

Fig.120. Block Adjustment Project dialog

Setting up a new block adjustment project

Fig.121. Add a new RGB rasters set dialog

Fig.122. Layers tab of Block Adjustment Project dialog

Fig.123. Intersections tab of Block Adjustment Project dialog

Rasters intersections table contains the following columns:

Fig.124. Additional setting of tie points in two-window mode

Fig.125. Ortho Correction window of Block Adjustment Project dialog

Fig.126. Message with Results of Orthocorrection Procedure

Fig.127. Error Message Window in response to Orthocorrection Procedure: Insufficients number

Orthoranformation with the Block RPC Correction tool

Calculation of the transformation model and assessment of common error

Raster layers adjustment:

Raster images classification

Unsupervised classification ISODATA