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Ossim Quickstart

Open Source Software Image Map (OSSIM) is a high performance engine for remote sensing, image processing, geographical information system (GIS) tasks and photogrammetry.

This Quick Start describes how to:

  • Multi-view multiband raster satellite images with Imagelinker
  • Drape a georeferenced raster map on a 3D globe with ossimPlanet

Imagelinker

  • Start Imagelinker from its icon from the “Spatial Tools” folder on the desktop

  • Open an image file, using File ‣ Open Image ‣ /home/user/data/raster/cape_cod/p011r031_7t19990918_z19_nn10.tif

  • Repeat the previous operation for the files : p011r031_7t19990918_z19_nn20.tif and p011r031_7t19990918_z19_nn30.tif

    ../../_images/ossim_imagelinker3.jpg

  • Another way to load all the images at once is to simply drag and drop them into the Imagelinker main window

  • To tidy up the windows, maximize the main window, then in the top menu bar go to Window ‣ Tile

  • You can keep all the satellite band views in sync by clicking Fit in one of the smaller windows, then Propagate in that same window. Try doing the same in the larger window.

  • Again in the large image window make sure the zoom button (magnifying glass) is depressed and click in middle of the Cape (that’s Wellfleet Harbor). Then click again for a closer view, and again click the Propagate button in the large image window to sync that view with the other band windows. In a similar way you can press the pan button (hand icon) and then click on the end of the Cape, and then the Propagate button to align the other windows.

A more in depth tutorial covering merging bands into an RGB composite is available online.

OssimPlanet

  • Launch OssimPlanet from its icon in the “Desktop GIS” folder on the desktop
  • Select File ‣ Open Image ‣ /home/user/data/raster/cape_cod/cape_cod/p011r031_7t19990918_z19_nn10.tif to load a LANDSAT image (or simply drag and drop the image into the main window).
  • In the Layer tree panel on the left side, click on the small triangle to the left of Image Layers to expand it. Next double-click on p011r031_7t19990918_z19_nn10.tif. You should now see the scene zoom to the image’s location.

Note

To turn off the daylight auto-shading, un-check File ‣ Preferences ‣ Environment ‣ Enable Ephemeris

  • Experiment with navigating the scene using the mouse. Dragging the left mouse button pans; dragging the middle mouse button rolls; and dragging the right mouse button zooms in and out.
  • Try loading the supplied North Carolina LANDSAT image from /home/user/data/north_carolina/rast_geotiff/lsat7_2002_10.tif. Again, double click on it’s name from the Layer tree panel to zoom over to it.
  • If you get lost, double clicking on the Blue Marble image in the Layer tree will zoom back out to a view of the whole planet, resetting the view.

What Next?

  • We have prepared a number of tutorials demonstrating more of Ossim’s capabilities.
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