Raster Data Model
GIS data models
Model
Abstraction of realworld/process/phenomenon

GIS data model
Set of constructs/rules for
describing or representing
the real world within a
computer

Two data models
Vector
Raster
Data Models
Raster
A cellular based data structure composed of rows
and columns for storing images. Homogenous
units are called cells or pixels.
• Mainly Used for representing continuous surface e.g.
reflectivity of EMR, elevation, rainfall, soil/landuse etc.,

Vector
A coordinate based data structure commonly used
to represent geographic features. Homogenous
units are points, lines, and polygons.
• Mostly used for representing discrete geographical
features such as building, wells, roads etc.,
A grid defines geographic space as a matrix of
identically-sized square cells. Each cell holds a
numeric value that measures a geographic attribute
(like elevation) for that unit of space.
Source: http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/class.html
Grid data structure
Grid size is defined by extent, spacing
and no data value information
Number of rows, number of column
Cell sizes (X and Y)
Top, left , bottom and right coordinates

Source: http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/class.html
Definition of a Grid
Cell size
Number
of
rows
NODATA cell
(X,Y)
Number of Columns

Source: http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/class.html
Somewhere on earth
Raster grid is placed
Reality >>> Raster value
The average EMR is measured within
each grid
Depending on the average intensity of
the EMR a numeric value is assigned
for each grid
Spatial resolution
finer

Coarser
Spatial Resolution Examples

15 meters

60 meters
30 meters
Source: G. Bryan Bailey, U.S.Geological Survey, EROS Data Center, gbbailey@usgs.gov
NODATA Cells
Types of Raster
Based on the data type
Integer

• Binary or Boolean (0 or 1)
• Grayscale (Signed/Un-signed, 8 bit, 16bit,
32bit)

Real (floating decimal point)
• Grayscale (32 bit, 64 bit)

Based on the number of bands

Single band
Multi-band  Remotely sensed data
red

green

blue

UV

0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Near-infrared
Raster Calculator

Cell by cell
evaluation of
mathematical
functions
Example
7

5

6

6

2

3

4

3

=
5

2

2

3

Precipitation
Losses
(Evaporation,
Infiltration)
=
Runoff
Raster Data Formats
TIFF – GeoTIFF
Tagged Image File Format

GIF
Graphic Interchange Format

BMP
BitMap format

JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group
Other Formats
ArcInfo GRID
ERDAS Imagine
ASCII
Binary format
Band sequential
Band Interleaved by Line
Band Interleaved by Pixel
Raster Vs Vector
Advantages

Disadvantages
Data
Raster

Grid cell or pixel
Data
Data
Vector
Data

Vector

Raster
Data Conversion
Integrate other GIS data with Remote
Sensing
Rasterization
Vector to Raster
Can only approximate original location
• Pixel resolution

Vectorization
Raster to Vector
Raster Generalization: case 1

Largest share rule

Central point rule
Raster Generalization: Case 2

Largest share rule

Central point rule
Vectorization
Raster to vector
More complex
• Points
• Lines
• Polygons

Edge enhancement
Classification
Vectorizing
Topology need to be built
raster data model

raster data model

Editor's Notes

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