Fall 2003
   GEO327G/386G: GIS & GPS Applications in Earth Sciences


Software Tips - 11

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11. 

Notes on MrSID satellite photos available from NASA

   
 


A nearly complete global data set of high resolution satellite photos (Landsat 4/5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM+, bands 7. 4 and 2) in MrSID format are available from NASA at: https://zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/.  The same site contains a very good tutorial.

The images have the following characteristics:

  • Pixel size (~resolution) is either 28.5 meters (for c. "1990" data) or 14.25 m (for c. " 2000" data).  The "1990" and "2000" acquisition dates are +/- 3 years for  both data sets.
  • Data are in UTM coordinates, WGS84 datum
  • georeferencing information is stored in a world file with an .sdw extension; format is typical six line, with last two lines giving easting and northing of the center of the upper left pixel of the image.
  • images in the southern hemisphere have northings that are NEGATIVE VALUES, i.e. there is no false northing of 10,000,000, as per usual southern hemisphere UTM northings.
  • Positional accuracy is +/- 50 meters.

These photos will not be georeferenced without first setting a spatial reference (i.e. creating an .aux file).

To do so for an image in the NORTHERN HEMISPHERE:

  • while in ArcCatalog, right click on the file name, click Properties..>Spatial Reference>Edit>Select and browse to the appropriate projection (UTM, zoneXXN, WGS84).

To do so for an image in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE:

  • do the same, but after selecting the appropriate zone, click the Modify... button and change the false Northing to 0.00.
   
       

Last updated October 15, 2019
Comments and questions to helper@mail.utexas.edu
Geological Sciences, U. Texas at Austin