4. Rasters contain observed or derived
data, or both.
Data sources include:
• Sample points (e.g., monitoring
stations, elevation points):
Resulting raster: air pollution
surface, digital elevation model
• Classification of imagery (e.g.,
satellite image): Resulting raster:
land-cover grid
• Conversion of vector data
RASTER DATA SOURCES
GLOBALWEBTUTORS
5. A raster is a grid of
cells that are equally
spaced according to the
cell size.
The grid extends between
the top left and bottom
left coordinate (the
extent) based on cell
size and number of
rows/columns
RASTER REPRESENTATION
GLOBALWEBTUTORS.COM
Mixed conifer
Douglas fir
Oak savannah
Grassland
6. • Refers to a limited
number of classes
• Pixels with same
value belong to same
class
• Numeric type: integer
• Pixels not belonging
to a class are
denoted, 0 or 9999 or
NoData
RASTER DISCRETE
GLOBALWEBTUTORS.COM
7. A raster is
typically comprised
of one band, but can
be made up of
multiple bands.
RASTER DISCRETE
GLOBALWEBTUTORS.COM
Imagery is a good example of
this, but it is possible to have
a raster with different data
types.
8. If your raster is a single band of
an integer type (and only if), a
raster can have an attribute table.
RASTER DISCRETE ATTRIBUTES
GLOBALWEBTUTORS.COM
9. • A continuous raster
stores surfaces or
fields of variables that
change continuously
over space (Elevation –
DEM)
• Many potential values
• Adjacent cells rarely
share the same value.
RASTER ASSIGNMENT HELP
GLOBALWEBTUTORS.COM
A single variable
Air photo
10. • Unlimited number of
values within a fixed
range
• Each is unique - no
classes (even if same
value)
• Numeric Type: decimal
numbers (floating point)
• Also called a surface
RASTER CONTINUOUS ASSIGNMENT
HELP GLOBALWEBTUTORS.COM
A single variable 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.9 3.1 3.5
1.9 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.7 3.0 3.4
1.8 2.0 2.1 2.4 2.7 3.0 3.4
1.7 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.7 2.9 3.3
1.7 1.8 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.8 3.1
1.7 1.8 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.9
1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.7
11. How do you assign values
to
cells containing more
than
one feature?
Assignment scheme
• Value of a cell may be an
average over the cell
• or a total within the cell
• or the most common value in the
cell
• May also be the value found at
the cell’s central point
Mixed Pixel Problem