The document discusses MrSID, a wavelet-based image compression technology that allows for instant viewing and manipulation of massive raster images locally and over networks while maintaining high image quality. MrSID offers advantages over other formats like seamless mosaicking, multiresolution viewing, and selective decompression that allows viewing parts of large images quickly. Integrating MrSID's technology and file format into NASA's EOSDIS system could allow terabytes of remote sensing data to be accessed more efficiently by scientists, commercial users, and software applications.

2. A Unique Opportunity for EOSDIS
The explosion of advanced technology coupled with a more sophisticated, insatiable
demand for information has created a need for accessing big images, real fast.

3. What is MrSID?
• MrSID stands for Multiresolution Seamless
Image Database
• MrSID is a powerful wavelet-based
compressor, viewer and file format for
massive raster images that enables
instantaneous viewing and manipulation
of massive images locally, and over
networks while maintaining maximum
image quality.

4. MrSID Product Description
• MrSID technology includes a full line of
compressors and viewers tailored for different
users.
• MrSID Compress typically compresses 10Mb to 50
Gb images and displays them in seconds.
• Primary benefits include instantaneous browsing
of massive images and increased storage
capacity.

5. MrSID: Easy Access to Large Imagery
Task Specific
Environment
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Client
Desktop
Environmen
t
Internet
Environmen
t
• Number of Users
Image Creation/Editing
Accuracy
Speed
Ease-of-Use/Access
Application Metadata
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Speed
Ease-of-Use/Access
Metadata

6. History of MrSID
• Originally developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• Years of research & development behind the technology.
• Same team developed wavelet-based image standard
used by FBI.
• Three patents issued.
• LizardTech established as exclusive commercialization
agent through U.S. Technology Transfer Act.
• LizardTech developed commercial MrSID application.
• First commercial product introduced in March 1997.

7. MrSID Commercialization
• LizardTech responsible for standardization
and extension of technology.
• Broad-based industry and user support.
• Initial market focus includes Mapping/GIS,
Document Management, and Medical
Imaging.
• Goal: Make MrSID a standard like
Microsoft Word ®, Adobe PhotoShop ®,
and ArcView GIS ®.

8. MrSID Features
• Unsurpassed Compression Ratios
15-20:1 for Grayscale/ 30-50:1 for Color
• Uncompromised Image Quality
• Seamless Wavelet Compression®
• Automatic Seamless Mosaicking
• Selective Decompression®
• Selective Multiresolution Browsing®
• Unprecedented Speed
• Compress Images of Practically Any Size

9. MrSID Benefits
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Next-generation, wavelet-based image compression.
Inherent Multiresolution.
Seamless, automatic mosaicking during compression.
Image Database innovation which allows selective
decompression of any part of the image.
Ideal for massive images (100s of Mb/Gb).
High compression ratio; variable settings.
One file format, any platform/OS.
Highest quality in the market.

10. MrSID Versus Tiled Imagery
{x,y}
• Automatic
mosaicking
• Single image file
• No seams
• No tiles
One of many
catalogued
images
A single, seamless image

11. MrSID Multiple Resolutions
• No pyramid
• Incremental
display of imagery
• Instantaneous
display
• Application
independent
8 meter/pixel
2 meter/pixel
1 meter/pixel
• Platform
independent
• Any part of the
image, at any
resolution, in
seconds

12. MrSID Selective Decompression
500 Kb of Imagery
500 Kb of Imagery
•No Pyramids
150 Mb of Imagery
•Only decompresses what’s needed
•On-the-fly, view dependent
•Output to other format(s)

13. MrSID Product Strategy
Products
Specification
• MrSID Publisher
Virtually any image size.
Multiple image seaming/
mosaicking.
500 MB image size limit.
Multiple image seaming.
100 MB image size limit.
Single image.
Internally, OEM, and partner
developed viewers.
Client/Server architecture.
Large images over
Internet, FAST.
• MrSID Professional
• MrSID Limited
• MrSID Viewer(s)
• MrSID Image Server

14. MrSID Viewing Solutions

15. MrSID and HDF-EOS
• Use free MrSID Software Development
Toolkit (SDK) to enable existing
applications to read MrSID format.
• LizardTech to accomodate HDF-EOS Grid
format in addition to formats already
supported (GeoTIFF, ERDAS, BSQ, BIP, BIL,
Sun Raster, USGS DOQ, and flat raster).

16. Compression Technology Comparison
Input File: An 8 by 10 inch 24-bit color image scanned at a physical resolution of
300 dots per inch. The image requires 20.6Mb to store uncompressed.
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Parameters
Compressed Size
Compression Ratio
Resolution
Decompress Speed
Seamless Compression
Multiresolution
Selective
Decompression
Geometric Accuracy
Compress/ Decompress
Any Size Image
Efficiency
MrSID
639Kb
33:1
Excellent
2s
YES
YES
YES
LZW
9,340Kb
2:1
Excellent
14 min.
no
no
no
JPEG
1,872Kb
12:1
Poor
5.11min.
no
no
no
YES
YES
YES
no
no
no
Excellent
Poor
Poor

17. Compression Technology Comparison
• MrSID versus Fractal
MrSID has faster decompression
MrSID has superior quality
MrSID has pixel level/geometric accuracy
• MrSID versus FlashPix/JPEG Pyramids
MrSID has much smaller file size
MrSID has better quality & higher compression ratios
MrSID builds views based on existing data (not separate files)

18. MrSID vs JPEG Pyramids
JPEG
Pyramid
33% larger
before
compression
• MrSID
NO file size increase
before compression

19. Wavelet-Based Competitors
• Other wavelet-based image compression products all
share the same limitations MrSID solves:
• Lack of mission critical image quality.
• Limited size of image that can be compressed.
• Lack of integrated selective decompression.
• Lack of single, cross-platform file format.
• Lack of legacy system support.
• Lack of imaging and mapping industry support.
The ability to compress images of virtually any size without
edge artifacts or seams and Selective Decompression are
the basis for the patented intellectual property in MrSID.

20. MrSID Market Focus
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Aerial/Satellite Imagery
Geographic Information Systems
Document Management Systems
Medical Imaging
Image Archives (e.g., Museums & Libraries)
Games/Synthetic Worlds

21. MrSID Solutions - GIS
• Work with MrSID imagery just like any other
image format.
• Complete geo-spatial and geometric accuracy.
– Accurately measure distances/areas
– Existing/new vector data overlays precisely
• Automatic, seamless image mosaicking.
• Same .sid image file can be used for any
mapping/GIS application on any platform.

22. Benefits for EOSDIS
• HDF library can integrate MrSID API
• Terabytes of imagery collected each day
can reach users more quickly
• Commercial imagery providers, software
vendors and users are embracing MrSID to
the point where it will soon be a standard
delivery format of processed imagery.

23. Contact Information
LizardTech
Kevin Howald - Eastern U.S. Manager
7812 Old Chester Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
TEL: 301-320-9817 FAX: 301-320-9818
howald@clark.net or kevinh@lizardtech.com
http://www.lizardtech.com