Exploiting Imagery

Selecting an Image for Exploit

Before you can exploit an image, you must select an image that is available for exploitation.

1. Select Imagery. The Imagery panel opens.

2. From the Imagery Catalog drop-down, select Archive Imagery or Online Imagery.

3. Locate an exploitable image. Exploitable images are marked with a blue flag.

   

4. On the image you want to exploit, select the Image Menu , then select Exploit Image. The Exploit Image tab opens in the Imagery panel.

   Some images must be requested before they can be exploited. If you select an image that is not ready for immediate exploitation, you will see the Request to Exploit option in the Image Menu instead of the Exploit Image option. Select Request to Exploit to make your selected image available online in the Raster Analytics repository.

   Please be patient; bringing an image online for exploitation may take a few hours. Newly exploitable images are available to anyone with access to imagery in that area and exploit capability on their account.

   Selecting an image for exploit locks the Imagery panel. See Locking and Unlocking the Imagery Panel.

Exploiting Imagery

After you select an image for exploit, use the options on the Exploit Image tab to create an image product tailored to your specific needs.

Exploit Image tab

1. Select one or more exploit presets, channel assignments, or DRA settings to create your image product.

   Exploit Image

   Select basic exploitaition options for your image.

   • Image Type Select the image type.

     This drop-down is populated based on the image you selected. Some images may have more than one image type available. Each image type has a different set of exploit parameters to choose from.

   • Exploit Presets Select the preset you want to apply. Exploit presets are available for multiband images if the selected image has the appropriate color bands for the chosen preset.

     • Enhanced Color Infrared NIR2 - Red Edge - Green

       Example

       

       Enhanced color infrared preset.

     • Vegetation NIR2 - Yellow - Coastal Blue

       Example

       

       Vegetation preset.

     • Bathymetry Green - Blue - Coastal Blue

       Example

       

       Bathymetry preset.

   Preprocessing

   Select preprocessing options.

   • Atmospheric Compensation (AComp) Vantor's Atmospheric Compensation (AComp) algorithm provides an estimate of the surface spectral reflectance as it would be measured at ground level in the absence of atmospheric scattering or absorption. By compensating for atmospheric conditions such as haze and water vapor, AComp allows for accurate imagery analysis and supports feature extraction applications.

     Example

     The following slider shows the difference using AComp can make on an exploited image.

     On the left is an image of Dubai without AComp applied. On the right is the same image with AComp applied.

   • HD Vantor's proprietary high-definition (HD) technology enhances the visual clarity of the company's high-resolution satellite imagery. HD products are noticeably sharper, making information easier to understand and interpret than those in native resolution. The resulting image is aesthetically refined with precise edges by increasing the number of pixels to generate well-constructed details.

     HD is available at zoom levels 19 and higher.

     Example

     The following slider shows the difference using HD can make on an exploited image.

     On the left is an image of Miami without HD applied. On the right is the same image with HD applied. Notice the crisp white lines on the tennis courts, the defined curves of the path, and the distinction of rocks and trees along the shore.

   Channel Assignment

   Adjust the available bands for each color channel. The options available vary based on the image type.

   • Pan Available for panchromatic images.

   • Red Available for multiband images.

   • Green Available for multiband images.

   • Blue Available for multiband images.

   Select Metadata to view the image's metadata.

   Dynamic Range Adjustment

   Dynamic Range Adjustment (DRA) is the ratio between the largest and smallest color values an imagery pixel can assume.

   • Radiometric DRA If you want to apply radiometric DRA to your image, select the checkbox.

   • Contrast Use the sliders to manually adjust the image's contrast.

   • Brightness Use the sliders to manually adjust the image's brightness.

   • Stretch Range Enter values in the fields to adjust the image's stretch range.

   Example

   The following slider shows the difference using DRA can make on an exploited image.

   On the left is an image of Prospect Park without DRA applied. On the right is the same image with DRA applied.

2. To apply your selected exploitation presets, channel adjustments, or DRA settings, select Apply. Select Reset to return the exploitation settings to their defaults.

Exiting Exploit Mode

The Exploit Image tab remains open in the Imagery panel until you close it.

1. To exit Exploit Mode, on the Exploit Image tab, select Close .

2. A confirmation dialog asks you if you want to exit Exploit Mode. To exit, select Continue. Otherwise, select Cancel.

   Exiting Exploit Mode resets all changes you made to imagery.

More About Exploiting Imagery

• The Exploit Image tab always docks vertically.

  • Imagery Panel Docked to the Left Exploit Image tab docks to the left.

  • Imagery Panel Docked to the Bottom Exploit Image tab docks to the left; switching to Imagery tab opens Imagery tab at the bottom.

  • Imagery Panel Docked to the Right Exploit Image tab docks to the right.

• While the Exploit Image tab is open, you can switch between the Imagery tab and the Exploit Image tab at any time. The active tab determines the imagery displayed on the map.

  • Imagery Tab Active Regular imagery displays on the map. Image exploitations do not display.

  • Exploit Image Tab Active The current image exploitation displays on the map.