G492-GIS for Earth Sciences
Raster Data Structure
I. Introduction
A. Basis - grid cell structure
1. representing map elements as dimensional pixels that are attached to cell
attributes
2. Raster Data - applicable to map data that varies continuously in 2-D and 3-D
a. e.g. elevation / topographic data
b. precipitation data
c. slope gradient
d. any geologic data that can be contoured from discrete data points
3. Contrast Vector Data-
a. best applied to discrete data in the form of points, lines, polygons
B. Raster Structure
1. regular grid cells, spaced at even increments
2. attributes attached as cell values
a. e.g. analogous to digital "pixel-based" images, where each cell is
assigned a color value to recreate an image
C. Example Raster Formats
1. Digital Elevation Data (DEM)
2. Satellite Images
3. Digital Orthophotos
4. Scanned Maps
5. Graphics Files (scanned graphics)
II. Elements of Raster Data Model
A. Terminology / Concepts
1. Grid - map is divided into columns, rows, and cells
a. grid origin - commonly upper left corner of raster file
b. rows - y values
c. columns - x values
d. cell address - row and column address
2. Raster repesentation of vector building blocks
a. point = 1 pixel box (cell)
b. line - string of pixel boxes (cells)
c. polygon = collection of contiguous cells
Vector Representation
Raster Representation
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3. Cell Values (attributes of cell)
a. Integer - whole, positive or negative number
(1) e.g. 1 = sandstone, 2 = shale, 3 = limestone
b. floating-point value - a value with decimal digits
(1) e.g. precipitation data (average annual rainfall in mm)
cell values: 12.34 24.567 56.987
CLASS QUESTION: Do you think that raster-based gis data require an attached database file,
like vector data?
c. Grid Resolution = cell size in ground distance units
(1) e.g. 30 m DEM: cells are spaced 30 m apart, each cell is 30 x 30 m
in area = 900 sq. m.
(2) Spatial Resolution: the smaller the cell size (the closer the spacing
of rows and columns) the greater the resolution of the grid, but this
does not necessarily increase the accuracy of the grid.
4. Georegistration of Raster Data
a. Grid file requires a real-world coordinate file to place the cells in
geospace (e.g. UTM, State Plane North, etc.).
b. Example world file that accompanies the Monmouth Quad DRG (UTM
zone 10N)
Text File Contents Explanation
2.438400 Grid size in x direction (meters)
0.000000 rotation factor for row
0.000000 rotation factor for column (0 = no rotation, 90 = 90 deg. rotation)
-2.438400 Grid size in Y direction (meters)
479098.499289 Easting (X) coordinate position of upper left (NW) corner pixel in UTM
4969672.872110 Northing (Y) coordinate position of upper left (NW) corner pixel in UTM
c. Advantage of Raster (Grid) Data - pixel grid format is the essential
structure upon which computer processing is based. It is much easier for
the processor to process large amounts of raster data compared to vector
data with dbase tables
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In-Class Exercise:
(1) The vector-line topographic map below is overlain with a raster grid of columns and rows.
Determine the elevation of the center point of each cell in integer form, then fill in the grid-table
below and create a raster-based, grid DEM data set.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
(2) Assume that the scale of this map is 1:10,000, based on the grid structure, what is the resolution
of the DEM in meters? (hint: you will need a ruler for this).
(3) Based on the map and grid layout, are the rows and columns of equal dimension?
(4) Assume that the UTM coordinate of the upper left grid cell is 464091.499289, 4968737.872110
and that the grid system is unrotated. Write out the associated world file for this hypothetical raster-
grid data structure (i.e. in the space below, what will the world file look like?)
_____________________________________________________________________________
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ES492/592 GIS Applications
In-Class Exercise: Introduction to Contouring and Digital Elevation Models
Examine the attached map figures. Fig. 8.10 shows a visual 3-D model of the Earth’s surface and the depiction
of corresponding topographic contour lines that connect points of equal elevation.
Task 1. Using the spot elevation data depicted in Fig. 8.11 A and B, contour each map using a contour interval
of 10 feet. Map A will include lines 480, 490, 500, 510, 520. Map B will include lines 90, 100, 110, 120, 130,
140.
Task 2. Using the bar scale and a ruler, calculate the fractional scale of the maps in Fig. 8.11.
Task 3. Create a rasterized digital elevation model for your contour map. Easting (X position in meters) and
Northing (Y position in meters) coordinates for the corners of Map A are as follows:
NW corner coordinates = 1,463,243 m, 538,275 m
SE corner coordinates= 1,463,293 m, 538,243 m
3A. Calculate the total East-West distance covered by map A in meters = _______________
3B. Calculate the total North-South distance covered by map A in meters = _____________
3C. Our goal is to create a raster grid to overlay map A with a cell resolution of 2 meters. Given the
map boundaries and dimensions listed above, determine the number of grid rows and columns that will
be required to divide the map into 2 m grid cells.
No. Rows = __________
No. Columns = _________
3D. Measure the map dimensions in inches: E-W Distance = ______ inches N-S dist = ______ inches
3E. Calculate the map-scale dimensions of each 2-m grid cell in inches = ___________ (in)
3 F. Starting at the North edge, and East edge of map A, draw a series of rows and columns to scale, that
depict a 2-m grid overlay on the map.
3G. Now for each cell on the map, interpolate an elevation and classify the grid cell according to the
following scale (use color pencils to carefully color each cell, STAY IN THE LINES):
480-490 ft elev. = Blue
490-500 ft elev. = Green
500-510 ft elev. = Yellow
510-520 ft elev. = Red
Task 4: You did it! You have now overlain a rasterized 2-m Digital Elevation Model on top of a vectorized
contour map. Provide a brief discussion of the differences between vector and raster data models.