Mosaica

MACS image data import

In order to import MACS image files, simply drag and drop single image files or folders of images into Mosaica:

Base map

Select the background base map provider via the map menu. Mosaica supports several map providers, e.g. Open Street Map, Open Topo or several satellite maps.

Histogram and gamma control

Adjust histogram range and gamma correction via the histogram tool:

View configuration

Show or hide projection elements: capture paths, capture positions, view cones, footprints and image data:

Terrain aware image clipping (TAC)

Clip adjacent overlapping images by enabling TAC projection mode. Generally TAC increases map quality, position accuracy and rendering performance.

A detailed desription of the TAC algorithm can be found here: Terrain Aware Image Clipping for Real-Time Aerial Mapping. The TAC algorithm has been patented under DE Patent-No. DE102016224886B3, EU Patent-No.: EP000003556088A1, U.S. Patent-No. US020190323838A1 and WO Patent-No. WO002018108711A1.

Single image properties

Open project tree context menu (right-click on header) to select properties to be shown in the project tree. Order items by clicking on the corresponding property column:

Property grouping

Open project tree context menu (right-click on header) to configure project tree structure. Select properties to be grouped and change their order to define the project tree structure. Each node in the project tree can be shown or hidden.

Measurement tool

Measure distances and bearings with the measurement tool.

Polygon selection

Select images with the polygon selection tool. Selection polygons can be edited by re-positioning their nodes or by moving the whole polygon. Selection polygons can be saved and loaded to/from shape files. Adjust selection tresholds to fine-tune the selection.

Color coding of monochrome image data

Enable color coding for monochrome (single channel) image data via Menubar -> View -> Pseudo Color. Adjust color coding via histogram tool.

Devignetting

Enable devignetting via Menubar -> View -> Devignetting for radiometrically more homogeneous mosaics.

Digital elevation models (DEM)

Select the digital elevation model to be applied for map projection via DEM menu. Furthermore, the elevation of the currently selected elevation model can be shown as color-coded overlay. Mosaica supports SRTM, ArcticDEM, TandemX, Ellipsoid and Geoid.

Stripe analyzer

The stripe analyzer determines automatically flight stripes and assigns every image to these stripes. Images, which can not be assigned to a stripe (e.g. during a turn loop) are collected in groups. The stripe analysis is configured by two parameters: Corridor width specifies the allowed offset of a single image to the ideal stripe line. Min line length specifies the minimal length of a group of images to be rised as a new stripe. The stripe analysis assigns the new properties StripNumber, StripType and StripDirection to all images, which can be used for sorting and grouping in the project tree.

Export

In order to render a scene to a GeoTIFF file, click on the Print export button and adjust the rectangular section in the map to be exported. The target coordinate system is an UTM zone, which is why the rectangular section may be slightly rotated againts the mercator projection of Mosaica. Configure further parameters, such as ground sampling distance (GSD) and options in the print export window. When finished, start render export by clicking the Print button and select the target file. After rendering has finished, check generated GeoTIFF file.

Debayering

Mosaica supports different debayering algorithms to generate color images from raw bayer sensors data. Each algorithm has its certain strength and weaknesses. The default setting is Bilinear, which is the fastest one. Preview is only available for MACS image files including preview thumbnails. Mosaica supports the following Debayering algorithms: Bilinear, AHD, MHC, VNG and DCB.

HD projection

The standard map projection in Mosaica intersects the camera rays of all four sensors corners with the selected digitial elevation model. HD Projection dynamically subdivides each single image into smaller tiles and projects each tile individually. Thus, in case of highly structured terrains like e.g. deep valleys or mountains, HD Projection might increase the projection accuracy. HD Projection can be switched on and off via the HD Projection toggle in the toolbar.

Cam editor

Edit focal length and boresight parameters in Cam Editor. Modified values are applied immediately to the projected scene. A modified camera can be saved in the Project Tree window in the context menu of camera nodes.

Background jobs

Mosaica performs several background jobs while editing and navigating through a dataset scene. Whenever background jobs will take a longer time, a progress circle appears in the right top corner of the map canvas. If you want to take a deeper look into whats going on, you can open the Background Jobs window - either by the Window menu or by right-clicking on the progress circle. Furthermore, you can pause all running background jobs by left-clicking on the progress circle. Click left again to continue all background jobs.

Navigation data and standard image file import

Mosaica supports importing navigation data and standard image formats for non-MACS datasets. First, you have to select an (existing) camera definition file from camera database. This definition is used for the inner orientation and boresight informations. In the second step you can import an ASCII file, containing the navigation data of the data set. The navigation data contains at least a timestamp, a position and an orientation date for every single captured image. After importing, the projected footprint frames of the navigation data are shown in the scene. In a last (optional) step, these frames can be filled with image data by loading standard image files (via context menu in the project tree). Mosaica supports the following image file types: macs, jpg, png, tif and color depth up to 16bit.