Amosaic datasetis the most appropriate storage mechanism for visualizing and managing a centralized folder of imagery, especially when the imagery is to be accessed across an organization through an enterprise geodatabase.
1. What is a Mosaic Dataset?
A mosaic dataset is a geodatabase structure optimized for managing and serving large collections of raster data, such as satellite imagery or aerial photographs.
It provides dynamic mosaicking, rendering, and query capabilities.
2. Why Use a Mosaic Dataset?
Centralized Management: A mosaic dataset can reference multiple images stored in a folder without duplicating the data, maintaining a centralized source of imagery.
Scalability: It supports large collections of raster data and allows for efficient querying, rendering, and analysis.
On-the-Fly Processing: Provides options to apply image processing and rendering rules without modifying the source data.
Enterprise Access: Mosaic datasets stored in an enterprise geodatabase can be published as image services for access across the organization.
3. Why Not Other Options?
Raster Dataset:
This option is for storing a single image or raster layer in the geodatabase, not suitable for managing multiple images.
Raster Catalog:
Raster catalogs organize rasters but lack dynamic mosaicking, rendering, and query optimization capabilities. They are less efficient and are now considered outdated in favor of mosaic datasets.
Steps to Create and Use a Mosaic Dataset:
OpenArcGIS Proand connect to the enterprise geodatabase.
Create a new mosaic dataset using theCreate Mosaic Datasettool.
Add rasters to the mosaic dataset using theAdd Rasters to Mosaic Datasettool, pointing to the centralized folder of imagery.
Publish the mosaic dataset as an image service in ArcGIS Enterprise for organization-wide access.
References from Esri Documentation and Learning Resources:
Conclusion:
Amosaic datasetprovides the best functionality for managing, visualizing, and sharing multiple images from a centralized folder within an enterprise geodatabase.