I’m ENVIous of ITT VIS’ New Product for Image Processing (#esriuc)
As a remote sensing geologist early in my career for the USGS, the image processing systems were fantastic?for their time?which was a totally command line driven system (Yes…the old IDIMS system)?and we learned probably 100 different commands for classification schemes, doing training areas, and eventually spatial analysis.
ITT VIS has had the ENVI image process system for some time but they?ve launched a new product called ENVI EX (see image at right; click for larger image) which is integrated with ArcGIS. What?s unique about it? The "Geolink" function within the product links ArcGIS to ENVI EX through a simple drag and drop method of exchanging data. Users can also pan and zoom around an area in side-by-side windows of ArcGIS or ENVI EX simultaneously. An image portal view for seeing and modifying image analysis results can be opened before processing the entire image with a specific classification algorithm. And that algorithm is selected with a pull down menu that if the user changes their mind can be altered on the fly. I never had it so good twenty-five years ago. There are also step-by step workflows that guide GIS professionals through image processing tasks including change detection and feature extraction. Of particular benefits to remote sensing specialists is that a resulting land cover classification scheme, for example, can be exported directly to an ArcGIS geodatabase or any other interchange format such as a geotiff or other supported format.
The program has the look and feel of a tightly integrated solution and kudos to ITT VIS for making this tool available to those who perhaps should be using image processing tools but have shied away because of the learning curve. There should be some quick studies with this product.
ENVI 4.7 will be released with ENVI EX and it will be included in the update. Next year, the geoprocessing tools will be released in native formats with ArcGIS and ENVI Enterprise Services for image injest and publishing tools will be coming in the fall 2010.
