Last Updated: August 2018

Version: ArcMap 10.X

EXERCISE 3
Orthorectify and Pansharpen in
ArcMap

Introduction
This short exercise explains how to orthorectify single images and pansharpen them in ArcMap. It’s a
very simple workflow in the Image Analysis window that doesn’t require a block file and produces
quality results. Orthocorrection is the process of removing the effects of image distortion induced by the
sensor, viewing perspective, and relief for the purpose of creating a planimetrically correct image. The
resulting orthocorrected images have a constant scale such that features are represented in their true
positions in relation to their ground position. This enables accurate measurement of distances, angles,
and areas in the orthoimage. Pansharpening combines high-resolution panchromatic data with lower
resolution multispectral data, resulting in an output with both excellent detail and a realistic
representation of original multispectral scene colors.

Objectives
 Orthorectify and pansharpen a multispectral image

Required Data
 ArcMap installed on your machine
 Images in course data folder

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Table of Contents
Part 1: Orthorectifying ..................................................................................................................... 3
Part 2: Pansharpening ...................................................................................................................... 5

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 Part 1: Orthorectifying
The Orthorectify button in the Image Analysis window creates a temporary raster layer by applying the
Geometric function to the layer. The Geometric process produces an orthorectified image based on a
Rational Polynomial Coefficient (RPC) model and a DEM.

A. Orthorectify a multispectral and panchromatic image

1. Open ArcMap.
2. Load the WV3_20180530_pan1.ntf, WV3_20180530_multi1.ntf, and GreysRiver_DEM_10m.tif files
into the viewer.
3. Click Windows on the main menu and click Image Analysis.

4. In the Image Analysis window, click the WV3_20180530_multi1.ntf layer so it is highlighted.

i. Press the CTRL key and click the GreysRiver_DEM_10m.tif
ii. Make sure the boxes next to these layers are checked.

5. Click the Options button on the Image Analysis window.

6. Click the Orthorectify tab.

i. The Geoid box should be checked.

Satellite RPCs require the use of a DEM referenced to ellipsoidal heights, but most elevation data (such as
the DEM we are using) are referenced to sea level orthometric heights. Check the Geoid parameter
(GEOID in Python) to orthorectify with RPCs unless your DEM is referenced to an ellipsoidal height.

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7. In the Processing section, click the Orthorectify button. Note: this button is only active if the raster
dataset has RPCs.

8. Examine the orthorectified image which should have automatically appeared in the viewer. The file
is only in temporary storage unless you save it.

9. If you want to save this image, click it in the Image Analysis window and click the Export button in
the Processing section.

10. Orthorectify the WV3_20180530_pan1.ntf image using the steps above.

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 Part 2: Pansharpening
The pansharpen button uses a higher-resolution panchromatic raster layer to fuse with a lower-
resolution multispectral raster layer. The result produces a multispectral raster layer with the resolution
of the panchromatic raster where the two raster layers fully overlap.

A. Pansharpen a multispectral image

1. Set the pansharpening type and weights.
i. Click the Options button on the Image Analysis window.
(a) Click the Pan Sharpen tab.
(i) You can leave the Method as Esri but it’s worth exploring the others

The Esri pan-sharpening transformation uses a weighted average and the additional near-infrared band
(optional) to create its pan-sharpened output bands. The result of the weighted average is used to create
an adjustment value that is then used in calculating the output values. The weights for the multispectral
bands depend on the overlap of the spectral sensitivity curves of the multispectral bands with the
panchromatic band. The weights are relative and will be normalized when they are used. The
multispectral band with the largest overlap with the panchromatic band should get the largest weight. A
multispectral band that does not overlap at all with the panchromatic band should get a weight of 0. By
changing the near-infrared weight value, the green output can be made more or less vibrant

(ii) The Use Wavelength box should be checked. This option will attempt to identify the
correct bands to use if the wavelength information is in the dataset. If not, then the
band numbers will be used.

2. In the Image Analysis window, click the orthocorrected multispectral image.

i. Hold the CTRL key and click the orthocorrected panchromatic image.
ii. Make sure that the boxes next to them are checked.

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 3. In the Processing section, click the Pan Sharpen button.

4. Examine the pansharpened image in the viewer and compare it with the non-pansharpened
multispectral image.

Non-pansharpened Pan-sharpened
5. Save the image if you wish.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed this exercise of using ArcMap’s Image
Analysis window to orthorectify and pansharpen images.

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