Introduction to image services

What is an image service?

An image service is a data serviceData services, also known as hosted data services, are services created dynamically to store and provide access to your data in ArcGIS. Examples are feature services, vector tile services, map tile services, image services, and scene services.Learn more that provides access to raster dataA raster is a matrix of cells (or pixels) organized into rows and columns (or a grid) where each cell contains a value representing information, such as temperature. Rasters include digital aerial photographs, imagery from satellites, digital pictures, and scanned maps.Learn more, making it accessible for use in applications like web clients, desktop applications, and field apps. You create (publish) an image service using data management toolsData management tools are ArcGIS software applications and functionality in portal and ArcGIS Pro that can be used by developers to create, manage, and edit content and data such as web maps, hosted layers, and data services for their applications.Learn more or scripting APIs to upload and host your raster data in ArcGIS. Data can be output in different formats such as static tiles or exported images. An image serviceAn image service is a data service that can store, process, analyze, and share raster data.Learn more has supported capabilities such as dynamic processing, on-the-fly mosaicking and raster analytics.

You use image servicesAn image service is a data service that can store, process, analyze, and share raster data.Learn more to efficiently store, manage, process, analyze and display large collections of raster data such as:

• satellite imagery
• drone imagery
• weather radar data
• aerial photography

What can you do with an image service?

You use image services when you want to:

• Efficiently visualize and explore large collections of raster data.
• Use raster analysis operations and functions to extract information and perform analysis.
• Merge overlapping, multiresolution imagery and raster data from various sensors and sources.
• Manipulate and preprocess raster data, such as applying filters or performing geometric correction.
• Share imagery data with others, such as specific users, groups or applications.
• Organize and manage large collections of imagery.
• Search for specific images based on location, time, or other attributes.
• Perform on-the-fly processing, such as reprojection, orthorectification, clipping, and applying complex image processing algorithms.

What do you need to work with image services?

To get started working with image services, you need the following:

1. An existing collection of raster data.
2. An ArcGIS accountAn ArcGIS account is an identity with a user type and set of privileges that can access specific ArcGIS products, tools, APIs, services, and resources. The main account types that can be used for development are an ArcGIS Location Platform account, ArcGIS Online account, and ArcGIS Enterprise account. ArcGIS Location Platform and ArcGIS Online accounts are also associated with a subscription.Learn more with the following prerequisites:

What does a service URL look like?

When you publish a new image service, the URL is created by the system. To find the URL you can use the hosted imagery layer (item)A hosted imagery layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to access and manage the properties and settings of an image service.Learn more in the portalArcGIS portal, also known as a portal, is a website with applications and tools that can be used to create, manage, access, and share geospatial content and data. It supports security and authentication, developer credentials, content and data service management, user and group management, and site administration. A portal can be hosted in Esri's infrastructure or your own infrastructure.Learn more associated with your ArcGIS accountAn ArcGIS account is an identity with a user type and set of privileges that can access specific ArcGIS products, tools, APIs, services, and resources. The main account types that can be used for development are an ArcGIS Location Platform account, ArcGIS Online account, and ArcGIS Enterprise account. ArcGIS Location Platform and ArcGIS Online accounts are also associated with a subscription.Learn more.

The service URL format to access the service is:

1
https://{host}/{organizationID}/ArcGIS/rest/services/{serviceName}/ImageServer

1
https://{host}/{webadaptor}/rest/services/Hosted/{serviceName}/ImageServer

Limitations

• The option to share dynamic imagery layers with Everyone (public) is not supported. Static imagery layers, also known as tiled imagery layers, can be shared publicly.

• The maximum request size limit for the ArcGIS Online dynamic image service is 4,000 x 4,000 pixels.

API support

Use data management toolsData management tools are ArcGIS software applications and functionality in portal and ArcGIS Pro that can be used by developers to create, manage, and edit content and data such as web maps, hosted layers, and data services for their applications.Learn more or Client APIsA Client API is a web, native, or scripting Application Programming Interface (including all ArcGIS, open source, and third-party APIs) that has mapping capabilities and can be used to access ArcGIS location services.Learn more to create, manage, and access data servicesData services, also known as hosted data services, are services created dynamically to store and provide access to your data in ArcGIS. Examples are feature services, vector tile services, map tile services, image services, and scene services.Learn more. The table below outlines the level of support for each API.

Tools