Raster data

What is raster data?

Images and rasterA 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 data represent measurements of reflected or emitted electromagnetic energy captured by a sensor on a drone, airplane, or satellite. Other types of imagery and raster data include scientific measurements of a location's properties, such as temperature and salinity at different water depths, elevation models, and seismic surveys.

For an overview of types and uses of raster data go to Introduction to raster data

How to prepare raster data

The different ways to find or create input data for raster analyses are listed below:

1. Find existing data: You can use existing data sources hosted in ArcGIS as input for analyses. The data sources need to be in the format of a hosted imagery layerA hosted layer is an item in a portal that contains the properties and settings for a hosted data service or a layer in a hosted data service.Learn more or table. For example, you can use hosted imagery layers such as USA Average Wind Speed Tiled imagery or the Sentinel-2 Views Imagery layer.

   Below is a list of resources that you can use to search for input data for analyses:

   • ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World
   • ArcGIS Online
   • ArcGIS Hub

2. Import data: If you have existing raster data, you can use developer 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 to import the data and create your own hosted imagery layers for analyses. You can import common image formats such as JPG, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF/TIF. Once your data is hosted, the imagery layer can be used as input for raster analysis using toolsTools, also known as developer tools, are ArcGIS software applications such as portal and ArcGIS Pro that developers can use to prepare content and data for custom applications they are building.Learn more or 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.