Overview

This section of the Image Management guidebook will follow the same structure as the Standard Workflow in the first section of the guidebook.

The recommendations in this document have been implemented in the example scripts available for download and user modification in the ArcGIS Image Management Workflows Group on ArcGIS Online. It is recommended that these scripts and sample data be downloaded and reviewed in conjunction with this workflow, as they provide examples to automate the generation of such services and implement the best practices defined here. Automated methods also have the advantage of providing accurate documentation regarding exactly how your design was implemented.

Use cases and requirements

Esri’s recommended best practices described here depend on the available data and user requirements, so this document is organized according to the following generalized use cases:

• Use case A: You have a single collection of panchromatic, three-band, or four-band imagery, stored in multiple image files that you want to share with a small number of colleagues who use ArcGIS for Desktop. Create a mosaic dataset, and begin using it directly (if on a private network), or share it as an image service.
• Use case B: You have a panchromatic or 3-band image collection (typically true color) and need to share it as background imagery for users inside, outside, or inside and outside the organization, using a variety of devices and software (ArcGIS for Desktop, browsers, and mobile devices). Create a mosaic dataset, convert the imagery to a raster tile cache, and serve the cache (either hosted on ArcGIS Online, or via ArcGIS for Server that you manage).
• Use case C: You have numerous imagery collections with different characteristics, and more data coming each year. You may need to serve users inside and outside your organization, using a variety of clients (ArcGIS for Desktop, browsers, and mobile devices). This will require a more detailed workflow as described below.

Note:

For a quick start with use cases A and B, do the following:

• For use case A, focus on source mosaic datasets, and then share the mosaic dataset for direct use. If on a local area network, colleagues with ArcGIS for Desktop can use your mosaic. For sharing through ArcGIS for Server, you can publish an image service.
• For use case B, after creating source mosaic datasets, read Caching and proceed to serving the resulting raster tile cache.