TECHNICAL NOTES ON

Prepared By
Technical Services Division,

ADITI
INFOTECH
B-1, 1st Floor, Swapnil Apartment, Abhyankar Road,
Dhantoli, NAGPUR 440 012
TeleFax: +91 (0712) 2427355
email: aditiinfotech1@gmail.com
URL : http://www.aditiinfotech.org

Advanced GIS (Geographic Information System) and Image Processing Software

Description :
IDRISI Taiga is an integrated GIS and Image Processing software solution providing
nearly 300 modules for the analysis and display of digital spatial information. IDRISI
offers the most extensive set of GIS and Image Processing tools in the industry in a
single, affordable package.
Tools for land planning, decision support, and risk analysis are included side-by-side
with tools for spatial statistics, surface analysis, and spatial modeling. With IDRISI, all
analytical features come standardthere is no need to buy costly add-ons to extend
your research capabilities.
The Taiga Edition, released in January 2009, is the 16th major release of the IDRISI
software since 1987. IDRISI is used by researchers and professionals across industries
in over 175 countries.

IDRISI Modules A - Z
A B C D E F G H I LMN O P Q R S T U VWX
Sr No.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Name of Modules
ALLOCATE
Analysis/Distance Operators
ARCIDRIS
File/Import-Export/SoftwareSpecific Formats
ARCRASTER
File/Import-Export/SoftwareSpecific Formats
AREA
Analysis/Database Query

5.

ASDIDRISI
ASD-ISC Conversion

6.

ASPECT
Surface Analysis
ASSIGN
Analysis/Database Query
Data Entry

7.

8.
9.
10.
11.

BILIDRIS
File/Import/General Conversion
Tools
BIPIDRIS
File/Import/General Conversion
Tools
CONTOUR
CONVERT
Reformat

Functions
Performs spatial allocation using either DISTANCE or COST
surfaces.
Converts files to and from Arc/Info GENERATE/UNGEN format.

ARCRASTER imports and exports ESRI ArcInfo Raster

Exchange Format files.
Creates a new image by giving each output pixel the value of the
area of the class to which the input pixel belonged. Output can
also be produced as a table or an attribute values file in a range of
measurement units.
This module is used to import the spectrometer data collected
using the Analytical Spectral Device (ASD) into the IDRISI
Spectral Curve (.isc) file format
SURFACE calculates slope, aspect and shaded relief images from
a continuous surface image, such as a digital elevation model.
Creates an image from an attribute values file by assigning the
data values contained in the attribute values file to the cells
belonging to defined regions. ASSIGN can also be used to
reclassify integer images.
Converts generic band-interleaved by line images to IDRISI
format.
Converts generic band-interleaved by pixel images to IDRISI
format.
CONTOUR is used to create vector contour lines (lines of equal
attribute value) from continuous raster surface images.
Converts between all of the image storage formats supported by
IDRISI. Files may be converted to any combination of the byte,
integer and real (floating point) data types and the ASCII, binary

12.

FLY THROUGH
The Fly Through module uses
GL Scene technology

13.

GEOMOD
Model for land use change
simulation

14.

GEOTIFF
File/Import/General Conversion
Tools
MOLA
Analysis/Decision Support

15.

16.
17.

ORTHO
Orthographic perspective
display
OVERLAY
Analysis/Database Query
Analysis/Mathematical
Operators Analysis/ChangeTime Series

18.

PROJECT
Reformat

19.

RADIANCE
DN to radiance conversion

20.

RESAMPLE
Reformat

and packed (run-length encoded) file structures.

Fly Through is a 3-D interactive display that allows users to
simulate movement through space using existing IDRISI images.
Fly Through allows the recording and playback of flight paths and
the saving of a path to a generic WAV file.
GEOMOD is a landuse change simulation model that predicts the
transition from one landuse state to another landuse state, i.e., the
location of grid cells that change over time from one state to
another.
GEOTIFF/TIFF imports and exports simple TIFF files as well as
GeoTIFF files.
An iterative Multi-Objective Land Allocation routine. Input maps
are ranked suitability maps such as would be produced by ranking
(using RANK ) the output from a multi-criteria evaluation (using
MCE ). The procedure uses a decision heuristic to resolve
conflicts and is suitable for use with massive data sets.
Produces a 3-D orthographic perspective plot of surface data with
optional draping of a second color image.
Undertakes pixel-wise addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division and exponentiation of paired images. Maximum,
minimum, -normalized ratio+ and -cover+ are also supported. On
binary images, logical AND and OR operations are supported by
means of the multiply and maximum operation. Other boolean
operations are supported through various binary image overlay
combinations.
Undertakes conversions between reference systems for both vector
and raster files. With raster images, a resampling is undertaken
using either a nearest-neighbor or bilinear interpolation. Supported
projections include the Mercator, Transverse Mercator, Lambert
Conformal Conic and Plate Carree. By using reference system
parameter files, a limitless number of reference system
conversions can be undertaken. Full forward and backward
transformations are accommodated using ellipsoidal formulas.
In addition, users can construct reference system parameter files
for any system based on a supported projection.
RADIANCE converts raw satellite Dn values to calibrated
radiances using lookup tables of gain and offset setting for
LANDSAT satellites 1-5 and user-defined values for Lmin/Lmax
or Offset/Gain for other sensor systems. Conversion to radiances is
used to facilitate comparisons between images from different
dates.
Determines the data values for a rectangular grid by interpolation
of the values in a different (and possibly warped) grid. Linear,
quadratic and cubic mappings between the grids are provided,
along with nearest-neighbor and bi-linear interpolations. Vector
files may also be trans- formed with this 'rubber sheet' procedure.

etc.

The IDRISI Menu

3

File
The File menu includes all of the general purpose modules for using IDRISI.
Display
The Display menu includes all the tools for either displaying files or for enhancing their
display characteristics.
GIS Analysis
The GIS Analysis menu includes modules for database query, mathematical operators,
distance operators, context operators, statistics, decision support, change/time series
analysis and surface analysis.
Modeling
The Modeling menu includes tools for model deployment, model development and
environmental/simulation modeling.
Image Processing
The Image Processing menu includes tools for restoration, enhancement, transformation,
fourier analysis, signature development, classification and mixture analysis, hyperspectral
image analysis and accuracy assessment.
Reformat
The Reformat menu includes a variety of modules for data reformatting.
Data Entry
The Data Entry menu includes modules to facilitate data entry.
Window List
The Window List menu lists all open windows.
Help
The Help Menu provides access to support materials including the Help System and
IDRISI Manual.

Satellite Data Import

IDRISI provides satellite specific and generic tools for importing remotely sensed imagery.

Satellite Specific Routines

GACP (Global Aerosol Climatology Project) data -- GACPIDRIS module
HDF-EOS 4 data -- HDF module
International Satellite Cloud and Climatology Project (ISCCP) Global Processing Center
(GPC) D2 data -- GPCIDRISI module
Landsat ETM data -- LANDSAT module
NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) data -- NetCDF module
Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) data -- OLRIDRISI module
Physical Science Division (PSD) standard format data -- PSDIDRISI module
RADARSAT data -- RADARSAT module
SAC-C data from Argentina --SACIDRIS module
SPOT CAP and SPOT Scene data, including GEOTIFF -- SPOT module

Generic Routines
Other generic routines such as GEOTIFF import data from popular data platforms like
IKONOS and QuickBird. Other data formats are imported with generic import routines
as indicated below. The utility GENERICRASTER is commonly used to import satellite
data in generic raster formats. You can find more detailed information on data import in
the Database Development chapter in the IDRISI Manual.

Getting Started

To start the Idrisi double click on the IDRISI Application icon in the IDRISI Taiga folder. This will
load the IDRISI system.
Once the system has loaded notice that the screen has four distinct components. At the top we
have the main menu and underneath we find the toolbar icons that can be control the display
and access commonly used facilities. Below this the main workspace, followed by the status
bar.
Go to file and IDRISI exploer

Now create a new project by clicking the right button of the mouse in the IDRISI explorer

Now Add the folder in the working folder in the Idrisi and keep all the files of USING IDRISI in
the working folder

Download the satellite images from the following links for the our required district
ftp://ftp.glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/glcf/Landsat/WRS2/p146/r045/p146r045_7x20001028.ETMEarthSat-Orthorectified/p146r045_7t20001028_z43_nn20.tif.gz
Use the images with name nn20.tif.gz, nn30.tif.gz and nn40.tif.gz for the band 2 (Blue Image
Band), 3 (Green Image Band) & 4 (Infra red image band) purpose.
After downloading this images first unzipped it and keep all in the working folder.
Run the GEOTIFF module in the IDRISI Software and open one by one all the nn20, 30 and 40
tiff images.

Similarly convert all the file from GEOTIFF to IDRISI

Now Run COMPOSITE Module of IDRISI by creating the Composite Image of all 2, 3 & 4
Bands data (This is also called the FCC Image)

Select all the images in the appropriate boxes and give the name composite in the output image
box.

Run the SHAPEIDR Module of IDRISI

Now feed the district shape file from the Idrisi data and make the lat long reference system and
give the same district out put name as below :

10

Now open the Jalgaon Composite image (fcc) from the DISPLAY LAUNCHER and than try to
ADD vector lay layer Jalgaon_lat long from the composer, the message will come that the
reference system doesnt match, because the Jalgaon composite image is in the UTM reference
system where as the Jalgaon _lat long vector layer is in the Lat Long reference system hence
first convert the Jalgaon_latlong in to the Jalgaon_UTM ref system by running the module
PROJECT under the REFORMATE menu.
Run the PROJECT Module from the IDRISI Software and open the proper file and assign the
correct reference system

11

Now Again go to Display Launcher and first open the Jalgaon composite image and than add
the Jalgaon_UTM 44n vector layer through the composer by givin outline black in the symbol file
under the ADD layer window.

12

.
.

The above picture means that the Jalgaon district boundaty has spread over to other tiles also
(raster images) hence in the same way just find out which are the other tiles containing the
Jalgaon district boundary (refer the Diva GIS software)
In the same way open all the geotiff file that contains the Jalgaon district and than run the
Mosaic module for each and every 20,20 tiff file from all the tiles. (see the picture below )

13

Now add the Jalgaon vector layer on the above image

14

Now prepare the same mosaic image for 30 and 40 tiff file (i.e. band 3 and 4)

15

Now create the composite image of all Mosaic 20, 30 and 40 image

Now add layer the Jalgaon_UTM43n on the composite image

Now open the Mosaic 20 image from the display launcher and add layer Jalgaon_UTM43n on it

16

Select the particular one taluka by clicking on the zoom window

17

Now keep the cursor on the raster file name in the composer and than save the file by clicking
on the SAVE button in the composer.

During saving the file please select the last choice Save current view of highlighted raster layer
as new IDRISI image. (give the name of image as Mosaic_20_Crop for our easy reference.

Now go to the WINDOW Module under the Reformate Menu

18

Open it.

Now give the appropriate input file name and output file name and select the An existing
windowed image option in the window specified by table and there select the Mosaic_20_Crop
file.

Similarly make the crop file for the Mosaic 30 & Mosaic 40 file also

19

and than run the COMPOSITE module and generate the Composite crop image for all Mosaic
Crop image file.

Now add the vector layer on it.

20

Now to convert the raster file into vector run the RASTERVECTOR Module of IDRISI

21

Now input the proper data in to it (see the below picture and follow it.)

After clicking OK the INITIAL Module will run.

Say YES

22

Select any band e.g. Mosaic_20_crop

23

Now Run the RECLASS Module for removing all other polygon value except code value 8

Now we want to make the code value 8 is as 1 and all the other taluka value 0 by running the
RECLASS Module of IDRISI (give the all input value as shown in the following figure

24

The moment you click OK the following image file will generate

Now run the OVERLAY module of the IDRISI

25

Now give the proper input into the Overlay module

Click OK

26

Similarly create the Overlay image for Mosaic_30_crop and Mosaic_30_crop band data also.

Now create the composite clip image for all the Mosaic_20_Overlay, Mosaic_30_Overlay and
Mosaic_40_Overlay band data.

27

Click OK the composite clip image will create.

Now run the Database workshop module for data base linkage

28

When we convert the reference system for the vector layer the database table has converted in
to other reference system, we have to assign it separately.

29

30

Select the proper check box as shown by red arrow, change the ID_r from UNI_ID in the name
identified filed.

Than file save and close

Go to collection editor

31

The moment you say open, the another window will be open

Save it.
Now open the vector layer and check the database linkage

32