Introduction to Raster Data and Its Structure

What is Raster Data?

• Definition: A type of geospatial data representing information as a grid of cells or pixels.
• Structure: Each pixel contains a value representing a specific attribute (e.g., elevation, temperature) at a particular location.

Key Concepts

• Resolution:

  • Spatial Resolution: Size of each pixel on the ground (e.g., 10 meters, 30 meters).
  • Temporal Resolution: Frequency of data capture over time (e.g., daily, monthly).

• Attributes:

  • Single-band: Represents one attribute per pixel (e.g., grayscale elevation model).
  • Multi-band: Contains multiple attributes per pixel (e.g., RGB bands in satellite imagery).

• Coordinate Reference System (CRS):

  • Definition: Mathematical framework for locating and representing positions on the Earth's surface.
  • Importance: Ensures accurate spatial referencing and alignment with other geospatial data.