Map Suite GIS Newsletter

Tech Tip

Using Satellite and Aerial Imagery in your Map Suite Project

Want to add satellite and aerial imagery to your map? Using the ImageLayer Class you can add images in MrSid, ECW, TIFF, BMP, JPEG2000, or JPEG formats. Below we have written code that loads the image layer, sets the threshold for the SymbolRenderer, and adds roads pulled from a shape file.

VB

'Set Map Units
Map1.MapUnit = MapLengthUnits.metres

'Load Image
Map1.ImageLayers.Add(New ImageLayer("..\..\sampledata\usa\unionspring\doqq_cir_unionsprg_ny.tif"))

'Setup Road Layer
Dim Layer As New Layer("..\..\sampledata\usa\unionspring\unionspringroads.shp", True)

'Set threshold for roads
Layer.ThresholdUnit = ThresholdUnits.kilometres
Dim Threshold As New Threshold(20, 0)

'Setup Renderer for roads
Dim SymbolRenderer1 As New SymbolRenderer(New LineSymbol(New Pen(Color.LightGoldenrodYellow, 4)))

Threshold.SymbolRenderers.Add(SymbolRenderer1)
Layer.Thresholds.Add(Threshold)
Map1.Layers.Add(Layer)
Map1.Refresh()

C#

//Set Map Units
Map1.MapUnit = MapLengthUnits.metres;

//Load Image
Map1.ImageLayers.Add(new ImageLayer("..\\..\\sampledata\\usa\\unionspring\\doqq_cir_unionsprg_ny.tif"));

//Setup Road Layer
Layer Layer = new Layer("..\\..\\sampledata\\usa\\unionspring\\unionspringroads.shp", true);

//Set threshold for roads
Layer.ThresholdUnit = ThresholdUnits.kilometres;
Threshold Threshold = new Threshold(20, 0);

//Setup Renderer for roads
SymbolRenderer SymbolRenderer1 = new SymbolRenderer(new LineSymbol(new Pen(Color.LightGoldenrodYellow, 4F)));

Threshold.SymbolRenderers.Add(SymbolRenderer1);
Layer.Thresholds.Add(Threshold);
Map1.Layers.Add(Layer);
Map1.Refresh();

Some tips on using ImageLayers:

1. Make sure that your vector layer is in the same projection as your image layer. This will ensure that the roads in your shape file match up with the roads in your image.
2. ImageLayers use Upper and Lower Threshold properties instead of adding a threshold to the layer.
3. An ImageLayer's transparency and color can be changed using this property of the Solid Brush: (Color.FromArgb(0, Color.Blue) where 0 is completely transparent and 255 is completely opaque.
4. Image layers need to be georeferenced to show up correctly on the map. This geo referencing information is stored in a corresponding world file.
5. Be sure to check out our ImageApp Sample Application to see additional ways to add images to your maps.