qiming@usage.csd.unsw.oz.au (Qiming Zhou) (10/08/90)
Thanks for all the replies regarding my previous request on remote sensing image processing on SUN SPARC workstations. I am attaching the summary of all the replies with this message. In brief, the answer is quite disappointing. I have got many "me too" messages (if there are some in the summary, sorry), so that I guess the particular type of software is of rather general interest. There are also good responses suggesting a variety of software packages - PD or commercial. The most of these packages, particularly PD packages, however, are general image processing tools which CAN do some thing with remotely sensed data, rather than packages which is dedicated to process the remotely sensed data. In common, some key features are missing from these packages such as classification functions using multispectral data, image registration, some statistical summary functions, etc. Commercial packages, on the other hand, give some brighter pictures. There are some packages available which can do almost everything I expected from a remote sensing IP package. ERDAS and ER Mapper, in particular, have a rich collection of IP functions. The trouble is, as commercial packages, they are rather expensive. ERDAS would cost me around $50,000 for the laboratory equipped with 20 workstations while I only need a small part of its capabilities for teaching. ER Mapper is considerably cheaper, around $20,000 for a site license, but I feel it is still under the development stage and some features such as multispectral classification are still not available. I hope I have got this wrong and can only be happy if someone tell me that ER Mapper has already got classification functions and registration functions. After all this, I think I have to wait for a while to see the development. At the moment, ER Mapper seems the closer choice but the door is still widely open. Thanks again for all the replies, particularly for those who have send documents of software packages. Your help is high appreciated. Qiming The following is all the replies: *** Try GIPSY, from Dr. Bob Haralick whom you can reach at "haralick@june.cs.washington.edu". Tell him I sent you. *** Could you be a little more specific about your needs? We have developed a system here for analyzing satellite images. Its not public domain, but its not commercial either. We need to charge for tapes and reproduction costs - $250. The is not really an image processor, but it does do some simple processing. The most useful feature is that you can apply navigation information to a window and plot data using lat/lon information. If you are interested, send me your mail address and I can send you a copy of the manual and additional information. *** Try ALV. We use it for Satellite Images all the time. Also you might like to consider APE. Details appended. Please let me know of anything interesting that you hear about (ALV man page, stuff deleted ...) *** apE ================================================================ Facts About the apE Release: Here are some details about the availability of the apE software: What is It? The apE is a software toolkit for visualizing scientific data. It is designed to provide the flexibility to examine data in several ways. Release 1.1 of the apE is designed primarily for visualizing data in two graphical dimensions. (this does not mean just for visualizing two-dimensional data). The apE system places an emphasis on animation and the integration of the visualization process into the scientific process. The apE is extendable, and will grow with the addition of more tools and filters. The apE is a software product resulting from leading research in computer graphics and scientific visualization conducted by The Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design. The apE 2.0, available in winter 1989/90, will address general visualization problems in both two and three dimensions. What Computers is it For? The software package is designed so that there are two types of programs: interactive tools, and computational filters. The tools allow for interactive manipulation and examination of data. The filters perform all the computations. The filters are usable without the tools, although the user may need to provide some programming support to create data flows and view rendered images. The complete apE toolkit, including the tools (running under SunView), filters, and documentation, is available for the following workstations: - Sun series 4 workstations. - Sun series 3 workstations, running SunOS version 4.0 or greater. - Sun series 386i workstations. In addition, the filters are available for the following computers/workstations running UNIX: - Silicon Graphics 4D series workstation--------. - Cray X-MP supercomputer. - Hewlett-Packard workstations - the NeXT workstation - the Convex C-1 superminicomputer. How Do I Get it? The apE is available via anonymous ftp from oscsuna.osc.edu (128.146.1.4) in the directory pub/apE. Send electronic mail to michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu, for more information. What Does the Release Include? - Executable versions of all the programs (tools and filters) for Sun-4, Sun-3, and Sun 386i. - Complete user documentation for each program. - Examples and tutorial. Source code for the apE version 1.1 is not available; however, future releases will include source code at a nominal fee (<$100). apE Version 2.0 The apE 2.0 represents a significant release of graphics software and tools to the research community. Built upon the experience of staff members from the Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Projects and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design, the apE 2.0 includes software that addresses the full range of applications, from science to art. The apE 2.0 is projected for release in January, 1990, and will be available in binary form via anonymous ftp much like the apE 1.1. However, full source code and printed documentation (both user and programmer) will be available as well for a nominal fee. The apE 2.0 will include libraries, filters, tools, and applications. The apE 2.0 will include basis libraries, libraries for manipulating data flow structures, and higher level libraries for window system objects (browsers, etc.). In addition to the two dimensional tools for scientific data included in the 1.1 release, the apE 2.0 will also include a complete polygonal system, with data generation, animation, and rendering; several mapping systems from scientific data to surface data; a volumetric rendering system; full image manipulation and post processing software; a primitive based rendering system (sticks, ball, vectors, etc.), ray tracing software, and a full toolset for scientific and artistic image creation and manipulation. Welcome to the apE ftp directory. All the files needed to install a binary version of the apE software are contained here. The file FACTS is general information about apE. The CONDITIONS file contains copyright information, please read. The file install_apE.doc is documentation for the install script 'install_apE'. The rest of the files are compressed tar files containing the apE release. apE.tar.Z - documentation, examples, other files bin.sun3.tar.Z - executables for sun3 bin.sun4.tar.Z - executables for sun4 bin.sun386.tar.Z - executables for sun386 lib.sun3.tar.Z - libraries for sun3 lib.sun4.tar.Z - libraries for sun4 lib.sun386.tar.Z - libraries for sun386 Copy the 2 install files (install_apE and install_apE.doc), apE.tar.Z, and the bin and lib compressed tar files for the type(s) of systems you have. To install apE, go to the directory containing the apE files, and follow the instructions in install_apE.doc When the release is correctly installed, remove the compressed tar files (.Z) Hints: (1) Use binary mode in FTP (2) Do the installation for each type of system. Please send questions to michelle@osgp.osc.edu apE (tm) the animation production Environment Copyright (c) 1989 The Ohio State University Release 1.1 Conditions of Release The Ohio State University holds copyright in this software, including documentation and screen designs. Any person may download a copy of apE Software Release 1.1 which will be deemed acknowledged by the act of downloading all or any portion of such software: 1. The downloaded software, and any copies or derivatives thereof, will be used solely for research and evaluation, but will not be decompiled, commercialized,or made available to anyone not acknowledging acceptance of these conditions. 2. Acknowledgment of the source of this software will be included on all copies of it and of any derivatives, including produced works such as still images and films. The original copyright notice(s) will be retained on all copies, including partial copies, and appropriate copyright notice(s) will be placed on all copies of any derivatives. 3. This apE software and any subsequently released corrections, improvements, or other modifications, is made available as is, without warranty of any kind. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Neither the Ohio State University nor anyone in privity with it shall be liable for any loss or damages, including without limitation special, indirect or consequential damages, arising from any use, defect, omission, failure or the like of said software, nor shall they have any obligation to make available any corrections, improvements, or other modifications or to provide any assistance or service of any kind. For terms under which source code, licenses for commercialization and/or assistance in developing particular applications can be obtained, please contact: Michelle Messenger The Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project 1224 Kinnear Road Columbus, Ohio 43212 (614) 292-3274 email: michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu *** Did you receive any answers? If not, you could try: Earth Resource Mapping 316 Churchill Avenue Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia, 6008 Telephone 09 388 2900 Fax 09 388 2901 Or contact Richard Kurzeja (one of the directors) by email: rk@erm.oz They have a commercial offering which may be suitable for your requirements. *** We offer an imaging product called "ER Mapper" that may be of interest. In summary: - Normal retail is $14,000 per licensed CPU EDUCATIONAL licenses are available for $2,000 per licensed CPU - The product runs under X-Windows (e.g. X11R4 or OpenWindows), and supports 1 bit (control windows only), 8 bit and 24/32 bit displays (we supply a X11R4 that supports the RasterOps 24 bit frame buffer and the Sun cgeight 24 bit frame buffer). - ER Mapper is quite happy running on 8 bit displays only; it dithers 24 bit images down automatically. - Because ER Mapper runs under X11, it is ideal for educational use. Some general points of interest: o Many image windows can be opened o Windows can be opened on other workstations on the network - not just on the controlling display o The OPENLOOK window interface is used, and a great deal of time has been spent making the software easy to use people who are not computing or imaging experts. o About 20 different types of datasets are supplied, and are fully documented in the ER Mapper Application and Tutorial manuals. o Datasets that can be processed with ER Mapper include: Landsat TM and MSS, SPOT MSS and panchromatic, AVHRR (NOAA), DTM, VLF, radiometrics, magnetics, geochemical data, gravity, AVIRIS and resistivity. o Openfile examples of most of the above are included with the software. o There is no limit on dataset size or the number of bands for a dataset. o Data may be signed/unsigned: 8 bit, 16 bit, 32 bit, float or double. o Real time sun angle shading supported o Multiple datasets may be mosaiced together. o "Algorithms" which describe the processing to be carried out are created by using the graphical user interface. These algorithms can then be recalled at a later date (they are recorded in ascii files) and treated as a black-box processing technique. For example, a algorithm that generates a "vegetation index" from AVHRR data could be created, which is then used as a black-box processing operation to create a vegetation index from AVHRR data. o The above "algorithms" make ER Mapper ideal for educational purposes - students can be set the task of creating an algorithm. o A full set of "standard" algorithms have been created and are supplied and documented with ER Mapper. o ER Mapper supports the display of vector data over raster images. o Supports hardcopy to devices such as postscript printers and various color printers and film writers. Automatically dithers and "strip prints" output if necessary for a given hard copy device. o Import utilities are provided to import data from many common formats. I hope the above quick list gives an idea of what ER Mapper is. Should you like further information, please email me. If you wish to send me your postal address we will airmail information to you on the product. We have six distributors for ER Mapper in Australia, and our NSW distributor is ENCOM Technology Pty Ltd, contact: Dr David Pratt ENCOM Technology Pty Ltd PO Box 422 MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 (02) 957 4117 fax (02) 922 6141 You may be interested to know that Hughes Aircraft have purchased ER Mapper to use it to develop algorithms for the EOS-DIS program. regards, Stuart Nixon, sns@erm.oz.au Earth Resource Mapping, 316 Churchill St, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008 Phone: +61 9 388 2900 Fax: +61 9 388 2901 E-mail: sns@erm.oz.au *** ELAS is an image processing package developed at Stennis Space Center, Ms. by either NASA or their contractor, Lockheed. It has recently been ported to SPARCstation 1s, running under X windows with the regular 8bit color framer buffer ( there are also plans to port it to work with RasterOps 24bit board also). A contact would be Jimmie Ramsay with Lockheed @601-688-1988. ERDAS is a commercial package. Call them at 404-248-9000. Regards, Rick Conner 205-342-7727 *** From dmcmillan@East.sun.com A package you may want to look at is SunVision. It is not specifically for remote sensing, but it does have extensive image processing capabilities. IP functions can be selected from pull down menus, all running under Sun's OpenWindows environment. Programmers can also extend the functionality of the library and the widow-based tool. SunVision runs on any 8-bit color SPARCstations. It is recommended that you have the GX 8-bit color frame buffer, but other 8-bit frame buffers will also work. You also need to have at least 16MB of main memory in the system, and OpenWindows. If you'd like any information on SunVision, let me know and I'll mail it to you. *** From: yo@sunaus.oz (John Young) Have you asked Sun? We have a Catalyst portfolio of packages from the Academic world which are free or very cheap to academic sites. Ask John Ashton to send you a copy. (John manages the UNSW site for Sun) In particular you should look at the PD software offered by USGS for IP and GIS activity. Some of that is very powerful but I am not sure of who you go to to get copies. Regards