Hi everyone,
I know IDRISI is very powerful in processing Raster GIS data and conducting research modelings, which is not true with ArcGIS. So I really want to know how to convert data from ArcGIS to IDRISI? And how to convert IDRISI data to ArcGIS?
Thank you.
You can use the module RECLASS to change the nodata values to another value. Alternatively, use RECLASS to create a mask of the nodata values that can be used with other modules.
James
There is a number of ways to convert ArcGIS grid files and shapefiles into IDRISI raster and vector file formats. Below I have outlined some of the most common ways to import ArcGIS files into IDRISI for raster image processing.
Raster Conversion from IDRISI into ArcGIS
* Users with ArcGIS 10
*
Currently with the new release of ArcGIS 10 users can now open IDRISI raster files (*.rst) without having to perform a file conversion. Users simply can either choose the raster file in the ArcGIS using the ‘Add Data’ tool or drag and drop the file from ArcCatalog into the ArcGIS 10 workspace.
** Users with ArcGIS 9.3**
A conversion will have to take place such that the *.rst file much be converted into a readable format for display. To perform this task you can do one of the following; export the *.rst file as an ArcInfo ASCII file, ArcInfo binary file, an Erdas Imagine file or a Geotiff file. All of these conversion tools are located in the Files> Export section of the toolbar in IDRISI.
To convert out of IDRISI and into ArcGIS using the ArcInfo ASCII conversion you will go to Files> Export> Software Specific Formats> ERSI> ARCRASTER. Here you will input the *.rst file you wish to convert, indicate an output name and press ok. You should now see a text file that was created in your working folder, representing your dataset. Moving to the ArcGIS side, open your toolbox and search for the conversion tool ‘ASCII to Raster’. Here you will input the *.txt file that was created in IDRISI and specify an output name. Once this module is finished, you will see your raster image in a usable format for ArcGIS.
Raster Conversion from ArcGIS into IDRISI
Again there are multiple ways to accomplish this task, one of the simplest being a reversal of the protocol outlined above in which a raster image was converted to ASCII and that ASCII file was imported into ArcGIS. One would use the ‘Raster to ASCII’ tool in ArcGIS to generate an ASCII file from the Arc grid image, and then import into IDRISI with the ARCRASTER importing tool- specifying the ‘ArcInfo ASCII to Raster’ setting.
Alternatively you can opt to export the Arc grid file as an ERDAS Imagine file (*.img) and subsequently import that file into IDRISI. To accomplish this export function in the ArcGIS environment, right click the grid file and select Data> Export Data. Here specify the format for the image to be exported as *.img. Select any other settings that are necessary for your file. Now in the folder you specified for the output location you should have a *.img file. Moving to the IDRISI environment, set that folder where the *.img file is stored as your resource folder and the folder you want to be storing your working data in as your working folder. Go to File> Import> Software Specific Files> ERDAS. Choose you *.img file and give it an output name. Press OK. Once the conversion is complete you will see your *.rst file in your working folder.
Vector Import in and out of IDRISI
To import *.shp files into IDRISI there is a conversion tool found in Files> Import> Software Specific Formats> SHAPEIDR. Here you can specify the *.shp located in you resource or working folder that you wish to import. You can also specify the reference system directly which will import and project your image in one streamlined step. The output file will be *.vct and the associated vector database information. To take a *.vct file and export it into a shapefile format one simply has to reverse these steps taken.
Hi Olive,
Just to add, I always found the macro command extremely useful, especially if u are dealing with a huge amount of data/layers.
Cheers. :)
Here is how to do it(from Idrisi Manual) . ,
1: x (to indicate that macro mode is being used)
2: enter option: (1=Shapefile to IDRISI / 2=IDRISI to Shapefile)
If 1 in 2 above (Shapefile to IDRISI):
3: Shapefile (name of Shapefile file)
4: output vector file (IDRISI vector file to be created)
5: reference system (plane, latlong, etc.)
6: reference units (m, mi, ft, km, deg, rad)
7: unit distance (distance spanned by a coordinate difference of 1)
If 2 in 2 above (IDRISI to Shapefile):
3: 1 or 2 (1=vector collection (i.e., vector file linked with a database); 2=simple vector layer)
4: vector file (name of IDRISI vector link file or vector file to be processed)
5: output Shapefile (name of Shapefile to be produced)
e.g., "shapeidr x 1*roads*drds*plane*m*1"
e.g., "shapeidr x 2*1*census tracts*census tracts"
I have never been able to get complex images out of Arcgis using raster to ascii tool in Idrisi. My workaround is to go with the Erdas Imagine route. It saves time and frustration.
I have a .rst file from Idrisi, and I can display that file in ArcGIS just fine. However, the spatial information is missing. Is there any way to import the metadata from Idrisi to ArcGIS?
Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Z
Hi Zhuoting,
Could you kindly explain further. My rst data in ArcGis has all the spatial information e.g extent, projection, cell size etc.
Hi Idham,
I realize the problem is the the projection from Idrisi (Albert Russia) is not recognized in ArcGIS. I tried to use "PROJECT" tool to reproject the raster into LatLong, but I got an error message saying "Files can not be projected to or from the PLANE reference system". Could you please help me with this?
thanks,
Z
Hi Z,
I never deal with Albert Russia, but I do believe that any projection conversion to LatLong can be done easily in Idrisi. I tried it just now using an image that had the UTM-48N reference system. I use PROJECT to convert to LatLong, and its come nice and clean.
Thanks, Idham. I think there's something unusual with the Albert Russia projection. I'll try to work around it. Thank you!
You are welcome. Good luck.
Hi Zhuoting,
See the thread in the FAQ section on projecting from a plane reference system. Not all reference system will be recognized by Arc during the import process. And Plane is not a valid reference system. The coordinates may come over fine in Arc, but either in IDRISI or Arc, you will need to define the reference system. Once you get the reference system documented correctly in one, you will be able to use the same parameters for the other.
Best,
James Toledano
Clark Labs
hi,please i have a landsat TM image in 3 bands. it is stored in TIFF format. it is actually opening in Arcinfo. i'm having trouble converting it into idrisi format in IDRISI tool. please how do i do it. thanks
hi,please i have another request. i almost succeeded in converting the image format i.e. TIFF to IDRISI. but now it is telling me not enough space in the disk. what should i do?
If you have problems importing raster formats, including tif, you should try using the GDAL interface in IDRISI. Tif in particular, comes in many different flavors and can be problematic. Also, before you use GDAL, make sure you get the latest drivers from our website: http://clarklabs.org/support/gdal.cfm.
Make sure to follow the directions in the Help on configuring GDAL within IDRISI. If you continue to encounter errors with both GDAL and IDRISI imports, consider saving the data in another format and ensure that the datatype of the imported data is supported by IDRISI.
James Toledano
Clark Labs
Hi all,
Idrisi newbie here. I have tried going to Files> Export> Software Specific Formats> ERSI> ARCRASTER to import the RST image to ARCGis. But seems like it still doesnt have the Projection when imported to ARCgis.Is there anything that I have missed? is there any other option to do it? I am using ARCGIS 9.3
Hi friends, I have trouble in importing .shp (ESRI) to Idrisi .vct. When I imported the data, it error and displaying SHAPE POLYGONZ NOT SUPPORTED. I ve done repairing my .shp's geometry on ARCGIS, and its good actually. However I still got the same error. So, what is wrong with my data ? and how should I solve it ?
Thank You for your kindness friends,
Indrian RA
Dear all,
I am importing Tiff raster format ffrom ArcGIS intro .rst format luckily the conversion is successful but the issue is that the pixel with noData into ArGIS10.3 display are becoming with data into IDRISI. I don't how to extract by mask in IDRIS as we do in ArcGIS which might save me! Any comment is highly appreciated
hi sir,
having trouble to converting ascii format to idrisi. it showing header incorrectly formatted error. can u plz help me to resolve this error
Hi Abinaya,
If you are converting raster please use GeoTiff export. The latest version of TerrSet 2020 has been optimized using this format to support the import and export of these data.
James
