Convert GeoTIFF Data to IMG with GDAL Scripts

These directions assume that gdal_translate.exe is in the path, or C:\Program Files\GDAL\.

Step

Description

Screenshot

Obtain GeoTIFF Data: Step 1

The primary method for downloading The National Map (TNM) raster GeoTIFF (National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) and some High Resolution Orthoimagery) type of staged products is by using the new TNM download client (http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/). Zoom to the area of interest. Select "National Land Cover Database (NLCD)" from the Datasets section on the left (1), then a subcategory (2) and data extent (3). Finally, click on the "Find Products" button (4) to bring up the available products.

Obtain GeoTIFF Data: Step 2

When the Available Products window appears, click on "Download" to download the GeoTIFF data in a zip file. Once downloaded, unzip the file locally, making note of the location.

Obtain USGS Raster Conversion Scripts

A set of scripts for converting raster staged data is available at USGS_Raster_Conversion_Scripts. These should be downloaded and unzipped locally. (These directions are part of the how to documentation in that archive.)

Option 1: Drag and Drop GeoTIFF Download Folder

The GDAL_Convert_All_GeoTIFF_2_IMG.bat script takes a folder name as input and recursively scans that folder for all TIF files and attempts to create an IMG for each. In Windows Explorer, when you drag and drop a folder onto a batch file, the folder path is passed as the parameter to run that batch file with. Doing this produces an IMG in that same folder as the GeoTIFF data. The resulting image(s) will have the name GDAL_GeoTIFF_2_IMG.img.

In order to use this method, download the GDAL scripts into a user-controlled directory with write permissions. Drag and drop the original GeoTIFF file from the same directory that the conversion script is located in.

Option 2: Run the GDAL_GeoTIFF_2_IMG.bat from the Command Line

The GDAL_GeoTIFF_2_IMG.bat file uses a TIF file location for the first parameter which is the source to convert. This script will not recursively scan the sub-directories to find the data, so the path must point to the actual TIF file. A second parameter that is optional allows you to specify the path and name of the output GeoTIFF file.

Since the second parameter is optional, the easiest way to run this is to drag and drop the GeoTIFF file onto the batch file. The directions for using this script are presented below:

USAGE: GDAL_GeoTIFF_2_IMG.bat <GeoTIFF Input File> [Output File Name]

<GeoTIFF Input File> (REQUIRED) This is the relative or full path to the GeoTIFF file that contains the source data.

[Output File Name] (OPTIONAL) This is the relative or full path to the output file that will be created. If this is not set, it will attempt to make a sub-folder under the current directory called IMG_Output, and a file in that folder called GDAL_GeoTIFF_2_IMG.img.