josm adding orbview imagery

Introduction

    Sometimes it can be difficult to digitize or trace buildings and

roads in JOSM because the BING imagery is unclear-- either from poor resolution or cloud coverage. This problem can be overcome by using Public Domain imagery. In order for Windows users to import imagery into JOSM we need to add more memory. In this chapter, we will be learn how to download free Orbview imagery and use it in JOSM:

I. Add JOSM Memory

​II. Download ORBVIEW Imagery

​III. Add Imagery via ¨ImportImage¨ Plugin

Adding JOSM Memory

    Before using Orbview Imagery in JOSM, it is necessary to add

memory. If this is not done, then you might end up with an error message like this:

The display screen that arises from insufficient memory in JOSM

This occurs because the memory allocated for JOSM is limited to 494 MB. In order to add satellite imagery you will need more than this amount of memory. It is a bit complicated, but we will expand JOSM´s memory:

1. Look for a file named "josm-tested.jar" in program files> JOSM> "josm-tested.jar"OR "josm-latest.jar"(On some computers it may be named "josm-latest.jar" because you installed a more recent edition of JOSM).

   

   Look for the Executable Jar File called Josm-tested.jar or Josm-latest.jar

2. Create a shortcut to the "josm-tested.jar" file by right clicking and then selecting ¨create shortcut¨. Drag the shortcut to the desktop.

3. Next, look for the location of the "java.exe" by typing "Java" in the Start Menu, right click> Open File Location

   

   If you cannot find it using the methods above, then you can go to C: \ Windows \ System32 to find the java.exe file:

   
4. Right click on the shortcut "josm-tested" on your desktop> click Properties.

5. In the option "target" type C: \ WINDOWS \ system32 \ java.exe [space]-jar [space]-Xmx1g [space]"C: \ Program Files \ JOSM \ josm-tested.jar" (Note: The [space] is intended spacebars. Also, you may need to type "josm-latest.jar" instead of "josm-tested.jar".)

   
6. If you succeed, the JOSM application will appear on your screen with the Command line in the background:

   This is the display that you should get to indicate that you have successfully added more memory to JOSM.

You have successfully added more memory to JOSM.

Downloading OrbView-3 Imagery

OrbView 3, which was launched in 2003 by ORIMAGE, acquired up to 210,000 km2 of imagery per day until April 23, 2007. Currently, a database of its imagery is found on the USGS earth explorer site. The panchromatic (black and white) images have a spatial resolution of 1 meter, while the multi-spectral images have a four meter resolution (most of the time this is not offered). The images were taken at an altitude of 470 km. Though Orbview 3 imagery is outdated (2003 to 2007), its images are of good resolution and therefore are still useful for tracing roads and gaining a basic idea of the infrastructure in an area.

A. Set up an account

​Visit http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ and create an account. Click the ¨Register¨ button on the top right.

​You will be prompted to fill in information regarding your User account. Fill in the required information: User Affiliation, Address, and Confirmation. In the first login window, you must enter a username and password that will be used to log in when using the USGS:

​Fill out information, such as the purpose that you are using images from the USGS. The USGS is mainly interested getting information on what type of users are using their imagery and for what purposes. You can fill out the answers like below if you get confused:

​Next, fill out your personal details. Name, address, e-mail and telephone number are all required. After you complete this step you will be successfully registered!

B. Downloading the Imagery

1. Once you have logged into your account you may begin the process of downloading imagery in your desired region. You can search for the location via the Search box on the left or with your mouse on the map. If an error occurs, simply click ¨clear criteria¨ on the right panel. Clear criteria will remove the area that you have chosen so that you can reselect the desired area.

   
2. Once you have found the desired area and have zoomed in, you can select the area to export with four or more mouse clicks. You can delete a selected point by clicking on the red ¨X¨ by the point on the left column. When the area is selected, click on ¨Data Sets¨ located on the bottom left box.

   

   This database exports imagery tiles and so all of the tiles that are included in your selection will be downloaded. Each tile is about 10 to 11 MB. Make sure that you are concise with your selection because it may take awhile to download.

   

   A list of several image providers will pop up. We will chose imagery in the Public Domain, which is a license that corresponds with OpenstreetMap. Select OrbView 3 and click Results

3. As a result, a few OrbView 3 images will appear in the left column. Choose the image that best fits the area you are editing.

   

   

   In the left column there are several menus to view OrbView 3 images, namely:

   

   
4. When you have selected one or more images to download, you must choose a download format. The GIS Ready Bundle is the most useful for our purpose. (The others are too large or are not georeferenced). Click ¨Select Download Option¨.

   
5. Once the image(s) have downloaded, extract the files to a folder. You should get three files like this:

   

   You have successfully downloaded the imagery and now we will go through adding that imagery to JOSM.

Using the "Import Image" plug-in in JOSM

A. Download the Plug-in.

To open the imagery in JOSM you need to download the plugin "ImportImagePlugin". Open JOSM, click Edit → Preferences → Plugin → ImportImagePlugin. Then click OK and restart JOSM.

B. Change the settings. Once JOSM restarts you will need to set the

coordinates in UTM to match the downloaded image. Go back into the Preferences Menu and Select the Presets box (below image globe) → Map projection → OK. You do not need to restart JOSM.

If you are unsure of the coordinate system, you can determine the coordinates of the image you downloaded in QGIS. In QGIS, right click on the layer to get to the Properties menu. Once in the Property menu you should be able to decipher the coordinate system.

Once the image is properly projected, you can now open the image in JOSM. Click File → Import Image and open the file you recently downloaded. You should find three files in the extracted folder (.rar). You want to chose the .jpg.

Wait until the image opens in JOSM. OrbView imagery is panchromatic, so it is black and white. Roads, rivers, vegetation and buildings can still be seen.

Once the imagery is up, then you simply click "Download From OSM" and you can begin editing the data. Hopefully, with the new imagery you will be able to digitize uncharted territory or improve existing data.

Like anytime you edit in JOSM, after you have edited, upload your changes by clicking File → Upload Data.

Summary

Congratulations! You should now be able to add satellite imagery using the ¨ImportImage¨ plugin. In this guide we used free images from Orbview 3, but the plugin can allow any other public domain imagery.

Final Reminders:

​1. You cannot import commercial satellite imagery, such as Google Earth Imagery, to OpenstreetMap. If you work with satellite imagery please read the terms and conditions beforehand. It is not legal to copy commercial or other maps onto OpenstreetMap.

​2. Satellite images must have coordinate files or coordinate information. Be sure to know the coordinates of the satellite imagery (map projection) you are using and adjust your settings in JOSM.

​3. If you wish to return to using Bing Imagery, make sure the map projection settings are returned to Mercator WGS 84.