Trouble rubbersheeting rasters?

Question

Hi there,

I am trying to georeference and rubbersheet a raster layer containing parcel records to match up with a vector layer containing the same.  I thought this was a relatively straightforward process but obviously not this time.

I get through the georeferencing process just fine.  After I start an editing session (pointing to the workspace containing the raster), then I try to  "Set Adjust Data" on the Spatial Adjustment toolbar.  However the window is empty, listing no data at all.  The raster data is not being recognized for some reason.

Have tried rubbersheeting various formats including TIFF, IMG, and GRID with no success.  Tested to see if this was a problem with ArcGIS 10, but the same thing occurs in older versions.  Thought it might have something to do with the world file / .vat file containing the projection & georeference information.  Can't find much information about that, and unsure if it is really the problem.  Also I checked to make sure all my extensions are on, which they are.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated, as it is holding up progress on the entire project.  I bet it is something simple that I'm overlooking.  Let me rephrase that, I hope it is something simple that I'm overlooking!

Note: We've considered using parcel editor and this project / dataset are not a good match for that solution.

PatrickTaurman · Answer

I get through the georeferencing process just fine.  After I start an editing session (pointing to the workspace containing the raster), then I try to  "Set Adjust Data" on the Spatial Adjustment toolbar.  However the window is empty, listing no data at all.  The raster data is not being recognized for some reason.

The raster data is not recognized by the Spatial Adjustment toolbar because it only works on vector data.  
 
If you re-read withershin's comments, he said to convert the raster to vector data which can then be spatially adjusted.  If you want to rubbersheet your raster, withershin's suggestion to convert from raster to vector using ArcScan is valid, which will allow you to use the Spatial Adjustment toolbar on the resulting vector data.

JoelleFreeman · Answer

Thanks withershin, I will probably use the georeferencing technique you suggested.  This will most likely make the RMS error increase, but we've decided to ignore that.

JimW1 · Answer

IF you have rasters with only line drawings then covert them to black and white and run them through ArcScan. The resulting vectors can be spatially adjusted. I typically do this for survey plans or old property boundary drawings. I was under the impression that the georeferencing toolbar is the only way to adjust a raster.

Perhaps too you could just use more control points. I've gone as high as 30 control points trying to georeference a 2ha drawing from the 1930's. It's a bit of an art.