idea Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

thareUSGS — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:53:50 GMT

The overall goal is to:

Allow for ArcGIS Pro to natively load the NASA PDS4 format (Planetary Data System v4). The PDS4 extension can have an extension of either *.xml or *.lblx

Business Case:

The PDS4 format has been supported in GDAL for several years. Thus, for ArcGIS Pro, support for PDS4 should simply be a matter of "turning on" the PDS4 format (already available in GDAL). This would be adding to the existing PDS (v3) and ISIS3 cube planetary formats already supported in GDAL/ArcGIS Pro. The enhancement should require little or no software development from Esri as the format is already supported in GDAL.
Why support this? One of our main goals is to help the public and researchers be able to use the planetary data we support within NASA's archive. Many of our scientists already rely on ArcGIS Pro and native support for PDSv4 data would greatly benefit them. This is the reason we supported these format drivers for GDAL in the first place.
Beyond supporting our planetary science community, I will say there is looming commercial aspect to supporting these formats. Many "space" companies will also be using ArcGIS Pro for data analysis and processing. Having PDS4 support will be a boon for these users also.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

LaszloKestay — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:19:20 GMT

This is very important for my ability to support selecting safe landing sites for future American astronauts on the Moon.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

sonyarbogle — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:39:11 GMT

I know that this impacts many people using PDS data that I work with on a daily basis! The reasons that @thareUSGS and @LaszloKestay outlined above are a great basis for why this (seemingly easy to fix) issue needs to be resolved.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

mlandis — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:04:04 GMT

This is some basic functionality that we need for planetary GIS applications both in research and teaching classes and workshops!

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

DavidAWilliams222 — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:16:47 GMT

It is extremely important for ESRI, Inc. to enable ArcGIS™ Pro to ingest data from NASA's Planetary Data System (PDS). Trent Hare outlined the key points above. Almost all planetary research on the surfaces of planets, moons, and asteroids is done on images in the PDS, and as ArcGIS Pro is the primary software tool to conduct geospatial research on planetary surfaces, Arc Pro must be able to read PDS data. I encourage ESRI to make this happen.

Sincerely,

Professor David A. Williams

Director, Planetary GIS Laboratory

Ronald Greeley Center for Planetary Studies, Arizona State University

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

PRATEEKTRIPATHI — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:50:51 GMT

The PDS4 standard is now central to many active and upcoming Moon‑to‑Mars missions, and the lack of native compatibility creates unnecessary friction in research workflows, teaching, and data accessibility.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

moonmapper — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:50:58 GMT

The amount of time saved and science enabled by simply loading in PDS4 files would be incredible. Definitely need this.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

RobertCitron — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:33:12 GMT

Extremely important to add PDS4 capability to ArcGIS, especially considering the renewed interest in Moon and Mars missions. Increased private industry mission to the Moon will also make this vial for industry-led lunar missions, including upcoming missions from Blue Origin.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

jecscully — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:43:16 GMT

ArcGIS Pro is the main software tool I use for my NASA-funded planetary science research. Thus, PDS4 support in ArcGIS Pro would be incredibly useful to me as I plan future NASA exploration missions.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

NathanRWilliams — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:13:12 GMT

I fully agree with Trent's points; this would be extremely useful for data accessibility and improve efficiency. I would personally use PDS4 functionality every day.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

JenniferPiatek — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:57:28 GMT

PDS4 functionality would allow my students to use ArcGIS to complete class and independent research projects - right now, those projects are done in other applications that don't carry the same weight on resumés. I'd be able to adapt more of my workflow to utilize Arc with better support for this format.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

DebraBuczkowski — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:20:40 GMT

Being able to ingest data from NASA's Planetary Data System (PDS) would be immensely valuable to all planetary scientists who use ArcPro.

Re: Enable NASA PDS4 raster file format (Planetary Data System v4) for upcoming Moon to Mars missions

SharonPurdy — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:53:33 GMT

The proposed functionality is necessary to support research and mapping of the Moon and Mars and would immensely benefit the ArcPro uses in the planetary community.