topic Re: Why does ArcGIS 10.5.1 enforce VCS properties for rasters? in Data Management Questions

Why does ArcGIS 10.5.1 enforce VCS properties for rasters?

DavidMedeiros — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 22:12:48 GMT

In upgrading from ArcGIS 10.4.1 to 10.5.1 I've noticed that ArcMap seems to handle raster coordinate system info a little differently now.

We have an older set of 10m NED elevation rasters on our data server. In 10.4.1 these files could be re projected from their native GCS NAD 83 to any other common projected system. No errors.

In 10.5.1 the same input raster will not project because Arc interprets the vertical coordinate system as "unknown" and the project raster tool hangs.

If I check the reference system in the image properties in 10.4.1 I can't see any lines for the VCS. In 10.5.1 there are VCS properties for the same image and they are set to "unknown" (unknown VCS datum...). If I redefine the input raster and set the VCS on the Z coordinate system tab all works ok in 10.5.1 even if the output of project raster is set to have no VCS!

The issue is, I don't understand why ArcMap suddenly cares if the VCS is set? The input file is the same in both 10.4.1 and 10.5.1. In 10.4.1 Arc seems to interpret an unknown VCS as "no VCS", in 10.5.1 it seems like I have to explicitly tell it it's no VCS or set a real VCS. What has changed about VCS handling in ArcMap at 10.5.1?

Re: Why does ArcGIS 10.5.1 enforce VCS properties for rasters?

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 22:23:21 GMT

No answers, but to save people trolling the help files

Coordinate systems and their components including.... supported vertical coordinate systems

Help topic on VCS although it doesn't mention rasters specifically

Re: Why does ArcGIS 10.5.1 enforce VCS properties for rasters?

DavidMedeiros — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 22:36:05 GMT

Incidentally ArcPro handles these raster with unknown VCS that same way 10.4.1 did, by assuming "unknown" = "none" and moving on with the projection. The output image file will have "no VCS" in its properties instead of "unknown". I suspect this is actually a bug in 10.5.1.

Re: Why does ArcGIS 10.5.1 enforce VCS properties for rasters?

GeoNZ — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 02:17:18 GMT

What's also annoying is that it appears that there's a bug (in 10.51) whereby even if defining the coordinate system again to add a vertical coordinate system to a Mosaic, the definition is not saved.