custom transformation not functional mosaic dataset

[larryzhang]

Hello,

Recently practice and witness the following, which is reproducible in ArcGIS 10.4.1 and 10.5.1:

Background: 

• ArcGIS built-in (3 to 5-parameter) transformation between WGS84 and local datum, called 'Option 1' used by default in Mosaic Dataset;
• A more accurate (7-parameter) custom transform between WGS84 and local datum, called 'Option 2', which is used to take over Option 1 in Mosaic Dataset

Action:

• Option 2 is customized, which is also configured via Environment Settings (for takeover of Option 1), where NADCON file is managed under C or D:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.5\pedata\nadcon folder

Symptom:

• When images with WGS84 (UTM) are loaded into a Mosaic Dataset (with local datum), the Option 2 is not functional, which still uses Option 1 for the transformation. It looks no takeover at all.
• However, if those images are directly loaded into ArcMap, it demonstrates two options: Option 1 and Option 2. When the Option 2 is selected, the transformation works fine. 

Any advice?

Regards,

[DanPatterson_Retired]

Larry... 'loaded into a mosaic data set'... 

how exactly, since supported environment parameters are listed with tools 

  (ie http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/tool-reference/data-management/add-rasters-to-mosaic-dataset.htm)

and general parameters may or may not be supported

[AbdullahAnter]

I will mention this to Coordinate Reference Systems and Melita Kennedy .

[HongXu]

Hi Larry,

Without knowing the detail of your local datum, I tried using this case:  UTM (WGS84 datum) as the projection of the mosaic dataset and NAD27 and NAD83 as datum for the images that will be loaded to the mosaic dataset.

   1. create a mosaic dataset with UTM projection and add datum transformations from the GP environment setting for transformation between WGS84 and NAD27 and WGS84 and NAD83, there are many options that are available, but make sure that you pick one that is suitable for your data

   2. add the images to the mosaic dataset. This should be done. when accessing the mosaic dataset (the images in the mosaic dataset), the system will pick the corresponding transformation to use.

when you comparing with ArccMap, please make sure that they are using the same transformation (ArcMap default may not be the one that you pick from the environment setting). If you still see issue or issue with your data, please contact Esri support with your data to reproduce.

Regards,

Hong Xu

[larryzhang · Accepted solution]

thx, Xu,

Eventually, the issue is identified and fixed in mosaic dataset:

In addition to two local datum files (.las, .los) to be placed in 'C or D:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\pedata\nadcon', the third file (.GTF), which is referred to 'GRID Transform File', is also required and copied to the user’s Application Data folder, in the ESRI Custom Transform directory as follows, saying hlzhang525:

C:\Users\hlzhang525\AppData\Roaming\ESRI\Desktop10.5\ArcToolbox\CustomTransformations

Similarly, to do same in image server, if this local transformation is applied to image services or dynamic caching ..

Regards,

ZHANGH @ ARAMCO