Converting 32-bit TIFF to 16-bit erroneous values

[JohnWall]

I have several thousand TIFF files that I need to convert from 32-bit to 16-bit, but the Copy Raster geoprocessing tool appears to be providing erroneous results.

As an example, I have a TIF in 32-bit format with values ranging 0.0241 to 0.0674. When I use Copy Rater and set the "NoData Value" to blank, "Pixel Type" to 16-bit unsigned, set the "Scale Pixel Value" to true, I get a TIFF with values ranging 0 to 32768, but the image appears blank no matter what histogram stretch I use. I have tried Calculating Statistics within ArcCatalog with no results. When I set "Scale Pixel Value" to false, I get values ranging 0 to 1 with an image that appears blank.

I am using ArcGIS 10.3.1.

Is there something I am missing?

[CodyBenkelman]

John

There's a GP tool from long ago that will create mosaic files on disk from multiple inputs, but that's not a Mosaic Dataset which is our modern database structure for accessing and processing imagery on the fly, without duplicating data in derived image products.  If you aren't familiar, see What is a mosaic dataset?—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop 

Note the Mosaic Dataset is for data that already includes georeferencing information, or adequate camera/satellite model and image metadata for on-the-fly orthorectification. 

For raw single frame drone images, a photogrammetric workflow for processing (to create orthomosaics, DSMs, point clouds & more) is available in http://esri.com/drone2map which is a standalone app (does not require ArcGIS).  It is sold at a price that is very competitive to similar tools in the marketplace (with numerous points of direct interface with ArcGIS & ArcGIS Online).  Or, if you have a current license for ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro 2.1 includes a drone camera workflow in the Ortho Mapping tools (built into Pro, no add-on cost).

There is a workflow for centralized data management of massive numbers of Drone2Map projects in the imagery workflows.  See the free script at http://esriurl.com/D2Mmanagement

For drones capturing video, we have the Full Motion Video add-in for working with geotagged video, in both map space or with GIS features projected into the video.  http://esri.com/fmv.  (Note this isn't just for drones - it was originally created for professional/military grade video systems but can support drone video through a postflight geoprocessing tool called the "Video Multiplexer")

ArcGIS has quite a bit to offer for drone imagery, and more is coming.

Cody