ArcMap

Iso Cluster

Available with Spatial Analyst license.

Summary

Uses an isodata clustering algorithm to determine the characteristics of the natural groupings of cells in multidimensional attribute space and stores the results in an output ASCII signature file.

Learn more about how Iso Cluster works

Usage

  • Iso Cluster performs clustering of the multivariate data combined in a list of input bands. The resulting signature file can be used as the input for a classification tool, such as Maximum Likelihood Classification, that produces an unsupervised classification raster.

  • The minimum valid value for the number of classes is two. There is no maximum number of clusters. In general, more clusters require more iterations.

  • To provide the sufficient statistics necessary to generate a signature file for a future classification, each cluster should contain enough cells to accurately represent the cluster. The value entered for the minimum class size should be approximately 10 times larger than the number of layers in the input raster bands.

  • The value entered for the sample interval indicates one cell out of every n-by-n block of cells is used in the cluster calculations.

  • You shouldn't merge or remove classes or change any of the statistics of the ASCII signature file.

  • Generally, the more cells contained in the extent of the intersection of the input bands, the larger the values for minimum class size and sample interval should be specified. Values entered for the sample interval should be small enough that the smallest desirable categories existing in the input data will be appropriately sampled.

  • The class ID values on the output signature file start at one and sequentially increase to the number of input classes. The assignment of the class numbers is arbitrary.

  • Better results will be obtained if all input bands have the same data ranges. If the bands have vastly different data ranges, the data ranges can be transformed to the same range using Map Algebra to perform the equation.

    Iso Cluster equation
     where:
   Z is the output raster with new data ranges.
   X is the input raster.
   oldmin is the minimum value of the input raster.
   oldmax is the maximum value of the input raster.
   newmin is the desired minimum value for the output raster.
   newmax is the desired maximum value for the output raster.

  • If the input is a layer created from a multiband raster with more than three bands, the operation will consider all the bands associated with the source dataset, not just the three bands that were loaded (symbolized) by the layer.

  • There are several ways you can specify a subset of bands from a multiband raster to use as input into the tool.

    • If using the tool dialog box, browse to the multiband raster using the browse Browse button next to Input raster bands, open the raster, and select the desired bands.
    • If the multiband raster is a layer in the Table of Contents, you can use the Make Raster Layer tool to create a new multiband layer containing only the desired bands.
    • You can also create a new dataset that contains only the desired bands with Composite Bands and use the resulting dataset as input to the tool.
    • In Python, the desired bands can be directly specified in the tool parameter as a list.

  • See Analysis environments and Spatial Analyst for additional details on the geoprocessing environments that apply to this tool.

Syntax

IsoCluster (in_raster_bands, out_signature_file, number_classes, {number_iterations}, {min_class_size}, {sample_interval})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_raster_bands
[in_raster_band,...]

The input raster bands.

They can be integer or floating point type.

Raster Layer
out_signature_file

The output signature file.

A .gsg extension must be specified.

File
number_classes

Number of classes into which to group the cells.

Long
number_iterations
(Optional)

Number of iterations of the clustering process to run.

The default is 20.

Long
min_class_size
(Optional)

Minimum number of cells in a valid class.

The default is 20.

Long
sample_interval
(Optional)

The interval to be used for sampling.

The default is 10.

Long

Code sample

IsoCluster example 1 (Python window)

This example creates a signature file for classifying the input multiband raster into five classes.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"
IsoCluster("redlands", "c:/sapyexamples/output/isosig.gsg", 5, 20, 50, 15)
IsoCluster example 2 (stand-alone script)

This example creates a signature file for classifying the input multiband raster into five classes.

# Name: IsoCluster_Ex_02.py
# Description: Uses an isodata clustering algorithm to determine the 
#    characteristics of the natural groupings of cells in multidimensional 
#    attribute space and stores the results in an output ASCII signature file.
# Requirements: Spatial Analyst Extension

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"

# Set local variables
inRaster = "redlands"
outSig = "redlndiso.gsg"
classes = 5
cycles = 20
minMembers = 50
sampInterval = 15

# Check out the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")

# Execute IsoCluster
IsoCluster(inRaster, outSig, classes, cycles, minMembers, sampInterval)

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS Desktop Basic: Requires Spatial Analyst
  • ArcGIS Desktop Standard: Requires Spatial Analyst
  • ArcGIS Desktop Advanced: Requires Spatial Analyst

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