Available with Standard or Advanced license.
Synchronizing a mosaic dataset is a good primary way to keep your mosaic datasets up to date with data and in sync with other connected mosaic datasets. The Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool has many options, including those to
- Add new raster data.
- Update stale items.
- Generate unbuilt overviews or cache.
- Return an item in the mosaic dataset back to its original configuration (when added).
- Remove broken items.
Mosaic dataset organizational structures
To understand synchronizing mosaic datasets, it's important for you to understand how the data is organized within them. For example, you can have data referenced directly from its source location or using another mosaic dataset.
This most common configuration is a mosaic dataset where the imagery and raster data is referenced directly. Because of the direct relationship to the source data, it is described as the source mosaic dataset. This configuration often serves as the base of other mosaic datasets that may be generated. 
There are other configurations where a mosaic dataset is the source input to another mosaic dataset. For example, a derived mosaic dataset is created just like the original (source) mosaic dataset, but the data added comes from at least one other mosaic dataset. 
When creating a derived mosaic dataset, the data can be added using the Table raster type, where every row in the source mosaic dataset is added to the derived mosaic dataset. This allows users to query and examine all the original items in the mosaic dataset, as if they were added directly. Or the source mosaic dataset can be added using the Raster Dataset raster type, where an entire source mosaic dataset will be added as a single item to the derived mosaic dataset. With this, users no longer have access to each item individually.
A derived mosaic dataset can contain many mosaic datasets or even a combination of mosaic datasets and source images. Synchronization is very useful for keeping the derived mosaic datasets updated with any changes in the source mosaic datasets.
A referenced mosaic dataset is a unique type of mosaic dataset. It behaves like a regular mosaic dataset; however, you
cannot add additional rasters to the mosaic dataset, you cannot
build overviews, and you cannot calculate the pixel size ranges.
Reference mosaic datasets are created using the Create Referenced Mosaic Dataset tool and by defining another mosaic dataset as the source. Typically, this source could be a source mosaic dataset or a derived mosaic dataset.
Reference mosaic datasets maintain a close (live) relationship with the source; therefore, they do not need to be synchronized manually. However, if the source is moved, the paths may need to be updated.
Common synchronization scenarios
Synchronization is a one-way operation, where changes in the source data can be synchronized to the mosaic dataset's attribute table, but changes in the attribute table will not affect the source data. For example, if the source is a raster dataset that has had its georeferencing modified, synchronization will be make this update in the mosaic dataset. Or if the source is a mosaic dataset, and you added a function to an item in the attribute table or added an item to the source mosaic dataset, then the derived mosaic datasets will be updated accordingly.
Updating with new imagery
One common workflow for synchronizing is to update a mosaic dataset with new imagery. This operation is commonly automated, especially in situations where the mosaic dataset represents the latest imagery in an organization that is constantly obtaining new imagery. In this scenario, the imagery must be stored within the same folder location where the imagery was first added from (new subfolders can be created), and the imagery will be added using the previously added raster types and settings. For example,
- If you added imagery using an altered QuickBird raster type, then the same settings will be applied when adding new QuickBird imagery. However, if the new imagery is Landsat, then it will not be added since this raster type was not originally used to add imagery to the mosaic dataset.
- Additionally, when you added the imagery, whatever options were set on the Add Raster To Mosaic Dataset tool will be applied, such as Build Raster Pyramids, Calculate Statistics, and an Input Data Filter.
To update a mosaic dataset with new imagery, you will run the Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool on the mosaic dataset with only the following options checked: Update With New Items and Update Overviews (this option will update the cell size ranges and boundary as part of its operation). If you have a derived mosaic dataset created from a source mosaic dataset you will run the same tool with the following option checked: Update with New Items. If your derived mosaic dataset only contains the source mosaic dataset, then you don't need to add any other options, but if it has its own overviews, and may contain multiple source mosaic datasets, then also check Update Overviews.
Updating with refinements
There are several scenarios where imagery may be added to a mosaic dataset, and refinements will be made at a later stage. This is common when the imagery needs to be made available quickly and you don't want to spend time to refine options like projection information, seamlines, or footprints.
For example, when adding aerial imagery, the camera frame specifications may be refined over time to improve the accuracy of the imagery. In this case you will use the Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool with the following options checked: Update Existing Items and Update Raster From Data Source.
There may be times when you have made edits to the source mosaic dataset, such as editing footprints and seamlines or updating or adding fields to the attribute table, that you want reflected in the derived mosaic dataset. In this case you will use the Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool with the following options checked: Update Existing Items, Update Raster From Data Source, and Update Fields (with the appropriate fields selected).
If you have modified some of the source files, such as the aux.xml or the projection file, or updated or created new files, such as updating the source images (such as the .tif), the metadata file, or pyramids, then you will want to use the Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool with the following options checked: Update Existing Items and Synchronize Stale Items Only.
Building cache
There are cases where you may have cache built for one or more items in the mosaic dataset. For example, when you have complex processing occurring on one item, such as orthorectification, pan-sharpening, and color correction, you may want to create a cache (which preprocesses the item) to improve the speed of the mosaic dataset (or image service). In this case, the cache is added using the Cached Raster function. Additionally, item cache is generated for each item when you add LAS files, LAS dataset, or terrain datasets to a mosaic dataset.
To generate or update the cache for these items use the Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool with the following options checked: Update Existing Items and Build Item Cache.
Removing broken items
Before you assume that the items are broken, you should first check to see if there are any broken paths.
Learn about finding and repairing broken paths in a mosaic dataset
Broken items include situations where there may be a missing band in an image, or the DEM is missing for an orthorectified image, or the sensor metadata file used to generate the image is missing. When these things are missing, the item in the mosaic dataset cannot be rebuilt and may not display correctly; therefore, you can choose to remove them. When you remove them, only the item in the mosaic dataset is removed, the data is not deleted from disk. To do this you will use the Synchronize Mosaic Dataset tool with the following option checked: Remove Items With Broken Data Source. You may want to also check the options to update the cell size ranges, boundary, and overviews if you think they'll be affected.