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JPEG 2000 Investigation

JPEG2000 BACKGROUND

In 2006 WALIS Office was requested to lead a project to asses the potential benefits of migrating from ECW to JPEG2000 as the standard format for storing remotely sensed imagery. Some WALIS agencies wanted to assess if the JPEG 2000 format would deliver considerable benefits but were unable to make that judgment until they had more information.  A consultant (ER Mapper) was selected to compile a JPEG2000 report.  This report confirmed the operational benefits and technical particulars of the format. The major recommendation of this report was to proceed towards JPEG2000 format where possible. A JPEG2000 presentation was also given by ER Mapper. Also see the Geospatial Solutions website for a discussion on JPEG2000.

WALIS OFFICE RESPONSE

In June 2007 the WALIS Office commenced a user survey to guide the potential implementation process for the JPEG2000 image format. We have had excellent feedback, and have compiled the responses. The majority of WALIS agencies that use imaging data as part of there key business have responded.

RESULTS OF THE JPEG2000 QUESTIONAIRE 2007

These results confirm that there is significant interest in JPEG2000.

  • 90% of respondents were either “very interested” or “interested” in changing formats.
  • 30% of people thought reduction of storage size was the most significant feature to their agency. 60% of respondents thought in one or more of the features would be of significant benefit to their agency.
  • 50% of respondents said their agency had the ability to change formats if Landgate was to start delivering imagery in the new format. 15% of respondents said their agency did not have this capacity and 35% were unsure.
  • The limitations and resistance to changing formats is varied. 28% of respondents thought knowledge of the new format would be a major cause of resistance to changing formats. 18% were concerned with the fact that JPEG2000 is not built on the existing format. Financial concerns and inability to handle format requirements each made up 15% of the total. 9% of respondents had technical concerns.
  • 56% of surveys indicated that if their agency was to adopt JPEG2000 they would only use JPEG2000 with new imagery in ECW and 44% indicated they would prefer to use JPEG 2000 and convert old ECW imagery to JPEG2000 as well.
  • In general, respondents were unsure what their agency concerns were regarding the intellectual property issues associated with JPEG200. However, 10% rated the concerns as significant and 15% rated the concerns as insignificant.
  • Finally, 77% of survey respondents were more concerned with having the best image quality resolution rather than having better compression, thus saving more disc space (44%).

MOVING FORWARD

The Geographic Services Branch of Landgate is preparing its internal image production and archive systems to take advantage of JPEG2000.

JPEG2000 offers some exciting compression and storage possibilities, and is a future ready image format that can take advantage of richer image bit depth and other opportunities associated with the next generation of remote digital sensors.  Landgate offers the JPEG2000 format option, if requested, but at this stage Landgate does not intend to migrate the existing ECW archive to JPEG2000.

Please contact Paul Duncan, A/Manager Primary Capture on 9273 7153, or the WALIS office walis@walis.wa.gov.au, 9273-7046 for further information.