Troubleshooting Raster Pyramid File Locations

Raster pyramids are a set of reduced-resolution representations of a raster dataset. They are used to enhance the display performance of raster data by retrieving only data at a specific resolution that is required for the display. Raster pyramids are created by downsampling the original raster dataset at a scale of 2:1. This means that each successive layer of the pyramid is half the resolution of the previous layer. For example, if the resolution of the original raster dataset is 100×100 pixels, the first downsampled layer of the pyramid will be 50×50 pixels, the second downsampled layer will be 25×25 pixels, and so on.

When a raster dataset is displayed, the software will automatically choose the most appropriate pyramid level based on the user’s display scale. For example, if the user is zoomed out to a large scale, the software will use the lowest resolution pyramid level. As the user zooms in, the software will automatically switch to higher-resolution pyramid levels.

This article explains how to customize the default location of raster pyramid files in CivilGEO software. It can be useful if the user needs to free up space on their system drive or keep the raster pyramid files organized.

The following image shows the default location of the raster pyramid files in CivilGEO software.

The Images folder refers to a storage location where images or graphic files related to a specific project are stored.

The Point Clouds folder refers to a storage location where point cloud data are stored. Point cloud data represent a collection of 3D coordinate points in digital format, usually captured using remote sensing technologies such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). By organizing point cloud data in a dedicated folder, the software can easily manage and access the captured data. This folder may contain multiple point cloud files, each representing a specific survey area, project phase, or data collection date. In addition, associated metadata, such as coordinate systems, timestamps, and data acquisition parameters, may also be stored to ensure accurate data interpretation and analysis.

The Raster Pyramids folder refers to a storage location where raster pyramid files are stored. Raster pyramid files contain pre-generated pyramidal representations of raster datasets, such as digital elevation models (DEMs). These pyramids are created to provide efficient and optimized access to different levels of detail within the raster data.

To change the default location of raster pyramid files, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Start menu, type “env” into the search bar, and then press the [Enter] key or click [Open] under Edit the system environment variables.
   
2. The System Properties window will be displayed. Click the Advanced tab, if not already selected.
   
3. Click the [Environment Variables…] button.
   
4. The Environment Variables dialog box will be displayed.
   Under the System variables section, the user can set the environment variables as needed.
   • The [New…] button allows the user to create a new environment variable.
   • The [Edit…] button allows the user to modify the existing environment variable.
   • The [Delete] button allows the user to delete the selected variable.
5. Click the [New…] button.
   
6. The New System Variable dialog box will be displayed. This dialog box allows the user to modify/configure the path of any cache folder (i.e., Images, Point Clouds, and Raster Pyramids) and the maximum size of a cache folder.
   
7. In the Variable name entry field, the following environment variable names can be used to define the cache directory path:
   • CG_CacheImagesDirPath: It can be used to define the Images cache directory path. The default path is “C:\ProgramData\CivilGEO\Store\Images“.
   • CG_CachePointCloudsDirPath: It can be used to define the Point Clouds cache directory path. The default path is “C:\ProgramData\CivilGEO\Store\Point Clouds“.
   • CG_CacheRasterPyramidDirPath: It can be used to define the Raster Pyramids cache directory path. The default path is “C:\ProgramData\CivilGEO\Store\Raster Pyramids“.
   • CG_CacheDirSizeInMB: It can be used to define the maximum size of a cache directory. The default size is 5120 MB (5 GB).
8. In the Variable value entry field, enter the desired directory location where you want to store raster pyramid files. Alternatively, click the [Browse Directory…] button to specify the directory location.
9. After defining the environment variable, dismiss all of the dialog boxes by choosing the [OK] button.
   Note: The graphical user interface for creating environment variables may vary slightly, depending on the specific Windows version.
10. Restart the PC and the changes will take effect.
11. Raster pyramid files will now be stored in the specified location rather than the default ones.

Note: Raster pyramid folders should not be stored in a network location as the user can experience data transmission delays. Also, the user may experience some difficulties in loading data due to an unstable network connection.

If you are still having issues, contact our technical support staff. They will be glad to assist you further.