[Gdal-dev] 16-bit PCIDSK files of elevation data

[Brent Fraser]

Frank,

  I'm trying to create a PCIDSK file of elevations from a .tif file using
gdal_translate v1.3.2:

gdal_translate -ot UInt16 -of PCIDSK -a_srs EPSG:32638 gm.tif gm_UInt16.pix

Driver: GTiff/GeoTIFF
Size is 4951, 4882
Coordinate System is:
PROJCS["WGS 84 / UTM zone 38N",
    :
Origin = (561337.940487,3487769.687946)
Pixel Size = (90.00000000,-90.00000000)
Metadata:
  AREA_OR_POINT=Point
    :
Band 1 Block=4951x1 Type=UInt16, ColorInterp=Gray


The resulting pix file is:

Driver: PCIDSK/PCIDSK Database File
Size is 4951, 4882
Coordinate System is:
PROJCS["UTM Zone 38, Northern Hemisphere",
    :
Origin = (561337.940487,3487769.687946)
Pixel Size = (90.00000000,-90.00000000)
Metadata:
  SOFTWARE=GDAL1320
  FILE_ID=gm_UInt16.pix
  GENERATING_FACILITY=Created with GDAL
  DESCRIPTION1=
  DESCRIPTION2=
  DATE_OF_CREATION=11_47 17-May-06
  DATE_OF_UPDATE=11_47 17-May-06
Corner Coordinates:
    :
Band 1 Block=4951x1 Type=UInt16, ColorInterp=Undefined
  Description = Image band 1


When I use PCI's Freeview v10.0 is displays the image in "checkerboard"
pattern, usually indicating a confusion about the pixel bit depth.   And a
right click on the layer in Freeview shows "1 [8U] Image Band 1", confirming
that it wrongly thinks the data is unsigned 8-bits per pixel.

Is there some other setting or procedure with GDAL I can use to get 16-bit
PCIDSK files?
(FYI, I tried adding -co "BANDDESC1=Height", but no improvement in the
result).

Thanks!
Brent Fraser
GeoAnalytic Inc.
Calgary, Alberta