ISIS Documentation

What is ISIS?

The Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers (ISIS) is a free, specialized, digital image processing software package developed by the USGS for NASA. ISIS key feature is the ability to place many types of data in the correct cartographic location, enabling disparate data to be co-analyzed. ISIS also includes standard image processing applications such as contrast, stretch, image algebra, filters, and statistical analysis. ISIS can process two-dimensional images as well as three-dimensional cubes derived from imaging spectrometers. The production of USGS topographic maps of extraterrestrial landing sites relies on ISIS software. ISIS is able to process data from NASA and International spacecraft missions including Lunar Orbiter, Apollo, Voyager, Mariner 10, Viking, Galileo, Magellan, Clementine, Mars Global Surveyor, Cassini, Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MESSENGER, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Chandrayaan, Dawn, Kaguya, and New Horizons.

Supporting Planetary Space Missions

The ISIS software is a valuable resource for planetary missions that require systematic data processing, products for planning, and research and analysis of derived data products. By using ISIS, missions can leverage millions of dollars of software development that NASA has paid for. However, before the power of ISIS can be applied to an instrument, a camera model and custom programs to ingest mission-specific ancillary data are necessary. Once an instrument is added to ISIS, it can support data processing pipelines, radiometric calibration, photometric calibration, band-to-band registration of multispectral data, ortho-rectification, construction of scientifically accurate and cosmetically pleasing mosaics, generation of control networks solutions and creation of topographic models.

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