Resolution

Resolution — Spatial and Spectral Binning

Overview

The Resolution tool reduces the spatial resolution, spectral resolution, or both, of the current hyperspectral datacube.

Spatial binning combines neighboring image pixels. Spectral binning combines neighboring wavelength or band channels.

The tool provides an estimated output size, a display-only spatial preview, and a final Apply operation that changes the working datacube.

X binning specifies how many neighboring columns are combined into one output column.

Y binning specifies how many neighboring rows are combined into one output row.

For example, X=2 and Y=2 combine each 2×2 spatial block into one output pixel, reducing the number of rows and columns by approximately one-half in each dimension.

If the image dimensions are not exactly divisible by the selected binning factors, incomplete pixels at the right or bottom edge are omitted.

Average — calculates the mean value in each spatial bin.

Median — calculates the median and is more resistant to isolated extreme values.

Sum — adds all values in the spatial bin. This can preserve accumulated signal but changes the intensity scale.

Max — keeps the largest value in each spatial bin.

Min — keeps the smallest value in each spatial bin.

Band binning specifies how many adjacent spectral bands are combined into each output band.

For example, Band binning = 4 combines every four neighboring bands into one output spectral channel.

When wavelength metadata are available, IDCubePro assigns the mean wavelength of each contributing spectral group to the new output band.

If the number of bands is not exactly divisible by the selected spectral binning factor, the incomplete final group is omitted.

Average — calculates the mean spectrum within each group of neighboring bands.

Median — calculates the median across the grouped bands.

Sum — adds the grouped spectral values.

Max — selects the maximum value in each spectral group.

Min — selects the minimum value in each spectral group.

The Estimated Output panel reports the expected number of rows, columns, and bands after applying the selected settings.

Approximate memory is calculated from the expected number of double-precision values and is intended as a planning estimate.

Preview Spatial Binning applies only the selected X binning, Y binning, and spatial method to the image shown in the main Image Display.

The preview does NOT modify myData.Images, does NOT change the working datacube, and does NOT apply spectral binning.

The preview uses the first band of the spatially binned cube to demonstrate the effect of the selected spatial-resolution settings.

Undo Preview restores the image display that was shown immediately before the most recent spatial preview.

Undo Preview is a display-level operation only. It does not undo a previously applied Resolution change to the datacube.

Apply Resolution Change first performs the selected spatial binning and then the selected spectral binning.

This operation replaces the current myData.Images datacube with the binned result.

The wavelength vector is updated when valid wavelength metadata are available, and the operation is recorded in IDCubePro processing history.

After applying the change, channel controls, directory information, image display, and histogram are refreshed.

Reset Fields restores the controls to X binning = 2, Y binning = 2, Band binning = 1, Spatial method = Average, and Spectral method = Average.

Reset Fields changes only the controls. It does not restore a datacube that has already been modified.

1. Open the Resolution tool.

2. Choose X and Y spatial binning factors.

3. Choose the spatial combination method.

4. Choose spectral band binning and the spectral combination method if spectral reduction is desired.

5. Review the Estimated Output dimensions and approximate memory.

6. Click Preview Spatial Binning to inspect the spatial effect on the main image.

7. Use Undo Preview if you want to return to the previous image display.

8. Adjust the settings as needed.

9. Click Apply Resolution Change when the final spatial and spectral settings are acceptable.

Binning reduces data size and can improve signal-to-noise behavior, but it also reduces spatial or spectral detail.

Average and Median usually preserve the general intensity scale better than Sum. Sum may produce larger numerical values because multiple pixels or spectral samples are accumulated.

Large binning factors can remove small spatial structures or narrow spectral features.

Always choose resolution reduction based on the spatial scale and spectral bandwidth relevant to the scientific question.

Important

Preview is reversible because it changes only the display. Apply Resolution Change modifies the active working datacube and should be treated as a processing operation.