I have a huge raster dataset of GeoTiff files (several gigabytes of satellite imagery) and I am hoping to use GeoServer 2.5.1 and OpenLayers to provide a seamless pan and zoom capability for our users. I have done a lot of research and reading about how this can be done and have tested out the ImagePyramid and ImageMosaic plugins for GeoServer on a small sample dataset.
In particular I have read through much of the GeoServer docs and have also started looking at the ESRI docs because they have useful guidelines about whether to build pyramids or overviews but since this is the first time that I’m doing this it is difficult to know what approaches will turn out the best.
http://docs.geoserver.org/latest/en/user/production/data.html
http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2012/11/14/should-i-build-pyramids-or-overviews/
So far my plan is to automate the following process each time a new GeoTiff file is received:
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Create an image pyramid (using gdal_retile.py)
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Create a new ImagePyramid Coverage Store and publish a new coverage layer based on this coverage store in GeoServer (using GeoBatch)
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Somehow add metadata/attributes about the coverage layer so it can be returned in CQL query results
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Add the new layer to the appropriate Layer Group(s) in GeoServer (based on categories)
Can anybody tell me if I am I on the right track? Are there viable alternative approaches?
–Steve