By default, it does so by dividing each value by the maximum value of all cells in the input map. If the input data consists only of positive values, then this will result in a rescaling of data to the range "0" (inclusive) to "1" (inclusive). Normalization is not a very well-defined concept when negative values are involved. By default, "r.normalize" will rescale such data to the range "-1" (inclusive) to "1" (inclusive). Use the -a (absolute) flag to rescale such data into the "0" (inclusive) to "1" (inclusive) range instead.
Alternatively, by setting the -l (local) flag, it is possible to perform local normalization. In local normalization mode, the maximum value will be searched for within a limited neighborhood instead of the entire raster input map. The neighborhood is defined as the set of all cells within a user-defined radius around the cell to be normalized.
Local normalization is subject to the "modifiable areal unit" (MAU) effect. Towards the edges of the input raster, results may become unreliable.
Last changed: 2014-10-04