The latest version of Marigold brings a faster way to make your favorite mapping products, improved canny edge detection, valley bottom flatness index, UMAP, vector inspection, and more. Continue below to see what's new!
In addition to new and improved processing tools, this release includes a reorganization of the Processing Toolbox and dozens of minor fixes and changes to make your workflows more efficient. It also coincides with the release of a completely overhauled documentation page that contains comprehensive guides to every tool and feature in Marigold.
Rapid Mapping Outputs
Speed up your output products by automating the creation of mineral indices, RGB mappings, and TRatios using the new Rapid Mapping Outputs dialog, located under the Band Algebra section. This new tool allows you to use EarthDaily's predefined visualizations to rapidly generate mapping products from the Bare Earth Composite datasets without needing to combine multiple tools.
The tool allows users to generate multiple outputs at once and provides the option to modify the contrast stretch and systematically rename the results. By default the tool opens to the Mineral Indices page. The name of the selected product will be appended to the layer name you enter with an underscore (e.g., Fused_Alteration).
Select a BEC composite layer and choose up to three products for each calculation. The limit helps conserve processing usage and makes it easier to assess the results of each mapping. You can run the tool as many times as you like. Optionally modify the name, and the limits of the contrast stretch (in percentage). RGBs typically look best using a 2-98% contrast stretch, while mineral indices may require more precise tweaking to highlight target values.
To read more about the specific mineral index, RGB, and TRatio products available in Marigold, visit our updated documentation page to see a description for each output (subscribers only, password required). For access, reach our to your subscription manager or contact support.
Spectral Library Changes
Spectral libraries provide invaluable resources for geologists working with spectral data. These can range from large existing databases (e.g., USGS Spectral Library), or project or deposit specific libraries. Marigold now has an updated dialog for adding spectra into your project that is more flexible than before. It also now supports the ability to create your own spectral library to collect and compile scene-collected spectra from your projects.
Libraries are now searchable. Select the columns you would like to search and add a search term. Note, the search function is currently case-sensitive.
Select the spectra you would like to visualize based on their description and location, and view them in the plot below. You now have the option to either add all of the selected spectra individually to your Marigold project, or add the average of the selected spectra. Provide a name and click add spectrum to bring them into your project.
If you have spectra in your Marigold project that you would like to save permanently for use across other Marigold projects, you now have the option to create your own spectral library. To create your own spectral library, click the three-dot menu next to the Spectra section of the lefthand panel, and select "Save spectra to spectral library". Provide a description of the spectra you wish to add, and modify the project name if necessary. You will then be able to recall these spectra through the Spectral Library dialogue across all of your Marigold projects.
Canny Edge Detection
Canny edge detection can be a powerful tool for outlining edges in rasters and can be used for lineament analysis for structural mapping, geomorphology, geophysics interpretation, and more. We have revamped the existing tool to provide faster and cleaner outputs on the fly. Live updates while modifying parameters and a transparent background allows users to more affectively modify the input parameters while performing their analysis. We have also reworked the algorithm for handling edges and missing data (for example around masked areas) to improve the overall outcomes. Finally the tool has been reorganized and can now be found under the Terrain Analysis heading of the Processing Toolbox.
For more information about the input parameters and usage of this tool, please read the updated documentation page for this technique.
Multiresolution Valley Bottom Flatness
Multiresolution Valley Bottom (and Ridgetop) Flatness (MRVBF and MRRTF) are algorithms that use digital elevation models (DEM) to assess the flatness and lowness of terrain. This technique can identify and classify areas of valley bottom flatness that likely correlates to the depth of surficial deposits. This can be helpful in designing and interpreting geochemical sampling campaigns as well as hydrologic and geomorphologic applications.
MRVBF in Marigold can be found in the Terrain Analysis section of the Processing toolbox under the title Valley Bottom Flatness. The only input parameter it requires is the a choice of DEM. You can use the Copernicus or SRTM models freely available in Marigold, or use a proprietary DEM from your organization.
Once an input DEM is selected, define the area you intend to calculate (current viewport or a vector AOI) and decide whether you want to share the result with your organization. The calculation will be performed as a "Compute job" that may take up to 10 minutes to complete, depending on the size of the submission. The results will be compiled into a unique Catalog product per DEM (e.g., Multi-Resolution Valley Bottom Flatness (MRVBF): COPDEM for the Copernicus DEM). Returned results may be larger than the submission due to Marigold's tiling methodology.
The MRVBF product will have two bands, one for valley bottom flatness and one for ridge top flatness. Read more on interpreting the outputs of this tool on the documentation page.
Note: only users with Compute Access will be able to use the UMAP feature at this time. Please contact your organization administrator or EDA support with any questions.
UMAP
Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection is a dimensionality reduction tool, similar to PCA or MNF, that can be applied to hyperspectral imagery to help extract spectral characteristics of the imagery to identify patterns and similarities between units. The tool involves multiple steps and input parameters to classify the results and application of the tool is currently experimental and unique to Marigold.
Note: only users with Compute Access will be able to use the UMAP feature at this time. Please contact your organization administrator or EDA support with any questions.
Vector Tools
This update has also added a couple new tools to help you work with vector data. Firstly, users now have the ability to inspect uploaded vectors to view their column properties. Simply click on a polygon or point vector object and a pop-up containing the property information will appear. To disable the inspector, click the three-dot menu next to your vector layer and select "Toggle popups". Note, the label popup will appear at the center of each object, not necessarily location clicked. With irregular polygons, this may result in an unexpected location, however the information will correspond to the clicked polygon.
Additionally, users can now calculate the area of polygon vectors in Marigold. This tool works with both user-drawn vectors and uploaded files. To calculate the area of a vector file, click the three-dot menu next to the vector and select "Compute area". The total area in meters squared and kilometers squared will appear. Note, this feature returns the total area of all polygons within the layer and is most easily interpreted on layers with a single vector object.
Talk to us!
We hope you enjoy all the new features in this latest update of Marigold. Please contact support if you have any questions about the new or old tools.