Step by Step: Recommended Practice drought monitoring (R)

Step 3: Reprojection of hdf into tif using MRT41

If you have downloaded MODIS data in hdf format, you need to first convert them into tif files before using them in R software. These are the steps:

1. Download and install Modis Reprojection Tool (MRT) (Download: https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/tools/modis_reprojection_tool)
2. Open the MRT
3. First, you have to create a Parameter File, which contains file names, types of input and output data files. Follow the steps below to create the parameter file.

• Select any one of the Input File to set parameters (File > Open Input File), which will be used lateron for the batch processing.
• Under "selected bands" select the bands you need and move the remaining bands to "available bands" by highlighting them and clicking on the arrow; in this case we are interested in NDVI and EVI.

4. After inserting the parameters (cf. images above), save your Parameter File with Save Parameter File.

Note: Do not click on "run" nor on "convert format". The creation of parameter files for all input MODIS files as well as the conversion to tif will happen in the Command Prompt (cf. step 5).

5. Automated Batch Processing

In the following you will convert all the MODIS files (in hdf format) at once into tif format (batch processing). In summary these are the three steps for the batch processing:

• Gather all input files into one exclusive directory (containing nothing but MRT input)
• You will then create parameter files (.prm) for each input file in the input data directory with MRTBatch.jar. It also writes out a batch script that is later used to execute the processing jobs (MRTBatch.bat) (cf. below how to).
• Finally, you wil convert the hdf files into tiff files (cf. below how to).

Click on Start > Search Programs and Files > Command Prompt

Using the Command Prompt, you then should navigate to the "MRT bin" directory, where the "MRTBatch.jar" file lays:

• cd folder - This command will move you to the folder that you specify. The folder must be in the directory you are currently in. For example: If you are currently at C:\Users\username\ and you enter cd desktop you will be taken to C:\Users\username\Desktop\
• dir - This command will list all of the folders and files in the directory you are currently at (this step is optional).

Type the following command to initiate parameter file and batch script generation (place all fields in one line; i.e., do not break this statement into multiple lines).

Note: the italic words have to be replaced by your actual directory or file name (cf. explanation below).

java –jar MRTBatch.jar –d input_directory –p parameter_directory\input_parameter_file –o parameter_directory

where

input_file_directory is the directory in which all input files are placed (e.g.,

C:\Project\InputFiles);

parameter_directory is the directory where the parameter file - created using the graphical user interface (GUI) of the MODIS Tool - was saved (-p) and to which the parameter files built by this application will be written (-o); Note that the –o parameter_directory is optional. Users can omit it from the command line, which will result in a prm directory containing the new parameter files being built in the input_file_directory instead.

input_parameter_file is the parameter file that was saved from the graphical user interface (GUI) of the MODIS Tool (e.g., mrtauto_test.prm).

Hit the enter key on your keyboard. This will result in the creation of parameter files for each MODIS hdf file.

Note: If an error occurs as in the picture below, possibly your filename contains invalid characters (spaces, underscore, hyphens...) or your file name (including the path) is too long. In that case, change the file name and/or path and re-type the command with the new filenames.

6. Convert all hdf files to tif files:

Make sure you are still in the MRT bin directory and type behind ...\MRT\bin>

mrtbatch.bat (in this example: C:/Users/dall/MRT/bin/mrtbatch.bat

Hit the enter key on your keyboard. The results of the processing job will echo out in log form on the command prompt display, and when completed, files should be ready in the output directory specified in the parameter_directory or in the new prm directory in the input_file_directory (cf. step 5).

Step 4: Database and file naming

1. Create one folder, where you will store all data, e.g. C:/Data.
2. For each day of the year (DOY) create one subfolder. The name of each folder must start with "DOY_", e.g. DOY_033. Of course, you do not have to use data of all the avaialble days of the year. You can choose those which are most relevant in your region of interest.
3. Rename the files by addding a prefix following the pattern DOY_YYYY_, e.g. 033_2001 or 001_2005, where

DOY= day of year

YYYY=year

Total Commander is a useful tool to rename multiple files: http://www.ghisler.com/index.htm).
Renaming the files is important because this pattern is used to automatize the filenames and the titles of the resulting maps in the R script.

4. Create another subfolder within the main data folder called "shape". Store the shapefile with the country border here.