STANAG 4545
 NATO Secondary Imagery Format (NSIF)

NSIF Registry

NSIF Approved Support Data Extension (SDEs)

          The following Support Data Extensions have been approved for use with NSIF by the Custodian and 4545 Custodial Support Team.  Click on each item to view the detailed data on its use.  For more information on the SDEs, see the discussion in STANAG 4545, Annex C, paragraph 27

          SDEs can take the form of either Tagged Record Extensions (TREs) that are appended to the NSIF file header or segment subheader, or Data Extension Segments (DESs) which add functionality to the file.  There are three groups of TREs that are frequently used together, plus miscellaneous TREs that have specific applications.  The extensions associated with the groups can, in many cases, be used separately as well.  The three groups of TREs are the Geospatial SDEs, the Airborne SDEs, and the Commercial SDEs.  The DESs are listed separately.

Geospatial SDEs

         Image and raster map providers produce NSIF Files with support data from other formats which contain support information.  The table below identifies the controlled extensions that define the format for the support information used within a NSIF File that contains geo-referenced image, matrix, or raster map data.  These extensions, also called the Geospatial Support Data Extensions (GeoSDEs), were defined in DIGEST up until this year.  Now all GEOSDE file definitions can be accessed in the table below.            

The GeoSDEs are the TREs relevant to geo-referenced image, matrix, or raster map data.  Systems using geo-referenced imagery, matrix, or raster map data formatted according to NSIF should be designed to extract the needed data from the TRE.  The categories of image and extensive digital geographic information are shown via the links below.  The minimum set of spatial data extensions required for spatial location is composed as follows.  The GEOPS extension shall be associated with one of the GEOLO, MAPLO, GRDPS or REGPT extensions.  The PRJPS extension is used when the absolute coordinate system is a cartographic coordinate system.

Geospatial Support Data Extensions (GEOSDE)

Geospatial Support Data Extensions (GEOSDE)

SCOPE
GEOPS Geo-referencing parameters including datums, ellipsoids
PRJPS Projection parameters
GRDPS Non-rectified image, raster, or matrix data that is positioned using a location grid
GEOLO Image, raster, or matrix data rectified consistently with geographic (lat/long) coordinate systems
MAPLO Image, raster, or matrix data rectified consistently with cartographic (E,N) coordinate systems
REPGTB*  REGPTC* Registration points in either geographic or cartographic systems
ATTPTA* Attribute points
BNDPL Accurate geographic location of the significant part of the image
ACCPO Positional Accuracy
ACCHZ Horizontal Accuracy
ACCVT Vertical Accuracy
SOURC Map Source Description
SNSPS Sensor Parameters Data Extension
FACCB Attribute FACC Code definition

To all users, any Extension with an asterisk (*) is intended for Legacy use only

Airborne SDEs

              The Airborne SDEs are designed to provide for the transmission of sensor and platform data required to properly exploit airborne sensor systems.  There are eighteen selectable SDEs, the choice of which depends on the requirements of the particular system.  Some, for example, are specifically intended for synthetic aperture radar systems.  Others are for electro-optical sensors.  The following table defines the airborne SDEs.  The last four columns show which are required (R), optional (O), or not applicable (N) for each sensor type.
Airborne Support Data Extensions (AB SDEs)
Tag Title SAR EO IR MSI/HIS
AIMID Additional Image ID R R R R
AFCT Aircraft Information R R R R
SENSR Sensor Parameters N R R R
RPC00 Rapid Positioning Data N O O O
BANDS MSI/HIS Parameters N O O R
BLOCK Image Block Information O O O O
ICHIP Image Chip Information O O O O
HISTO Softcopy History O O O O
PIAPR Image Access Product O O O O
CMETA Complex SAR Data O N N N
EXOPT Exploitation Usability N O O O
EXPLT Exploitation Related O N N N
MENSR SAR Mensuration O N N N
MPDSR EO/IR Mensuration N O O O
PATCH Patch Information O N N N
STREO Stereo Image Information N O O O
SECTG Secondary Targeting O O O O
MSTGT Mission Target O O O O
ASTORA ASTOR Program Radar Data Extension
Key: R- Required;   O-Optional;   N-Not Applicable

Commercial SDEs

          The commercial extensions are intended for use with imagery produced by commercial sources of satellite imagery.  These extensions provide for including ephemeris and sensor pointing information with each image.  The specific extensions included in the Commercial SDEs are shown in the table below.

Commercial Support Data Extensions (Com SDE)
SDE IDENTIFIER SCOPE
CSCCGA Cloud Cover Grid Data
CSCRNA Corner Footprint Data
CSDIDA Data Set Identification
CSEPHA Ephemeris Data
CSEXRA Exploitation Reference
CSPROA Processing Information
CSSFAA Sensor Field Alignment
GEOLOB Local Geographic
GEOPSB Geo positioning
HISTOA History Support
J2KLRA J2K Information
MAPLOB Local Cartographic (x/y)
PIAIMC PROFILE FOR IMAGERY ACCESS IMAGE
PRJPSB Projection Parameters
RPCOOB Rapid Positioning Capability
STDIDC Standard ID Support
STREOB Stereo Information Support
USEOOA Exploitation Usability Support
ICHIPB ICHIPB SUPPORT
STDID Standard Identification
USE00 Exploitation Usability
STREO Stereo Pair Information

Miscellaneous SDEs

          The extensions intended for specific applications can be used in conjunction with other extensions or alone as applicable to the specific scenario.  The Miscellaneous SDEs are shown in the table below.

Miscellaneous Support Data Extensions (Misc SDE)
SDE IDENTIFIER SCOPE
ENGRDA Engineering Data
XMLDCA XML Data Content TRE

Data Extension Segments

          The Data Extension Segments add functionality to the NSIF file.  However, there is one linkage between DESs and TREs in that if the TRE data is too large to be included in the file header or segment subheader, the TRE data can overflow into a specific DES.  The approved DESs are shown in the table below

Approved Data Extension Segments (DESs)
SDE IDENTIFIER SCOPE
TRE_OVERFLOW Overflow data from TREs
STRAMING_FILE_HEADER Provides option to begin transmitting an NSIF file prior to completion of the entire file.  File header values that define the size of the various segments are placed at the end of the file in this DES.
GMTI Allows data structured in accordance wit STANAG 4607 to be encapsulated in an NSIF file.
CSATTA Attitude Data DES
CSSHPA Shapefile DES
XML Data Content DES XML Data Content TRE