---
name: "ossim-viewshed"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ossim-core"
version: "2.9.1-3+b1"
release: "Debian 11 (Bullseye)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ossim-viewshed"
---

# ossim-viewshed(1)

ossim-viewshed

## NAME

ossim-viewshed - ossim-viewshed

## SYNOPSIS

**ossim-viewshed** \[*options*\] *\<obs\_lat\> \<obs\_lon\> \<output-image\>*

## OPTIONS

- **--dem** \<filename\>

  Specifies the input DEM filename. If none provided, the elevation database is referenced as specified in prefs file

- **--disable-elev**

  Will disable the elevation

- **--disable-notify**

  Takes an argument. Arguments are ALL, WARN, NOTICE, INFO, FATAL, DEBUG.  If you want multiple disables then just do multiple **--disable-notify** on the command line.  All argument are case insensitive.  Default is all are enabled.

- **--disable-plugin**

  Will disable the plugin loader

- **--fov** \<start\> \<end\>

  Optional arguments specifying the field-of-view boundary azimuths (in degrees). By default, a 360 deg FOV is computed. The arc is taken clockwise from start to end, so for a FOV of 225 deg from W, through N to SE, start=270 and end=135

- **--gsd** \<meters\>

  Specifies output GSD in meters. Defaults to the same resolution as input DEM.

- **--hgt-of-eye** \<meters\>

  Specifies the observers height-of-eye above the terrain in meters. Defaults to 1.5 m.

- **--horizon** \<filename\>

  Experimental. Outputs the max elevation angles for all azimuths to \<filename\>, for horizon profiling.

- **--lut** \<filename\>

  Specifies the optional lookup table filename for mapping the single-band output image to an RGB. The LUT provided must be in the ossimIndexToRgbLutFilter format and must handle the three output viewshed values (see **--values** option).

- **--ossim-logfile**

  takes a logfile as an argument.  All output messages are redirected to the specified log file.  By default there is no log file and all messages are enabled.

- **--radius** \<meters\>

  Specifies max visibility in meters. Required unless **--size** is specified. This option constrains output to a circle, similar to a radar display

- **--request-api**

  Causes applications API to be output as JSON to stdout. Accepts optional filename to store JSON output.

- **--reticle** \<int\>

  Specifies the size of the reticle at the observerlocation in pixels from the center (i.e., the radius of the reticle). Defaults to 2. A value of 0 hides the reticle. See **--values** option for setting reticle color.

- **--simulation**

  For engineering/debug purposes

- **--size** \<int\>

  Instead of a visibility radius, directly specifies the dimensions of the output product in pixels (output is square). Required unless **--radius** is specified.

- **--summary**

  Causes a product summary to be output to the console.

- **--tbs**

  "Thread By Sector". For engineering/debug purposes

- **--threads** \<n\>

  Number of threads. Defaults to use all available cores. For engineering/debug purposes

- **--values** \<int int int\>

  Specifies the pixel values (0-255) for the visible, hidden and reticle pixels, respectively. Defaults to visible=null (0), hidden=128, and observer position reticle is highlighted with 255.

- **-K**

  specify individual keywords to add to the preferences keyword list: name=value

- **-P**

  specify a preference file to load

- **-T**

  specify the classes to trace, ex: ossimInit\|ossimImage.\* will trace ossimInit and all ossimImage classes

Computes the viewshed for the given viewpt coordinates. The output is a binary image with 0 representing hidden points, and 1 representing visible points.

## EXAMPLES

- ossim-viewshed --radius 50

  28\.0 -80.5 output-hlz.tif

- ossim-viewshed --size 1024

  28\.0 -80.5 output-hlz.tif

An alternate command line provides switch for observer lat and lon:

- ossim-viewshed --rlz 25 --observer 28.0 -80.5

  output-hlz.tif

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **ossim-viewshed** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **ossim-viewshed** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info ossim-viewshed**

should give you access to the complete manual.