NITF Tagged Record Extensions Background

TREs contain information that cannot be stored in the NITF file header or segment subheaders. One or more TREs that apply to the entire NITF dataset can be present in the file header, and each segment (image or text) can also have one or more TREs associated with it. In some cases, TREs are applied to the data in a file or segment to enhance the utility of the data. Unless there is a large amount of data in a TRE, the TRE data is stored in the main header or segment subheader to which the TRE applies. For TREs too large to fit in the segment TRE area, a Data Extension Segment (DES) is created at the end of the file, and a pointer to this DES is stored within the header.

TREs come in two forms: Registered Extensions (REs) and Controlled Extensions (CEs). The NITF Standard Technical Board (NTB) maintains a registry of known CEs and REs: the main difference is that both the TRE name and TRE layout of CEs are controlled by the NTB, whereas only the TRE names of REs are registered with the NTB to prevent different users from using the same TRE name. Therefore, CEs can be interpreted based on the published information contained in the NTB repository, whereas REs require specific knowledge of the TRE contents available to the creator of the TRE that may not be available to the data consumer.

An example of a TRE is the RPC00B (Rapid Positioning Capability) TRE that can be associated with an image segment in a NITF dataset. This TRE provides coefficients that can be used to orthorectify the associated image segment. Other Controlled Extension TREs specify processing history, information about specific targets in an image, collection information, and other types of metadata.

The repository of Controlled Extension and Registered Extension TREs can be viewed online at the JITC web site.

For information on classified TREs, please visit our dedicated Request Technical Support web page:

https://www.l3harrisgeospatial.com/Account-Login?returnurl=%2fMy-Account%2fSupport-Requests

Supported TREs

There are two levels of TRE support in the NITF/NSIF Module:

  • Unsupported TREs: TREs for which no definition is available, or the definition does not match the physical layout of the TRE. Only the raw data of TREs of this type can be viewed.
  • Supported TREs: TREs that match a valid TRE definition. The data in these TREs can be read and written. The data in these TREs can be viewed with the appropriate header information in the Metadata Viewer. These TREs may be parsed into their specific components, and the value associated with each field in the TRE is displayed in the Metadata Viewer. To view the information contained in this type of TRE, open the TRE container. Each field in the TRE is displayed as a single entry.

The data in these TREs can be written into file, image, and text segments of new NITF files. When saving to NITF, you can view these TREs in the Metadata Viewer. Although the supported TREs for writing data can be displayed in the editor, only PIA TREs can be added, edited, or removed from their associated file header, image or text segment.

Each supported TRE references an XML definition file. Definition files for a partial list of the NTB-registered CEs are installed with ENVI. Support for TREs can be added by creating TRE definitions for the desired TREs. For more information about these TREs, contact Technical Support.

When opening a NITF image, ENVI does not parse the TRE fields if there is no corresponding XML definition file. When writing a NITF file that contains a TRE with no corresponding XML file, ENVI passes through this unknown TRE.

The following table describes TREs that ENVI currently supports for reading and writing data. The Reference column lists the applicable NITF specification document.

  • BPJ2K01: BIIF Profile for JPEG 2000

  • MIL-PRF-89034: Digital Point Positioning Data Base (DPPDB)
  • NSGPDD: National System for Geospatial Intelligence Product Definition Document
  • RSM: Replacement Sensor Model Tagged Record Extensions Specification for NITF 2.1

  • STDI0002: The Compendium of Controlled Extensions for NITF version 2.1

  • STDI0006: National Transmission Format (NITF) Version 2.1 Commercial Dataset Requirements Document (NCDRD)

TRE Name

Filename

Descriptive Name

Reference

ACCHZB

 
ACCHZB.xml

Horizontal Accuracy Extension

 STDI0002

ACCPOB 

ACCPOB.xml

Positional Accuracy Extension

 STDI0002

ACCVTB

 
ACCVTB.xml

Vertical Accuracy Extension

 STDI0002

ACFTA

 
ACFTA.xml

Aircraft Information Version A

STDI0002

ACFTB

 
ACFTB.xml

Aircraft Information Version B

STDI0002

AIMIDA

 
AIMIDA.xml

Additional Image Identification Version A

STDI0002

AIMIDB

 
AIMIDB.xml

Additional Image Identification Version B

STDI0002

BANDSA

 
BANDSA.xml

Multispectral/ Hyperspectral Band Parameters

STDI0002

BANDSB

 
BANDSB.xml

Extended Multispectral/Hyperspectral Band Parameters

STDI0002

BCKGDA

 
BCKGDA.xml

Background Data

STDI0002

BLOCKA

 
BLOCKA.xml

Image Block Information

STDI0002

BNDPLB

 
BNDPLB.xml

Bounding Polygon

STDI0002

CAMSDA

 
CAMSDA.xml

Camera Set Definition, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

CCINFA

 
CCINFA.xml

Country Code Information, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

CMETAA

 
CMETAA.xml

Complex Metadata Tagged Record Extension Version A

STDI0002

CSATTA_DES

 
CSATTA_DES.xml

Commercial Source Attitude Data, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix C

CSATTB

 
CSATTB.xml
CSSATTB_DESDATA.xml

Common Sensor Attitude Data

NSGPDD

CSCRNA

 
CSCRNA.xml

Corner Footprint

STDI0006

CSDIDA

 
CSDIDA.xml

Dataset Identification

STDI0006

CSCCGA

 
CSCCGA.xml

Cloud Cover Grid

STDI0006

CSCSDB

 
CSCSDB.xml
CSCSDB_DESDATA.xml

Common Sensor Covariance Support Data

NSGPDD

CSEPHA 

CSEPHA.xml

Ephemeris Data

STDI0006

CSEPHB

 
CSEPHB.xml

Common Sensor Ephemeris Data

 STDI-0002-2_21.1, Appendix AH

CSEXRA 

CSEXRA.xml

Exploitation Reference Data

STDI0006

CSEXRB

 
CSEXRB.xml

Common Sensor Exploitation Reference Data

 STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AH

CSPROA

 
CSPROA.xml

Processing Information

STDI0006

CSSFAA

 
CSSFAA.xml

Sensor Field Alignment Data

STDI0006

CSSFAB

 
CSSFAB.xml
CSSFAB_DESDATA.xml

Common Sensor Field Alignment Data

 STDI-0002-2_21.1, Appendix AH

CSSHPA

 
CSSHPA_DES.xml

Common Sensor Shapefile

 STDI0006

CSSHPB

 
CSSHPB.xml
CSSHPB_DES.xml

Common Sensor Shapefile

NSGPDD

CSWRPB

 
CSWRPB.xml

Common Sensor Warping Terms

 STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AH

ENGRDA

 
ENGRDA.xml

Engineering Data

STDI0002

EXOPTA

 
EXOPTA.xml

Exploitation Usability Optical Information

STDI0002

EXPLTA

 
EXPLTA.xml

Exploitation Related Information Version A

STDI0002

EXPLTB

 
EXPLTB.xml

Exploitation Related Information Version B

STDI0002

FASYWA

 
FASYWA.xml

Frame-Asynchronous Metadata Wrapper, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

FREESA

 
FREESA.xml

Free Space

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

FSYNWA

 
FSYNWA.xml

Frame-Synchronous Metadata Wrapper, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

GEOLOB

 
GEOLOB.xml

Local Geographic (lat/long) Coordinate System Extension

STDI0002

GEOPSB

 
GEOPSB.xml

Geographical Positioning for geo-referencing parameters including datum, ellipsoids

 STDI0002

GRDPSB

 
GRDPSB.xml

Grid Positioning Version B

STDI0002

HISTOA

 
HISTOA.xml

Softcopy History Tagged Record Extension

STDI0002

ICHIPA

 
ICHIPA.xml

Image Chip Support Data Extension Version A

STDI0002

ICHIPB

 
ICHIPB.xml

Image Chip Support Data Extension Version B

STDI0002

ILLUMA

 
ILLUMA.xml

Illumination, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AL

ILLUMB

 
ILLUMB.xml

Illumination, Version B

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AL

IMASDA

 
IMASDA.xml

Segment Image Support Data

MIL-PRF-89034

IMCBDA

 
IMCBDA.xml

Segment Image Compressed Blocks Directory

MIL-PRF-89034

IMRFCA

 
IMRFCA.xml

Segment Image Rational Function Coefficients

MIL-PRF-89034

IOMAPA

 
IOMAPA.xml

Input/Output Mapping Tagged Record Extension

STDI0002

J2KLRA

 
J2KLRA.xml

JPEG 2000 Parameters

BPJ2K01

MAPLOB

 
MAPLOB.xml

Local Cartographic (x/y) Coordinate System Extension

STDI0002

MATESA

 
MATESA.xml
 Mates STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AK

MENSRA

 
MENSRA.xml

Airborne SAR Mensuration Data Version A

STDI0002

MENSRB

 
MENSRB.xml

Airborne SAR Mensuration Data Version B

STDI0002

MIMCSA

 
MIMCSA.xml

Motion Imagery Collection Summary, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

MPDSRA

 
MPDSRA.xml

Mensuration Data

STDI0002

MSDIRA

 
MSDIRA.xml

Master Product Directory Definition

MIL-PRF-89034

MSTGTA

 
MSTGTA.xml

Mission Target

STDI0002

MTIMFA

 
MTIMFA.xml

Motion Imagery File, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

MTIMSA

 
MTIMSA.xml

Motion Imagery Segment, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

MTIRPA

 
MTIRPA.xml

Moving Target Information Report Version A

STDI0002

MTIRPB

 
MTIRPB.xml

Moving Target Information Report Version B

STDI0002

MTXFIL

 
MTXFIL.xml
 MATRIX Fill  

NBLOCA

 
NBLOCA.xml

(Number of Bytes) Image Block or Frame is Offset.

STDI0002

OFFSET

 
OFFSET.xml

(NITF 2.1) Offset of the first pixel of an image from the first pixel of the full image.

STDI0002

PATCHA

 
PATCHA.xml

Patch Information Version A

STDI0002

PATCHB

 
PATCHB.xml

Patch Information Version B

STDI0002

PIAEQA ** *

 
PIAEQA.xml

Profile for Imagery Archives Equipment

Profile for Imagery Access Equipment

STDI0002

PIAEVA ** *

 
PIAEVA.xml

Profile for Imagery Archives Event

Profile for Imagery Access Event

STDI0002

PIAIMB **

 
PIAIMB.xml

Profile for Imagery Archives Image

STDI0002

PIAIMC *

 
PIAIMC.xml

Profile for Imagery Access Image

STDI0002

PIAPEA **

 
PIAPEA.xml

Profile for Imagery Archives Person

STDI0002

PIAPEB *

 
PIAPEB.xml

Profile for Imagery Access Person

STDI0002

PIAPRC **

 
PIAPRC.xml

Profile for Imagery Archives Product

STDI0002

PIAPRD *

 
PIAPRD.xml

Profile for Imagery Access Product

STDI0002

PIATGA **

 
PIATGA.xml

Profile for Imagery Archives Target

STDI0002

PIATGB *

 
PIATGB.xml

Profile for Imagery Access Target

STDI0002

PIXMTA

 
PIXMTA.xml

Pixel Metrics, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AJ
PIXQLA 
PIXQLA.xml
 Pixel Quality STDI0002

PPRSDA

 
PPRSDA.xml

Product Accuracy (Shear) Data

MIL-PRF-89034

PRADAA

 
PRADAA.xml

Product Accuracy Data (Absolute) Definition

 STDI0002

PRADRA

 
PRADRA.xml

Product Accuracy Data (Relative) Definition

 STDI0002

PRJPSB

 
PRJPSB.xml

Projection Parameters Extension

STDI0002

PSUPDA

 
PSUPDA.xml

Product Support Data

MIL-PRF-89034

PTPRAA

 
PTPRAA.xml

Segment to Segment Relative Accuracy

MIL-PRF-89034

REGPTB

 
REGPTB.xml

Registration Points Extension

STDI0002

RGRDRA

 
RGRDRA.xml

Reference Graphic Directory Definition

MIL-PRF-89034

RPC00A

 
RPC00A.xml

Rapid Positioning Capability Support Data Extension

 STDI0002

RPC00B

 
RPC00B.xml

Rapid Positioning Capability Support Data Extension

STDI0002

RSMAPB

 
RSMAPB.xml

Replacement Sensor Model Adjustable Parameters

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMDCB

 
RSMDCB.xml

Replacement Sensor Model Direct Error Covariance

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMECB

 
RSMECB.xml

Replacement Sensor Model Indirect Error Covariance

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMIDA

 
RSMIDA.xml

RSM Identification

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMPIA

 
RSMPIA.xml

RSM Polynomial Identification

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMPCA

 
RSMPCA.xml

RSM Polynomial Coefficients

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMDCA

 
RSMDCA.xml

RSM Direct Error Covariance

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMAPA

 
RSMAPA.xml

RSM Adjustable Parameters

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMECA

 
RSMECA.xml

RSM Error Covariance STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMGIA

 
RSMGIA.xml

RSM Ground-to-image Grid identification

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

RSMGGA

 
RSMGGA.xml

RSM Ground-to-image Grid

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix U

SECTGA

 
SECTGA.xml

Secondary Target Information

STDI0002

SEGSPA

 
SEGSPA.xml

Stereo Image Segment Shear Point Data

MIL-PRF-89034

SENSRA

 
SENSRA.xml

EO-IR Sensor Parameters

STDI0002

SENSRB

 
SENSRB.xml

EO-IR Sensor Parameters

 STDI0002

SISDDA

 
SISDDA.xml

Stereo Image Segment Data

MIL-PRF-89034

SSDPDA

 
SSDPDA.xml

Stereo Image Segment Diagnostic Point Data

MIL-PRF-89034

STDIDC

 
STDIDC.xml

Standard ID Extension

STDI0002

STREOA

 
STREOA.xml

Stereo Information

STDI0002

STREOB

 
STREOB.xml

Stereo Information

STDI0002

TMINTA

 
TMINTA.xml

Time Interval Definition, Version A

STDI-0002-1_21.1, Appendix AF

USE00A

 
USE00A.xml

Exploitation Usability Extension

STDI0002

* Indicates TREs that can be created, edited and deleted.

** Indicates TREs that can only be edited and deleted. These TREs cannot be added.