A spatial analysis tool typically found in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, this functionality allows users to perform mathematical and logical operations on raster datasets. Imagine combining multiple layers of elevation data to model water flow, or classifying land cover based on vegetation indices. This tool facilitates such analyses by applying user-defined formulas or expressions, processing pixel values across one or more input rasters to generate a new output raster. A simple example is adding two rasters representing different cost surfaces to create a combined cost surface.
This analytical capability offers significant advantages for spatial modeling and decision-making. Its ability to process large volumes of geospatial data efficiently provides valuable insights across diverse fields, from environmental management and urban planning to agriculture and natural resource exploration. The development and integration of such tools within GIS platforms marked a significant advancement in spatial analysis, enabling more complex and sophisticated modeling workflows.
