Link to the UNESCO-IOC website
Link to the Bilko website
Earth from space
Contrast stretching as part of the redisplay routines optimises display of 16-bit data

True colour composite image from MERIS bands 6, 4 and 2

Algal pigment 1 from MERIS after application of land and cloud masks created from confidence flags

A colour palette brings out details of chlorophyll concentration

Bilko palette tool

Bilko histogram of chlorophyll data

Gradient filtering brings out internal wave signatures in MERIS FR data


Platform and operating system

Bilko v 3 is designed to run on PCs running Windows 2000 and Windows XP, but will also run on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0 or later.

Software features

The latest version, currently under beta-testing, has been substantially extended and improved. The new software now features:

Support for common image formats used in remote sensing   MORE

Handling of 3-D and multiband data (up to 64 channels)   MORE

Support for 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit and floating point data

Support for NaNs and customer defined Null values    

Image manipulation and display tools:

  • Contrast stretching   MORE
  • Applcation and design of colour palettes   MORE
  • Display and creation of colour composites    
  • Zoom, Mirror, Flip and 180o rotation
  • Colour bar, scroll-bars and status-bar displaying pixel information
  • Customised display of 16-bit, 32-bit and floating-point data    
  • Extract tool for sub-sampling in the X, Y and Z dimensions    
  • Image editing and analysis tools:

  • Animations    
  • Easy selection of specified points, lines and sub-areas    
  • Data-coring (spectral or time series)    
  • Transects, histograms, scatter-plots, Hovmöller diagrams    
  • Principal Component Analysis    
  • Data processing tools:

  • Predefined and custom designed filters   MORE
  • Application of flags, masks, and coastlines    
  • Image calculations using formulae with sets of images   MORE
  • Image rectification, resampling, and co-registration    
  • Geocorrection using Ground Control Points or tie-point tables    
  • Automatic geocorrection of Envisat data ( MERIS, ASAR, AATSR, RA-2 )
  • Export to ASCII (text/spreadsheets) via the Windows clip-board

    Context sensitive help program

    RA-2 sea surface height anomaly and AATSR sea surface temperature

    Obtaining the Software

    Bilko lessons and images may be downloaded from the Bilko website. If you are not yet a registered Bilko user, you will have to register to obtain a user name and password. Once you have registered sucessfully, log in and follow links to the download area of the website.

    back Link to ESA's Envisat website Link to Scotland on line     Link to the UK Met Office Ocean Research     Link to Spotwave, Dept. of Oceanography, University of Lisbon, PL     Link to the Oceanography Department, University of Cape Town, ZA.     Link to , University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.     Link to SOC's website next