Convert BIL to TIFF

Understanding BIL and TIFF file formats

BIL (Band Interleaved by Line) is a raster file format commonly used for storing multi-spectral image data. It organizes data by interleaving bands line by line, making it suitable for remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS).

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a versatile and widely-used format for storing raster graphics and image data. It supports lossless compression and is ideal for high-quality images, making it popular in photography, publishing, and graphic design.

How to convert BIL to TIFF

Converting BIL to TIFF involves transforming the multi-spectral data into a format that is more accessible and widely supported. This process can be accomplished using specialized software that handles raster data.

Best software for BIL to TIFF conversion

One of the best tools for converting BIL to TIFF is GDAL (Geospatial Data Abstraction Library). GDAL is an open-source library that supports a wide range of raster and vector formats. It provides command-line utilities for data conversion and processing.

To convert BIL to TIFF using GDAL, you can use the following command:

gdal_translate -of GTiff input.bil output.tiff

Another option is QGIS, a free and open-source GIS application. In QGIS, you can convert BIL to TIFF by opening the BIL file and using the Raster → Conversion → Translate menu option.

Steps to convert using QGIS

1. Open QGIS and load your BIL file.
2. Go to Raster → Conversion → Translate.
3. Select the input BIL file and choose TIFF as the output format.
4. Click Run to start the conversion process.