.imd

Extension: GIS Image Metadata File

The .imd file, or GIS Image Metadata File, is a crucial companion to image files used within Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It doesn’t contain the image itself, but rather acts as a detailed description, providing essential context and information for proper usage and analysis. This includes geographical coordinates specifying the image’s location on Earth, its precise dimensions (resolution and size), the date and time of acquisition, the sensor used (e.g., satellite, aerial camera), and potentially other relevant details like projection information (how the image is mapped onto a 2D surface). This metadata is vital for accurate georeferencing, ensuring the image is correctly positioned within a GIS map alongside other spatial data. Without the corresponding .imd file, using the image within a GIS environment becomes significantly more difficult, if not impossible.

Opening an .imd file directly isn’t typically done for viewing the content in the same way as an image. Instead, the information within is accessed indirectly through GIS software. Programs such as ArcGIS, QGIS (both popular open-source and commercial GIS platforms), and ERDAS Imagine are designed to read and utilize the metadata stored in the .imd file. When you import the associated image file (e.g., a TIFF or GeoTIFF) into these applications, the software automatically looks for the corresponding .imd file to correctly interpret and display the image within its spatial context. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep the .imd file alongside its associated image file to maintain data integrity and functionality. Attempting to open the .imd file with a standard text editor might display some raw data, but it won’t be human-readable or easily usable.