> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/thareUSGS/GDAL_scripts/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Scripts Reference Overview

> Complete reference guide for GDAL planetary science scripts

# GDAL Scripts Reference

This reference guide provides comprehensive documentation for all GDAL planetary science scripts organized by functionality.

## Script Categories

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Coordinate Scripts" icon="map-location" href="/reference/coordinate-scripts">
    Conversion utilities for transforming between pixel, meter, and geographic coordinate systems
  </Card>

  <Card title="Conversion Scripts" icon="arrows-rotate" href="/reference/conversion-scripts">
    Format conversion tools for ISIS3, PLY, gores, geocentric XYZ, and shapefile formats
  </Card>

  <Card title="Planetary Scripts" icon="globe" href="/reference/planetary-scripts">
    Specialized tools for planetary data processing including slope analysis and IAU coordinate systems
  </Card>

  <Card title="Utility Scripts" icon="wrench" href="/reference/utility-scripts">
    General-purpose utilities for metadata, histograms, and image size calculations
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Coordinate Conversion Scripts

Convert between different coordinate systems:

* **pixel2longlat.py** - Convert pixel coordinates to longitude/latitude
* **pixel2meters.py** - Convert pixel coordinates to projected meters
* **longlat2meters.py** - Convert geographic coordinates to projected meters
* **meters2longlat.py** - Convert projected meters to geographic coordinates

## Format Conversion Scripts

Convert geospatial data between formats:

* **Astropedia\_gdal2ISIS3.py** - Create ISIS3 compatible labels from GDAL images
* **gdal2PLY.py** - Convert DEMs to PLY mesh format for 3D visualization
* **gdal2gores.py** - Create gore projections for sphere mapping
* **gdal2xyz\_geocentricSpace.py** - Convert DEMs to body-fixed XYZ coordinates
* **AsterMeta2Shapefile.py** - Convert ASTER metadata files to shapefiles

## Planetary-Specific Scripts

Specialized planetary science tools:

* **gdal\_baseline\_slope.py** - Calculate slopes using various baseline lengths
* **create\_IAU2000\_wkt\_v3.py** - Generate IAU planetary coordinate system definitions
* **isis3\_to\_pds4\_LOLA\_pvl.py** - Convert ISIS3 labels to PDS4 format
* **fix\_jp2\_v2** - Fix GeoJP2 Equirectangular projection keywords

## General Utility Scripts

Common analysis and utility functions:

* **gdal2metadata.py** - Generate FGDC metadata from GDAL rasters
* **gdal\_hist.py** - Export image histograms in tabular format
* **slope\_histogram\_cumulative\_graph.py** - Create histogram visualizations
* **gdalSize.py** - Calculate image size from geographic bounds

## Quick Start

Most scripts follow standard Python command-line patterns:

```bash theme={null}
python script_name.py [options] input_file output_file
```

For detailed usage of any script:

```bash theme={null}
python script_name.py --help
# or
python script_name.py
```

## Common Requirements

<Note>
  All scripts require:

  * Python 2.7+ or Python 3.x (version varies by script)
  * GDAL/OGR Python bindings
  * Additional dependencies listed in individual script documentation
</Note>

## Installation

Install GDAL Python bindings:

```bash theme={null}
# Using conda (recommended)
conda install -c conda-forge gdal

# Using pip
pip install gdal
```

## Support

For issues or questions about these scripts, contact the USGS Astrogeology Science Center or visit the repository documentation.