# Analyse raster data #### Overview Raster data in Ellipsis Drive can be analysed directly in the viewer or through advanced processing workflows using Ellipsis Map Engine. This page focuses on interactive analysis within the viewer, including spatial queries and band-based calculations.\ \ A short video walkthrough is available below. {% embed url="" %} *** #### 1. Spatial queries (area-based analysis) You can analyse raster data by selecting an area of interest directly in the viewer by drawing a point, line or polygon. Within a selected area, you can compute statistics such as: * minimum or maximum value * mean value or band-specific statistics * generating a histogram This enables fast inspection of raster values without external processing. *** #### 2. Raster calculations (band algebra) In addition to spatial queries, Ellipsis Drive supports on-the-fly raster calculations using band expressions. This allows you to derive new insights directly in the viewer. Example use cases include: * NDVI (e.g. vegetation index) * band ratios * custom raster expressions These calculations are applied dynamically and do not modify the underlying dataset. *** #### 3. Advanced analysis (Ellipsis Map Engine) For large-scale or computationally intensive analysis workflows, Ellipsis Map Engine can be used to run: * distributed processing of raster datasets * multi-layer analysis * reproducible analytical workflows This functionality is API-driven and intended for advanced or automated use cases. 👉 See [Ellipsis Map Engine documentation](https://docs.ellipsis-drive.com/developers/api-v3/compute-map-engine) for more details. *** {% hint style="info" %} **Key concept** Analysis in Ellipsis Drive exists in two layers: * Interactive analysis in the viewer (queries + band algebra) * Advanced compute via Map Engine (programmatic processing) {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.ellipsis-drive.com/working-with-raster-data/analyse-raster-data.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.