R apply raster function to a list of characters - r

Question

I started recently to work with R so this question has probably a simple solution.
I have some .tif satellite images from different scenes. I can create a test raster brick with it but the process needs to be automatised because of the huge amount of files. Therefore I have been trying to create a function to read the list of .tif files and to output a list of rasters.
You can find here below the code I have been using:
# Description: Prepare a raster brick with ordered acquisitions
# from all the scenes of the study area
library(raster)
library(rgdal)
library(sp)
library(rtiff)
rm(list = ls())
setwd=getwd()
# If you want to download the .tif files of the 2 scenes from dropbox:
dl_from_dropbox <- function(x, key) {
require(RCurl)
bin <- getBinaryURL(paste0("https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/", key, "/", x),
ssl.verifypeer = FALSE)
con <- file(x, open = "wb")
writeBin(bin, con)
close(con)
message(noquote(paste(x, "read into", getwd())))
}
dl_from_dropbox("lndsr.LT52210611985245CUB00-vi.NDVI.tif", "qb1bap9rghwivwy")
dl_from_dropbox("lndsr.LT52210611985309CUB00-vi.NDVI.tif", "sbhcffotirwnnc6")
dl_from_dropbox("lndsr.LT52210611987283CUB00-vi.NDVI.tif", "2zrkoo00ngigfzm")
dl_from_dropbox("lndsr.LT42240631992198XXX02-vi.NDVI.tif", "gx0ctxn2mca3u5v")
dl_from_dropbox("lndsr.LT42240631992214XXX02-vi.NDVI.tif", "pqnjw2dpz9beeo5")
dl_from_dropbox("lndsr.LT52240631986157CUB02-vi.NDVI.tif", "rrka10yaktv8la8")
# 1- Create a list of .tif files with names ordered chronologically (for time series analysis later on)
pathdir= # change
# List all the images from any scene in that folder and
# make a dataframe with a column for the date
a <- list.files(path=pathdir,pattern="lndsr.LT", all.files=FALSE,full.names=FALSE)
a1 <- as.data.frame(a, row.names=NULL, optional=FALSE, stringsAsFactors=FALSE) # class(a1$a) # character
# Create date column with julean date and order it in ascending order
a1$date <- substr(a1$a, 16, 22) # class(a1$date) = character
a1 <- a1[order(a1$date),]
# Keep only the column with the name of the scene
a1 <- subset(a1, select=1) # class(a1$a): character
# retrieve an ordered list from the dataframe
ord_dates <- as.list(as.data.frame(t(a1$a))) # length(ord_dates): 4 (correct)
# class(odd_dates) # list
# 2- Create rasters from elements of a list
for (i in 1:(length(ord_dates))){
# Point to each individual .tif file
tif_file <- ord_dates[i] # Problem: accesses only the first item of ord_dates
# Make a raster out of it
r <- raster(tif_file) # we cant use here a list as an input. Gives error:
# Error in .local(x, ...) : list has no "x"
# Give it a standardised name (r1,r2,r3, etc)
name <- paste("r", 1:length(ord_dates),sep = "")
# Write the raster to file
writeRaster (r , filename = name,format = "GTiff", overwrite =T )
}
I have also tried to use lapply() without much success.
r = lapply(ord_dates, raster)
Can you give me an advice on what concept to follow? I am guessing I should be using matrices but I don't really understand which are their advantages here or in what step they are required.
Any help is really appreciated!
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Assuming ord_dates is a list of file names (that have full path or are in your getwd()), you can apply a (any) function to this list using lapply. I haven't tested this, unfortunately.
convertAllToRaster <- function(tif_file) {
r <- raster(tif_file)
# Give it a standardised name (r1,r2,r3, etc)
name <- paste("r", 1:length(ord_dates),sep = "")
# Write the raster to file
writeRaster (r , filename = name,format = "GTiff", overwrite =T )
message("Eeee, maybe it was written successfully.")
}
lapply(ord_dates, FUN = convertAllToRaster)

Answer 2

After solving the issues with factors and with the name, this is the code that worked for me. I added a for loop also inside the function you proposed, Roman. Thankyou very much for your kind help!!
convertAllToRaster <- function(ord_dates) {
for (i in 1:(length(ord_dates))){
tif_file <- ord_dates[i]
r <- raster(tif_file)
# Keep the original name
name <- paste(tif_file, ".grd", sep ="")
# Write the raster to file
writeRaster (r , filename = name,format = "raster", overwrite =T ) # in .grd format
}
}
lapply(ord_dates, FUN = convertAllToRaster)