Convert PBM to VICAR

The PBM (Portable Bitmap) file extension, part of the Netpbm project, originated in the late 1980s to facilitate efficient and portable graphics file interchange. Primarily, PBM files are used to store monochrome bitmaps in a simple ASCII text format, ensuring easy compatibility across different systems and platforms. This format supports only black-and-white imagery, making it particularly useful in scenarios where simplicity and minimalism are prioritized, such as in Unix environments for bitmap manipulation and transfer. Its historical significance lies in promoting a standardized approach to bitmap graphics in early computer technology.

The VICAR (Video Image Communication and Retrieval) file extension is a specialized raster image format developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1966 to manage and process imaging data from unmanned planetary missions. It supports multi-dimensional scientific data, including spectroscopic, hyperspectral, and radar imagery, making it suitable for space exploration, biomedical imaging, and geological studies. The format includes metadata for data integrity and usability, and the software system is now open-source.