Convert PHM to VICAR

The PHM file extension stands for Portable Float-map Image (16-bit half), a format used for storing High Dynamic Range (HDR) images with 16-bit half-precision floating-point values. This format is particularly useful in applications requiring precise color representation and extensive dynamic range, such as computer graphics, image processing, and scientific visualization. Originating from the Portable FloatMap (PFM) format, PHM was developed to provide a more efficient storage solution by utilizing half-precision floats, thereby reducing file size while maintaining significant detail and accuracy.

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.