ImageHandler

public class ImageHandler {
    public static int[][] loadImage(String imagePath) throws IOException{
        BufferedImage img = ImageIO.read(new File(imagePath));
        int[][] grid = new int[img.getWidth()][img.getHeight()];

        for(int x = 0; x < img.getWidth(); ++x){
            for(int y = 0; y < img.getHeight(); ++y){
                int rgb = img.getRGB(x, y);
                grid[x][y] = (rgb) & 0x000000FF; //the height map is greyscale so
                                                 //it doesn't matter which RGB component
                                                 //is used
            }
        }

        return grid;
    }
}