Provided by: gdal-bin_3.12.0+dfsg-1_amd64 
NAME
gdal-vector-buffer - Compute a buffer around geometries of a vector dataset
Added in version 3.12.
SYNOPSIS
Usage: gdal vector buffer [OPTIONS] <INPUT> <OUTPUT> <DISTANCE>
Compute a buffer around geometries of a vector dataset.
Positional arguments:
-i, --input <INPUT> Input vector datasets [required]
-o, --output <OUTPUT> Output vector dataset [required]
--distance <DISTANCE> Distance to which to extend the geometry. [required]
Common Options:
-h, --help Display help message and exit
--json-usage Display usage as JSON document and exit
--config <KEY>=<VALUE> Configuration option [may be repeated]
-q, --quiet Quiet mode (no progress bar)
Options:
-l, --layer, --input-layer <INPUT-LAYER> Input layer name(s) [may be repeated]
-f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT> Output format ("GDALG" allowed)
--co, --creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Creation option [may be repeated]
--lco, --layer-creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Layer creation option [may be repeated]
--overwrite Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
--update Whether to open existing dataset in update mode
--overwrite-layer Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
--append Whether appending to existing layer is allowed
Mutually exclusive with --upsert
--output-layer <OUTPUT-LAYER> Output layer name
--skip-errors Skip errors when writing features
--active-layer <ACTIVE-LAYER> Set active layer (if not specified, all)
--active-geometry <ACTIVE-GEOMETRY> Geometry field name to which to restrict the processing (if not specified, all)
--endcap-style <ENDCAP-STYLE> Endcap style.. ENDCAP-STYLE=round|flat|square (default: round)
--join-style <JOIN-STYLE> Join style.. JOIN-STYLE=round|mitre|bevel (default: round)
--mitre-limit <MITRE-LIMIT> Mitre ratio limit (only affects mitered join style). (default: 5)
--quadrant-segments <QUADRANT-SEGMENTS> Number of line segments used to approximate a quarter circle. (default: 8)
--side <SIDE> Sets whether the computed buffer should be single-sided or not.. SIDE=both|left|right (default: both)
Advanced Options:
--if, --input-format <INPUT-FORMAT> Input formats [may be repeated]
--oo, --open-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Open options [may be repeated]
--output-oo, --output-open-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Output open options [may be repeated]
--upsert Upsert features (implies 'append')
Mutually exclusive with --append
DESCRIPTION
gdal vector buffer computes a POLYGON or MULTIPOLYGON that represents all points whose distance from a
geometry/geography is less than or equal to a given distance. A negative distance shrinks the geometry
rather than expanding it. A negative distance may shrink a polygon completely, in which case POLYGON
EMPTY is returned. For points and lines negative distances always return empty results.
See https://postgis.net/docs/ST_Buffer.html for graphical illustrations of the effect of the different
parameters.
This command can also be used as a step of gdal vector pipeline.
NOTE:
This command requires a GDAL build against the GEOS library.
Standard options
-f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>
Which output vector format to use. Allowed values may be given by gdal --formats | grep vector |
grep rw | sort
--co <NAME>=<VALUE>
Many formats have one or more optional dataset creation options that can be used to control
particulars about the file created. For instance, the GeoPackage driver supports creation options
to control the version.
May be repeated.
The dataset creation options available vary by format driver, and some simple formats have no
creation options at all. A list of options supported for a format can be listed with the --formats
command line option but the documentation for the format is the definitive source of information
on driver creation options. See Vector drivers format specific documentation for legal creation
options for each format.
Note that dataset creation options are different from layer creation options.
-lco <NAME>=<VALUE>
Layer creation option (format specific)
--overwrite
Allow program to overwrite existing target file or dataset. Otherwise, by default, gdal errors
out if the target file or dataset already exists.
--active-layer <ACTIVE-LAYER>
Set the active layer. When it is specified, only the layer specified by its name will be subject
to the processing. Other layers will be not modified. If this option is not specified, all layers
will be subject to the processing.
--active-geometry <ACTIVE-GEOMETRY>
Set the active geometry field from its name. When it is specified, only the specified geometry
field will be subject to the processing. Other geometry fields will be not modified. If this
option is not specified, all geometry fields will be subject to the processing. This option can
be combined together with --active-layer.
--distance <DISTANCE>
Radius of the buffer around the input geometry. The unit of the distance is in georeferenced
units of the source layer.
--endcap-style round|flat|square
Specifies the end cap style of the generated buffer. Default is round.
--join-style round|mitre|bevel
Sets the join style for outside (reflex) corners between line segments. Default is round.
--mitre-limit <MITRE-LIMIT>
Sets the limit on the mitre ratio used for very sharp corners.
Default is 5.
The mitre ratio is the ratio of the distance from the corner to the end of the mitred offset
corner. When two line segments meet at a sharp angle, a miter join will extend far beyond the
original geometry. (and in the extreme case will be infinitely far.) To prevent unreasonable
geometry, the mitre limit allows controlling the maximum length of the join corner. Corners with
a ratio which exceed the limit will be beveled.
--quadrant-segments <QUADRANT-SEGMENTS>
Sets the number of line segments used to approximate an angle fillet in round joins.
This determines the maximum error in the approximation to the true buffer curve. The default
value of 8 gives less than 2% max error in the buffer distance. For a max error of < 1%, use QS =
12. For a max error of < 0.1%, use QS = 18. The error is always less than the buffer distance
(in other words, the computed buffer curve is always inside the true curve).
--side both|left|right
Sets whether the computed buffer should be single-sided or on both side (default).
left (resp. right) means that buffer is on the left-hand
(resp. right-hand) side of the line when following it in the order of its vertices.
Single-side buffering is only applicable to LINESTRING geometry and does not affect POINT or
POLYGON geometries, and the end cap style is forced to square.
Advanced options
--oo <NAME>=<VALUE>
Dataset open option (format specific).
May be repeated.
--if <format>
Format/driver name to be attempted to open the input file(s). It is generally not necessary to
specify it, but it can be used to skip automatic driver detection, when it fails to select the
appropriate driver. This option can be repeated several times to specify several candidate
drivers. Note that it does not force those drivers to open the dataset. In particular, some
drivers have requirements on file extensions.
May be repeated.
GDALG OUTPUT (ON-THE-FLY / STREAMED DATASET)
This program supports serializing the command line as a JSON file using the GDALG output format. The
resulting file can then be opened as a vector dataset using the GDALG: GDAL Streamed Algorithm driver,
and apply the specified pipeline in a on-the-fly / streamed way.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Compute a buffer of one km around input geometries (assuming the CRS is in meters)
$ gdal vector buffer --distance=1000 in.gpkg out.gpkg --overwrite
AUTHOR
Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>
COPYRIGHT
1998-2025
Nov 07, 2025 GDAL-VECTOR-BUFFER(1)