GDAL-VECTOR-GEOM-MAKE-VALID(1) GDAL GDAL-VECTOR-GEOM-MAKE-VALID(1)
NAME
gdal-vector-geom-make-valid - Fix validity of geometries of a vector
dataset
Added in version 3.11.
SYNOPSIS
Usage: gdal vector geom make-valid [OPTIONS]
Fix validity of geometries of a vector dataset.
Positional arguments:
-i, --input Input vector datasets [required]
-o, --output Output vector dataset [required]
Common Options:
-h, --help Display help message and exit
--json-usage Display usage as JSON document and exit
--config = Configuration option [may be repeated]
--progress Display progress bar
Options:
-l, --layer, --input-layer Input layer name(s) [may be repeated]
-f, --of, --format, --output-format Output format ("GDALG" allowed)
--co, --creation-option = Creation option [may be repeated]
--lco, --layer-creation-option = 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 layer is allowed
--append Whether appending to existing layer is allowed
--output-layer Output layer name
--active-layer Set active layer (if not specified, all)
--active-geometry Geometry field name to which to restrict the processing (if not specified, all)
--method Algorithm to use when repairing invalid geometries.. METHOD=linework|structure (default: linework)
--keep-lower-dim Keep components of lower dimension after MakeValid()
Advanced Options:
--if, --input-format Input formats [may be repeated]
--oo, --open-option = Open options [may be repeated]
DESCRIPTION
gdal vector geom make-valid ensures that geometries are valid regarding
the rules of the Simple Features specification.
It runs the OGRGeometry::MakeValid() operation, followed by
OGRGeometryFactory::removeLowerDimensionSubGeoms() (unless
--keep-lower-dim is set)
It 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
Which output vector format to use. Allowed values may be given
by gdal --formats | grep vector | grep rw | sort
--co =
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 =
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
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
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.
--method=linework|structure
Algorithm to use when repairing invalid geometries.
The default linework method combines all rings into a set of
noded lines and then extracts valid polygons from that linework.
This method keeps all input vertices.
The structure method (only available with GEOS >= 3.10) first
makes all rings valid then merges shells and subtracts holes
from shells to generate valid result. It assumes that holes and
shells are correctly categorized.
--keep-lower-dim
Keep components of lower dimension after MakeValid(). For
example, MakeValid() may return a GeometryCollection of a
Polygon and a LineString from a Polygon input. By default only
the Polygon would be returned. Setting this option will return
the GeometryCollection.
Advanced options
--oo =
Dataset open option (format specific).
May be repeated.
--if
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.
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: Basic use of make-valid
$ gdal vector geom make-valid in.gpkg out.gpkg --overwrite
AUTHOR
Even Rouault
COPYRIGHT
1998-2025
May 6, 2025 GDAL-VECTOR-GEOM-MAKE-VALID(1)