GRASS GIS manual: v.hull

Note: A new GRASS GIS stable version has been released: GRASS GIS 7.4, available here.
Updated manual page: here

NAME

v.hull - Produces a 2D/3D convex hull for a given vector map.

KEYWORDS

vector, geometry, 3D

SYNOPSIS

v.hull

v.hull --help

v.hull [-rf] input=name [layer=string] output=name [cats=range] [where=sql_query] [--overwrite] [--help] [--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]

Flags:

-r: Limit to current region
-f: Create a 'flat' 2D hull even if the input is 3D points
--overwrite: Allow output files to overwrite existing files
--help: Print usage summary
--verbose: Verbose module output
--quiet: Quiet module output
--ui: Force launching GUI dialog

Parameters:

input=name [required]: Name of input vector map; Or data source for direct OGR access
layer=string: Layer number or name ('-1' for all layers); A single vector map can be connected to multiple database tables. This number determines which table to use. When used with direct OGR access this is the layer name.; Default: -1
output=name [required]: Name for output vector map
cats=range: Category values; Example: 1,3,7-9,13
where=sql_query: WHERE conditions of SQL statement without 'where' keyword; Example: income < 1000 and inhab >= 10000

DESCRIPTION
EXAMPLE
REFERENCES
SEE ALSO
AUTHOR

DESCRIPTION

v.hull computes the convex hull of a vector map and outputs the convex hull polygon as a vector area map. The convex hull, or convex envelope, for an object or a set of objects is the minimal convex set containing the given objects. This module creates a vector polygon containing all vector points or lines of the input map.

In the case of 3D input points, the hull will be a 3D hull as well, unless the user specifies the -f flag. The 3D hull will be composed of triangular faces.

Fig: Convex hull polygon created with v.hull

EXAMPLE

Example of v.hull 3D output (using two random 3D point clouds, North Carolina sample data set):

g.region rural_1m -p
r.mapcalc "zero = 0"
v.random -z output=random3d_a n=10 zmin=0 zmax=200
v.random -z output=random3d_b n=15 zmin=400 zmax=600
v.hull input=random3d_a output=random3d_a_hull
v.hull input=random3d_b output=random3d_b_hull

d.mon wx0
d.vect random3d_a_hull
d.vect random3d_a color=red

d.vect random3d_b_hull
d.vect random3d_b color=red

# 3D view in wxGUI (g.gui)

Fig: Convex hull in 3D from 3D points created with v.hull

REFERENCES

M. de Berg, M. van Kreveld, M. Overmars, O. Schwarzkopf, (2000). Computational geometry, chapter 1.1, 2-8.
J. O'Rourke, (1998). Computational Geometry in C (Second Edition), chapter 4.

AUTHOR

Andrea Aime, Modena, Italy
Markus Neteler, ITC-irst (update to 5.7)
Benjamin Ducke, CAU Kiel (3D hull support)
Martin Landa, CTU in Prague, Czech Republic (vector lines support)

Last changed: $Date: 2015-01-15 00:43:36 -0800 (Thu, 15 Jan 2015) $

SOURCE CODE

Available at: v.hull source code (history)