GRASS GIS manual: r.grow.distance

NAME

r.grow.distance - Generates a raster map layer of distance to features in input layer.

KEYWORDS

raster

SYNOPSIS

r.grow.distance
r.grow.distance help
r.grow.distance input=name [distance=name] [value=name] [metric=string] [--overwrite] [--verbose] [--quiet]

Flags:

--overwrite: Allow output files to overwrite existing files
--verbose: Verbose module output
--quiet: Quiet module output

Parameters:

input=name: Name of input raster map
distance=name: Name for distance output map
value=name: Name for value output map
metric=string: Metric; Options: euclidean,squared,maximum,manhattan; Default: euclidean

DESCRIPTION

r.grow.distance generates raster maps representing the distance to the nearest non-null cell in the input map and/or the value of the nearest non-null cell.

NOTES

The user has the option of specifying four different metrics which control the geometry in which grown cells are created, (controlled by the metric parameter): Euclidean, Squared, Manhattan, and Maximum.

The Euclidean distance or Euclidean metric is the "ordinary" distance between two points that one would measure with a ruler, which can be proven by repeated application of the Pythagorean theorem. The formula is given by:

d(dx,dy) = sqrt(dx^2 + dy^2)

Cells grown using this metric would form isolines of distance that are circular from a given point, with the distance given by the radius.

The Squared metric is the Euclidean distance squared, i.e. it simply omits the square-root calculation. This may be faster, and is sufficient if only relative values are required.

The Manhattan metric, or Taxicab geometry, is a form of geometry in which the usual metric of Euclidean geometry is replaced by a new metric in which the distance between two points is the sum of the (absolute) differences of their coordinates. The name alludes to the grid layout of most streets on the island of Manhattan, which causes the shortest path a car could take between two points in the city to have length equal to the points' distance in taxicab geometry. The formula is given by:

d(dx,dy) = abs(dx) + abs(dy)

where cells grown using this metric would form isolines of distance that are rhombus-shaped from a given point.

The Maximum metric is given by the formula

d(dx,dy) = max(abs(dx),abs(dy))

where the isolines of distance from a point are squares.

EXAMPLE

Spearfish sample dataset

r.grow.distance input=roads distance=dist_from_roads

AUTHORS

Glynn Clements

Last changed: $Date: 2008-11-20 02:59:22 -0800 (Thu, 20 Nov 2008) $

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