GIS Analysis → Overlay Tools

• AverageOverlay
• Clip
• ClipRasterToPolygon
• CountIf
• Difference
• Erase
• ErasePolygonFromRaster
• HighestPosition
• Intersect
• LineIntersections
• LowestPosition
• MaxAbsoluteOverlay
• MaxOverlay
• MergeLineSegments
• MinAbsoluteOverlay
• MinOverlay
• PercentEqualTo
• PercentGreaterThan
• PercentLessThan
• PickFromList
• Polygonize
• SplitWithLines
• SumOverlay
• SymmetricalDifference
• Union
• UpdateNodataCells
• WeightedOverlay
• WeightedSum

AverageOverlay

This tool can be used to find the average value in each cell of a grid from a set of input images (--inputs). It is therefore similar to the WeightedSum tool except that each input image is given equal weighting. This tool operates on a cell-by-cell basis. Therefore, each of the input rasters must share the same number of rows and columns and spatial extent. An error will be issued if this is not the case. At least two input rasters are required to run this tool. Like each of the WhiteboxTools overlay tools, this tool has been optimized for parallel processing.

See Also: WeightedSum

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.average_overlay(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=AverageOverlay -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
-i='image1.dep;image2.dep;image3.tif' -o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

Clip

This tool will extract all the features, or parts of features, that overlap with the features of the clip vector file. The clipping operation is one of the most common vector overlay operations in GIS and effectively imposes the boundary of the clip layer on a set of input vector features, or target features. The operation is sometimes likened to a 'cookie-cutter'. The input vector file can be of any feature type (i.e. points, lines, polygons), however, the clip vector must consist of polygons.

See Also: Erase

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.clip(
    i, 
    clip, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=Clip -v --wd="/path/to/data/" ^
-i=lines1.shp --clip=clip_poly.shp -o=out_file.shp 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 28/10/2018

Last Modified: 3/11/2018

ClipRasterToPolygon

This tool can be used to clip an input raster (--input) to the extent of a vector polygon (shapefile). The user must specify the name of the input clip file (--polygons), wich must be a vector of a Polygon base shape type. The clip file may contain multiple polygon features. Polygon hole parts will be respected during clipping, i.e. polygon holes will be removed from the output raster by setting them to a NoData background value. Raster grid cells that fall outside of a polygons in the clip file will be assigned the NoData background value in the output file. By default, the output raster will be cropped to the spatial extent of the clip file, unless the --maintain_dimensions parameter is used, in which case the output grid extent will match that of the input raster. The grid resolution of output raster is the same as the input raster.

It is very important that the input raster and the input vector polygon file share the same projection. The result is unlikely to be satisfactory otherwise.

See Also: ErasePolygonFromRaster

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.clip_raster_to_polygon(
    i, 
    polygons, 
    output, 
    maintain_dimensions=False, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=ClipRasterToPolygon -v ^
--wd="/path/to/data/" -i=raster.tif --polygons=poly.shp ^
-o=output.tif --maintain_dimensions 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 25/04/2018

Last Modified: 18/10/2019

CountIf

This tool counts the number of occurrences of a specified value (--value) in a stack of input rasters (--inputs). Each grid cell in the output raster (--output) will contain the number of occurrences of the specified value in the stack of cooresponding cells in the input image. At least two input rasters are required to run this tool. Each of the input rasters must share the same number of rows and columns and spatial extent. An error will be issued if this is not the case.

See Also: PickFromList

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.count_if(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    value, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=CountIf -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
-i='image1.dep;image2.dep;image3.tif' -o=output.tif ^
--value=5.0 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 14/04/2018

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

Difference

This tool will remove all the overlapping features, or parts of overlapping features, between input and overlay vector files, outputting only the features that occur in one of the two inputs but not both. The Symmetrical Difference is related to the Boolean exclusive-or (XOR) operation in set theory and is one of the common vector overlay operations in GIS. The user must specify the names of the input and overlay vector files as well as the output vector file name. The tool operates on vector points, lines, or polygon, but both the input and overlay files must contain the same ShapeType.

The Symmetrical Difference can also be derived using a combination of other vector overlay operations, as either (A union B) difference (A intersect B), or (A difference B) union (B difference A).

The attributes of the two input vectors will be merged in the output attribute table. Fields that are duplicated between the inputs will share a single attribute in the output. Fields that only exist in one of the two inputs will be populated by null in the output table. Multipoint ShapeTypes however will simply contain a single ouptut feature indentifier (FID) attribute. Also, note that depending on the ShapeType (polylines and polygons), Measure and Z ShapeDimension data will not be transfered to the output geometries. If the input attribute table contains fields that measure the geometric properties of their associated features (e.g. length or area), these fields will not be updated to reflect changes in geometry shape and size resulting from the overlay operation.

See Also: Intersect, Difference, Union, Clip, Erase

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.difference(
    i, 
    overlay, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=Difference -v --wd="/path/to/data/" ^
-input=layer1.shp --overlay=layer2.shp -o=out_file.shp 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 8/11/2018

Last Modified: 8/11/2018

Erase

This tool will remove all the features, or parts of features, that overlap with the features of the erase vector file. The erasing operation is one of the most common vector overlay operations in GIS and effectively imposes the boundary of the erase layer on a set of input vector features, or target features.

See Also: Clip

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.erase(
    i, 
    erase, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=Erase -v --wd="/path/to/data/" ^
-i=lines1.shp --erase=erase_poly.shp -o=out_file.shp 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 4/11/2018

Last Modified: 4/11/2018

ErasePolygonFromRaster

This tool can be used to set values an input raster (--input) to a NoData background value with a vector erasing polygon (--polygons). The input erase polygon file must be a vector of a Polygon base shape type. The erase file may contain multiple polygon features. Polygon hole parts will be respected during clipping, i.e. polygon holes will not be removed from the output raster. Raster grid cells that fall inside of a polygons in the erase file will be assigned the NoData background value in the output file.

See Also: ClipRasterToPolygon

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.erase_polygon_from_raster(
    i, 
    polygons, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=ErasePolygonFromRaster -v ^
--wd="/path/to/data/" -i='DEM.tif' --polygons='lakes.shp' ^
-o='output.tif' 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 27/03/2018

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

HighestPosition

This tool identifies the stack position (index) of the maximum value within a raster stack on a cell-by-cell basis. For example, if five raster images (--inputs) are input to the tool, the output raster (--output) would show which of the five input rasters contained the highest value for each grid cell. The index value in the output raster is the zero-order number of the raster stack, i.e. if the highest value in the stack is contained in the first image, the output value would be 0; if the highest stack value were the second image, the output value would be 1, and so on. If any of the cell values within the stack is NoData, the output raster will contain the NoData value for the corresponding grid cell. The index value is related to the order of the input images.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: LowestPosition, PickFromList

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.highest_position(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=HighestPosition -v ^
--wd='/path/to/data/' -i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' ^
-o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

Intersect

The result of the Intersect vector overlay operation includes all the feature parts that occur in both input layers, excluding all other parts. It is analogous to the OR logical operator and multiplication in arithmetic. This tool is one of the common vector overlay operations in GIS. The user must specify the names of the input and overlay vector files as well as the output vector file name. The tool operates on vector points, lines, or polygon, but both the input and overlay files must contain the same ShapeType.

The Intersect tool is similar to the Clip tool. The difference is that the overlay vector layer in a Clip operation must always be polygons, regardless of whether the input layer consists of points or polylines.

The attributes of the two input vectors will be merged in the output attribute table. Note, duplicate fields should not exist between the inputs layers, as they will share a single attribute in the output (assigned from the first layer). Multipoint ShapeTypes will simply contain a single ouptut feature indentifier (FID) attribute. Also, note that depending on the ShapeType (polylines and polygons), Measure and Z ShapeDimension data will not be transfered to the output geometries. If the input attribute table contains fields that measure the geometric properties of their associated features (e.g. length or area), these fields will not be updated to reflect changes in geometry shape and size resulting from the overlay operation.

See Also: Difference, Union, SymmetricalDifference, Clip, Erase

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.intersect(
    i, 
    overlay, 
    output, 
    snap=0.0, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=Intersect -v --wd="/path/to/data/" ^
-input=layer1.shp --overlay=layer2.shp -o=out_file.shp ^
--snap=0.0000001 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 8/11/2018

Last Modified: 21/11/2018

LineIntersections

This tool identifies points where the features of two vector line/polygon layers intersect. The user must specify the names of two input vector line files and the output file. The output file will be a vector of POINT ShapeType. If the input vectors intersect at a line segment, the beginning and end vertices of the segment will be present in the output file. A warning is issued if intersection line segments are identified during analysis. If no intersections are found between the input line files, the output file will not be saved and a warning will be issued.

Each intersection point will contain PARENT1 and PARENT2 attribute fields, identifying the instersecting features in the first and second input line files respectively. Additionally, the output attribute table will contain all of the attributes (excluding FIDs) of the two parent line features.

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.line_intersections(
    input1, 
    input2, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=LineIntersections -v ^
--wd="/path/to/data/" --i1=lines1.shp --i2=lines2.shp ^
-o=out_file.shp 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 16/10/2018

Last Modified: 16/10/2018

LowestPosition

This tool identifies the stack position (index) of the minimum value within a raster stack on a cell-by-cell basis. For example, if five raster images (--inputs) are input to the tool, the output raster (--output) would show which of the five input rasters contained the lowest value for each grid cell. The index value in the output raster is the zero-order number of the raster stack, i.e. if the lowest value in the stack is contained in the first image, the output value would be 0; if the lowest stack value were the second image, the output value would be 1, and so on. If any of the cell values within the stack is NoData, the output raster will contain the NoData value for the corresponding grid cell. The index value is related to the order of the input images.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: HighestPosition, PickFromList

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.lowest_position(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=LowestPosition -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
-i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' -o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 04/07/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

MaxAbsoluteOverlay

This tool can be used to find the maximum absolute (non-negative) value in each cell of a grid from a set of input images (--inputs). NoData values in any of the input images will result in a NoData pixel in the output image.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: MaxOverlay, MinAbsoluteOverlay, MinOverlay

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.max_absolute_overlay(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=MaxAbsoluteOverlay -v ^
--wd='/path/to/data/' -i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' ^
-o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

MaxOverlay

This tool can be used to find the maximum value in each cell of a grid from a set of input images (--inputs). NoData values in any of the input images will result in a NoData pixel in the output image (--output). It is similar to the Max mathematical tool, except that it will accept more than two input images.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: MinOverlay, MaxAbsoluteOverlay, MinAbsoluteOverlay, Max

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.max_overlay(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=MaxOverlay -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
-i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' -o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

MergeLineSegments

Vector lines can sometimes contain two features that are connected by a shared end vertex. This tool identifies connected line features in an input vector file (--input) and merges them in the output file (--output). Two line features are merged if their ends are coincident, and are not coincident with any other feature (i.e. a bifurcation junction). End vertices are considered to be coincident if they are within the specified snap distance (--snap).

See Also: SplitWithLines

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.merge_line_segments(
    i, 
    output, 
    snap=0.0, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=MergeLineSegments -v ^
--wd="/path/to/data/" --input=layer1.shp -o=out_file.shp ^
--snap=0.0000001 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 09/04/2019

Last Modified: 09/04/2019

MinAbsoluteOverlay

This tool can be used to find the minimum absolute (non-negative) value in each cell of a grid from a set of input images (--inputs). NoData values in any of the input images will result in a NoData pixel in the output image.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: MinOverlay, MaxAbsoluteOverlay, MaxOverlay

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.min_absolute_overlay(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=MinAbsoluteOverlay -v ^
--wd='/path/to/data/' -i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' ^
-o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

MinOverlay

This tool can be used to find the minimum value in each cell of a grid from a set of input images (--inputs). NoData values in any of the input images will result in a NoData pixel in the output image (--output). It is similar to the Min mathematical tool, except that it will accept more than two input images.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: MaxOverlay, MaxAbsoluteOverlay, MinAbsoluteOverlay, Min

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.min_overlay(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=MinOverlay -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
-i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' -o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

PercentEqualTo

This tool calculates the percentage of a raster stack (--inputs) that have cell values equal to an input comparison raster. The user must specify the name of the value raster (--comparison), the names of the raster files contained in the stack, and an output raster file name (--output). The tool, working on a cell-by-cell basis, will count the number of rasters within the stack that have the same grid cell value as the corresponding grid cell in the comparison raster. This count is then expressed as a percentage of the number of rasters contained within the stack and output. If any of the rasters within the stack contain the NoData value, the corresponding grid cell in the output raster will be assigned NoData.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: PercentGreaterThan, PercentLessThan

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.percent_equal_to(
    inputs, 
    comparison, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=PercentEqualTo -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
-i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' --comparison='comp.tif' ^
-o='output.tif' 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 31/01/2019

PercentGreaterThan

This tool calculates the percentage of a raster stack (--inputs) that have cell values greater than an input comparison raster. The user must specify the name of the value raster (--comparison), the names of the raster files contained in the stack, and an output raster file name (--output). The tool, working on a cell-by-cell basis, will count the number of rasters within the stack with larger grid cell values greater than the corresponding grid cell in the comparison raster. This count is then expressed as a percentage of the number of rasters contained within the stack and output. If any of the rasters within the stack contain the NoData value, the corresponding grid cell in the output raster will be assigned NoData.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: PercentLessThan, PercentEqualTo

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.percent_greater_than(
    inputs, 
    comparison, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=PercentGreaterThan -v ^
--wd='/path/to/data/' -i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' ^
--comparison='comp.tif' -o='output.tif' 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 31/01/2019

PercentLessThan

This tool calculates the percentage of a raster stack (--inputs) that have cell values less than an input comparison raster. The user must specify the name of the value raster (--comparison), the names of the raster files contained in the stack, and an output raster file name (--output). The tool, working on a cell-by-cell basis, will count the number of rasters within the stack with larger grid cell values less than the corresponding grid cell in the comparison raster. This count is then expressed as a percentage of the number of rasters contained within the stack and output. If any of the rasters within the stack contain the NoData value, the corresponding grid cell in the output raster will be assigned NoData.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: PercentGreaterThan, PercentEqualTo

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.percent_less_than(
    inputs, 
    comparison, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=PercentLessThan -v ^
--wd='/path/to/data/' -i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' ^
--comparison='comp.tif' -o='output.tif' 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 31/01/2019

PickFromList

This tool outputs the cell value from a raster stack specified (--inputs) by a position raster (--pos_input). The user must specify the name of the position raster, the names of the raster files contained in the stack (i.e. group of rasters), and an output raster file name (--output). The tool, working on a cell-by-cell basis, will assign the value to the output grid cell contained in the corresponding cell in the stack image in the position specified by the cell value in the position raster. Importantly, the positions raster should be in zero-based order. That is, the first image in the stack should be assigned the value zero, the second raster is assigned 1, and so on.

At least two input rasters are required to run this tool. Each of the input rasters must share the same number of rows and columns and spatial extent. An error will be issued if this is not the case.

See Also: CountIf

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.pick_from_list(
    inputs, 
    pos_input, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=PickFromList -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
--pos_input=position.tif -i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' ^
-o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

Polygonize

This tool outputs a vector polygon layer from two or more intersecting line features contained in one or more input vector line files. Each space enclosed by the intersecting line set is converted to polygon added to the output layer. This tool should not be confused with the LinesToPolygons tool, which can be used to convert a vector file of polylines into a set of polygons, simply by closing each line feature. The LinesToPolygons tool does not deal with line intersection in the same way that the Polygonize tool does.

See Also: LinesToPolygons

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.polygonize(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=Polygonize -v --wd="/path/to/data/" ^
-i='lines1.shp;lines2.shp;lines3.shp' -o=out_file.shp 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 19/10/2018

Last Modified: 28/10/2018

SplitWithLines

This tool splits the lines or polygons in one layer using the lines in another layer to define the breaking points. Intersection points between geometries in both layers are considered as split points. The input layer (--input) can be of either POLYLINE or POLYGON ShapeType and the output file will share this geometry type. The user must also specify an split layer (--split), of POLYLINE ShapeType, used to bisect the input geometries.

Each split geometry's attribute record will contain FID and PARENT_FID values and all of the attributes (excluding FID's) of the input layer.

See Also: 'MergeLineSegments'

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.split_with_lines(
    i, 
    split, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=SplitWithLines -v --wd="/path/to/data/" ^
--input=polygons.shp --split=lines.shp -o=out_file.shp 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 17/10/2018

Last Modified: 08/04/2019

SumOverlay

This tool calculates the sum for each grid cell from a group of raster images (--inputs). NoData values in any of the input images will result in a NoData pixel in the output image (--output).

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: WeightedSum

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.sum_overlay(
    inputs, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=SumOverlay -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
-i='image1.dep;image2.dep;image3.tif' -o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 26/09/2018

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

SymmetricalDifference

This tool will remove all the overlapping features, or parts of overlapping features, between input and overlay vector files, outputting only the features that occur in one of the two inputs but not both. The Symmetrical Difference is related to the Boolean exclusive-or (XOR) operation in set theory and is one of the common vector overlay operations in GIS. The user must specify the names of the input and overlay vector files as well as the output vector file name. The tool operates on vector points, lines, or polygon, but both the input and overlay files must contain the same ShapeType.

The Symmetrical Difference can also be derived using a combination of other vector overlay operations, as either (A union B) difference (A intersect B), or (A difference B) union (B difference A).

The attributes of the two input vectors will be merged in the output attribute table. Fields that are duplicated between the inputs will share a single attribute in the output. Fields that only exist in one of the two inputs will be populated by null in the output table. Multipoint ShapeTypes however will simply contain a single ouptut feature indentifier (FID) attribute. Also, note that depending on the ShapeType (polylines and polygons), Measure and Z ShapeDimension data will not be transfered to the output geometries. If the input attribute table contains fields that measure the geometric properties of their associated features (e.g. length or area), these fields will not be updated to reflect changes in geometry shape and size resulting from the overlay operation.

See Also: Intersect, Difference, Union, Clip, Erase

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.symmetrical_difference(
    i, 
    overlay, 
    output, 
    snap=0.0, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=SymmetricalDifference -v ^
--wd="/path/to/data/" -input=layer1.shp --overlay=layer2.shp ^
-o=out_file.shp --snap=0.0000001 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 5/11/2018

Last Modified: 08/11/2018

Union

This tool splits vector layers at their overlaps, creating a layer containing all the portions from both input and overlay layers. The Union is related to the Boolean OR operation in set theory and is one of the common vector overlay operations in GIS. The user must specify the names of the input and overlay vector files as well as the output vector file name. The tool operates on vector points, lines, or polygon, but both the input and overlay files must contain the same ShapeType.

The attributes of the two input vectors will be merged in the output attribute table. Fields that are duplicated between the inputs will share a single attribute in the output. Fields that only exist in one of the two inputs will be populated by null in the output table. Multipoint ShapeTypes however will simply contain a single ouptut feature indentifier (FID) attribute. Also, note that depending on the ShapeType (polylines and polygons), Measure and Z ShapeDimension data will not be transfered to the output geometries. If the input attribute table contains fields that measure the geometric properties of their associated features (e.g. length or area), these fields will not be updated to reflect changes in geometry shape and size resulting from the overlay operation.

See Also: Intersect, Difference, SymmetricalDifference, Clip, Erase

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.union(
    i, 
    overlay, 
    output, 
    snap=0.0, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=Union -v --wd="/path/to/data/" ^
-input=layer1.shp --overlay=layer2.shp -o=out_file.shp ^
--snap=0.0000001 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 05/11/2018

Last Modified: 08/04/2019

UpdateNodataCells

This tool will assign the NoData valued cells in an input raster (--input1) the values contained in the corresponding grid cells in a second input raster (--input2). This operation is sometimes necessary because most other overlay operations exclude areas of NoData values from the analysis. This tool can be used when there is need to update the values of a raster within these missing data areas.

See Also: IsNodata

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.update_nodata_cells(
    input1, 
    input2, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=UpdateNodataCells -v ^
--wd="/path/to/data/" --input1=input1.tif ^
--input2=update_layer.tif -o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 26/05/2020

Last Modified: 26/05/2020

WeightedOverlay

This tool performs a weighted overlay on multiple input images. It can be used to combine multiple factors with varying levels of weight or relative importance. The WeightedOverlay tool is similar to the WeightedSum tool but is more powerful because it automatically converts the input factors to a common user-defined scale and allows the user to specify benefit factors and cost factors. A benefit factor is a factor for which higher values are more suitable. A cost factor is a factor for which higher values are less suitable. By default, WeightedOverlay assumes that input images are benefit factors, unless a cost value of 'true' is entered in the cost array. Constraints are absolute restriction with values of 0 (unsuitable) and 1 (suitable). This tool is particularly useful for performing multi-criteria evaluations (MCE).

Notice that the algorithm will convert the user-defined factor weights internally such that the sum of the weights is always equal to one. As such, the user can specify the relative weights as decimals, percentages, or relative weightings (e.g. slope is 2 times more important than elevation, in which case the weights may not sum to 1 or 100).

NoData valued grid cells in any of the input images will be assigned NoData values in the output image. The output raster is of the float data type and continuous data scale.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.weighted_overlay(
    factors, 
    weights, 
    output, 
    cost=None, 
    constraints=None, 
    scale_max=1.0, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=WeightedOverlay -v ^
--wd='/path/to/data/' ^
--factors='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' ^
--weights='0.3;0.2;0.5' --cost='false;false;true' -o=output.tif ^
--scale_max=100.0 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 07/05/2018

Last Modified: 13/10/2018

WeightedSum

This tool performs a weighted-sum overlay on multiple input raster images. If you have a stack of rasters that you would like to sum, each with an equal weighting (1.0), then use the SumOverlay tool instead.

Warning:

Each of the input rasters must have the same spatial extent and number of rows and columns.

See Also: SumOverlay

Parameters:

Python function:

wbt.weighted_sum(
    inputs, 
    weights, 
    output, 
    callback=default_callback
)

Command-line Interface:

>>./whitebox_tools -r=WeightedSum -v --wd='/path/to/data/' ^
-i='image1.tif;image2.tif;image3.tif' --weights='0.3;0.2;0.5' ^
-o=output.tif 

Source code on GitHub

Author: Dr. John Lindsay

Created: 22/06/2017

Last Modified: 13/10/2018