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# GDAL

## Geospatial Data Abstraction Library

GDAL is a translator library for raster geospatial data formats that is released under an X/MIT style Open Source license. As a library, it presents a single abstract data model to the calling application for all supported formats. The related OGR library (which lives within the GDAL source tree) provides a similar capability for simple features vector data.

Master Page: http://www.remotesensing.org/gdal/index.html
Maintainer: Frank Warmerdam.

## Status

GDAL is in active use in several projects, and includes roughly 40 format drivers. Current translators include GeoTIFF (read/write), Erdas Imagine (read/write), ESRI .BIL (read), .aux labelled raw (read/write), DTED (read), SDTS DEM (read), CEOS (read), JPEG (read/write), PNG (read/write), Geosoft GXF (read) and Arc/Info Binary Grid (read). A full list is available in Supported Formats.

The gdal-dev@remotesensing.org mailing list can be used for discussion of development and user issues related to GDAL and related technologies. Subscriptions can be done, and archives reviewed on the web. The older email archive from YahooGroups can also be browsed on the web.

API Documentation exists for GDAL, and was created using Doxygen.

## Bug Reporting

GDAL bugs can be reported, and can be listed using BugZilla.

## Download

Binaries of the GDAL utility programs and the shared libraries are available for MS Windows NT/95/98 and Linux. GDAL utilities and much more can also be found within the OpenEV_FW releases on Windows. GDAL is also a component of the FreeGIS CDs available from www.freegis.org in RPM format.

The GDAL source is available by anonymous CVS or as a tarball:

    % export CVSROOT=:pserver:anonymous@cvs.remotesensing.org:/cvsroot
    % cvs login
    Password: anonymous
    % cvs checkout gdal

Update access to the CVS repository can be obtained by arrangement with the maintainer. The CVS tree can be browsed on the web, and daily CVS snapshots are available. The last full source release is available as gdal118.zip or gdal-1.1.8.tar.gz. Build instructions are also available.

## Key Documentation Entry Points

- GDAL FAQ
- GDAL Utility Programs
- Building GDAL From Source
- Supported Formats
- GDAL Data Model
- GDAL API Tutorial
- GDAL Driver Implementation Tutorial
- GDALDataset
- GDALRasterBand

## Related Information

- My other projects, many of which are incorporated into GDAL or use GDAL.

- RemoteSensing.ORG: An organization for cooperative OpenSource work related to remote sensing. GDAL is hosted at remotesensing.org.

- OGRSpatialReference: My OGR encapsulation of OpenGIS projection definitions.

- GDAL Bindings into R. by Timothy H. Keitt.

- GDAL is available as an RPM on the FreeGIS CD's, and list is listed at FreeGIS.org.

## Projects Using GDAL

- GRASS: A raster/vector open source GIS uses GDAL for raster import (via r.in.gdal).

- OpenEV: An OpenGL/GTK/Python based graphical viewer which exclusively uses GDAL for raster access.

- OSSIM: Another geospatial viewing and analysis environment which uses GDAL as one of several plugins.

- UMN MapServer: A popular web mapping application with GDAL support.

- Virtual Terrain Project: The VTP libraries now use GDAL.

- Demeter: A another OpenGL based terrain engine somewhat similar to VTP.

- Cadcorp SIS: A Windows GIS has recently implemented a GDAL plugin (still prerelease).

- FME: A GIS translator package includes a GDAL plugin (still prerelease).

- MS MacroSystem: 3D DEM Viewer.