4

I'm looking to create a boundary around this shapefile of street blocks to have show the city limits in QGIS.

enter image description here

I tried this solution, (Settings > Snapping Options and enabling the "Avoid Int." checkbox, then adding a feature to the polygon via the editor tool) but couldn't get it to work. It is supposed to snap to the outermost parts of the polygon if I interpret it correctly...

Ideally, the solution would create a polygon that removes the spaces but keeps the outermost parts of the polygon. I believe there is a similar tool in ArcGIS called the Trace Tool if that helps. I'm hoping to get around tracing these by hand via the Snapping Tool.

Thanks everyone,

Zach

Improve this question
1
  • Zach, I think you misinterpreted the 'avoid intersection' feature (as per my blog post you mention.) It will not do what you want here. In this case, using that tool, you would have to trace along the outside manually, and then it would just fill the inner 'white' spaces, 'avoiding' the yellow areas - not what you want. – Darren Cope 8 mins ago
    – Darren Cope
    Commented Sep 4, 2013 at 0:27

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

I'm not aware of a tool that does this operation specifically. What I've always done is a buffer/negative buffer. Measure the widest of your road allowances (white areas you want to fill in). Then buffer the layer by just over half of that distance (e.g. if road allowance is 20m, buffer by 11m). Then do a negative buffer on that result by the same amount. It's not ideal in that you end up with 'rounded' closures at the ends of the road allowances. See example below.

The original features, with approx 11m gaps: The original image - with approx 11 m 'gaps'

Buffered by 6 meters: Buffered by 6 m

The final result: The final result - notice the rounded 'nubs'

If that's not good enough for you, take a look at "alpha shapes", or consider going to a raster model and using something like a 'grow' command (GRASS' r.grow command can be used in QGIS via Sextante/Processing).

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    @Zach. You're welcome. Hopefully one of the solutions worked for you. If so, consider accepting the answer, or asking more questions to follow up.
    – Darren Cope
    Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 14:10

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.