Cut geoprocessing not outputing expected results

Question

I wish to cut a vector layer with another layer (single polygon). I have tried both QGIS and GDAL cut geoprocessing with little satisfaction.

Input layer:

Output layer (with cutting polyon in thick black border):

See the blank space that should be green.

Same operation using ArcGIS gives correct result. (Sorry I cannot paste screenshot here cause I lack reputation... you'll have to believe me)

Output message says one or more geometry invalid or TopologyException: Input geom 0 is invalid: Self-intersection at or near point.

Any idea how to tackle this?

Answer 1

QGIS can be a bit picky about running processing tools on features with invalid geometries, much more so than ArcGIS in my experience.

Run the topology checker in QGIS and see if your input shapefile has any topology errors (I suspect it does). If yes then you can repair them in various ways - answer from an original here: Solving topological errors in QGIS?

The most successful way I've ever had of correcting topological errors in Q is actually to use GRASS. You can either:

1. run v.clean from the processing toolbox (manual here https://grass.osgeo.org/grass73/manuals/v.clean.html);

2. use the 'Repair Geometry' plugin (which is an automation of the v.clean tool); or if all else fails

3. import the dataset into GRASS proper and then export it out again as whatever format you want

I've never had number 3 fail for me and there is a good walkthrough of how to do it here: https://faunaliagis.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/bad-bad-polygon-fixing-invalid-geometries-with-quantum-gis/