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GDAL-RASTER-INDEX(1) GDAL GDAL-RASTER-INDEX(1)

NAME

gdal-raster-index - Create a vector index of raster datasets

Added in version 3.11.

SYNOPSIS

Usage: gdal raster index [OPTIONS] <INPUT>... <OUTPUT>
Create a vector index of raster datasets.
Positional arguments:


  -i, --input <INPUT>                                  Input raster datasets (created by algorithm) [may be repeated] [required]


  -o, --output <OUTPUT>                                Output vector dataset [required]
Common Options:


  -h, --help                                           Display help message and exit


  --json-usage                                         Display usage as JSON document and exit


  --config <KEY>=<VALUE>                               Configuration option [may be repeated]


  -q, --quiet                                          Quiet mode (no progress bar or warning message)
Options:


  -f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>  Output format


  --co, --creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE>                Creation option [may be repeated]


  --lco, --layer-creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE>         Layer creation option [may be repeated]


  --overwrite                                          Whether overwriting existing output dataset is allowed


                                                       Mutually exclusive with --update


  --update                                             Whether to open existing dataset in update mode


                                                       Mutually exclusive with --overwrite


  --overwrite-layer                                    Whether overwriting existing output layer is allowed


  --append                                             Whether appending to existing layer is allowed


  --nln, --output-layer <OUTPUT-LAYER>                 Output layer name


  --recursive                                          Whether input directories should be explored recursively.


  --filename-filter <FILENAME-FILTER>                  Pattern that the filenames in input directories should follow ('*' and '?' wildcard) [may be repeated]


  --min-pixel-size <MIN-PIXEL-SIZE>                    Minimum pixel size in term of geospatial extent per pixel (resolution) that a raster should have to be selected.


  --max-pixel-size <MAX-PIXEL-SIZE>                    Maximum pixel size in term of geospatial extent per pixel (resolution) that a raster should have to be selected.


  --location-name <LOCATION-NAME>                      Name of the field with the raster path (default: location)


  --absolute-path                                      Whether the path to the input datasets should be stored as an absolute path


  --dst-crs <DST-CRS>                                  Destination CRS


  --metadata <KEY>=<VALUE>                             Add dataset metadata item [may be repeated]


  --skip-errors                                        Skip errors related to input datasets


  --profile <PROFILE>                                  Profile of output dataset. PROFILE=none|STAC-GeoParquet (default: none)


  --base-url <BASE-URL>                                Base URL for STAC-GeoParquet href


  --id-method <ID-METHOD>                              How to derive STAC-GeoParquet 'id'. ID-METHOD=filename|md5|metadata-item (default: filename)


  --id-metadata-item <ID-METADATA-ITEM>                Name of metadata item used to set STAC-GeoParquet 'id' (default: id)


  --source-crs-field-name <SOURCE-CRS-FIELD-NAME>      Name of the field to store the CRS of each dataset


  --source-crs-format <SOURCE-CRS-FORMAT>              Format in which the CRS of each dataset must be written. SOURCE-CRS-FORMAT=auto|WKT|EPSG|PROJ (default: auto)


DESCRIPTION

gdal raster index creates a vector dataset with a record for each input raster file, an attribute containing the filename, and a polygon geometry outlining the raster. This output is suitable for use with MapServer as a raster tileindex

See gdal driver gti create for an extension of this command that create files to be used as input for the GTI driver.

The following options are available:

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC OPTIONS

The absolute path to the raster files is stored in the index file. By default the raster filenames will be put in the file exactly as they are specified on the command line.

Added in version 3.13.

Base URL for STAC-GeoParquet the href property of the id property in a STAC-GeoParquet index.


Geometries of input files will be transformed to the desired target coordinate reference system. Default creates simple rectangular polygons in the same coordinate reference system as the input rasters.

Pattern that the filenames contained in input directories should follow. '*' is a wildcard character that matches any number of any characters including none. '?' is a wildcard character that matches a single character. Comparisons are done in a case insensitive way. Several filters may be specified.

For example: --filename-filter "*.tif,*.tiff"


Added in version 3.13.

Name of metadata item used to set STAC-GeoParquet id property. Defaults to id.


Added in version 3.13.

How to derive STAC-GeoParquet id property

  • filename (the default): only the filename (without directory, but including extension) is used
  • md5: the MD5Sum of the file is computed, and suffixed with the filename.
  • metadata-item: the value of the metadata item defined by --id-metadata-item from each source dataset is used.


The output field name to hold the file path/location to the indexed rasters. The default field name is location.

Maximum pixel size in term of geospatial extent per pixel (resolution) that a raster should have to be selected. The pixel size is evaluated after reprojection of its extent to the target CRS defined by --dst-crs.

Write an arbitrary layer metadata item, for formats that support layer metadata. This option may be repeated.

Minimum pixel size in term of geospatial extent per pixel (resolution) that a raster should have to be selected. The pixel size is evaluated after reprojection of its extent to the target CRS defined by --dst-crs.

Added in version 3.13.

Defines the profile of the output dataset. If selecting STAC-GeoParquet, a Parquet file conforming to the STAC-GeoParquet specification is created (provided that the Parquet format is also selected). Such file can be read by the GTI driver. Setting STAC-GeoParquet also implicitly sets the target CRS to EPSG:4326.


Whether input directories should be explored recursively.

Added in version 3.12.

Skip errors related to input datasets.


The name of the field to store the CRS of each tile. This field name can be used as the value of the TILESRS keyword in MapServer

The format in which the CRS of each tile must be written. Types can be auto, WKT, EPSG, PROJ. This option should be used together with --source-crs-field-name.

STANDARD OPTIONS

Whether appending features to existing layer(s) is allowed. This also creates the output dataset if it does not exist yet.

Many formats have one or more optional creation options that can be used to control particulars about the file created. For instance, the GeoTIFF driver supports creation options to control compression, and whether the file should be tiled.

May be repeated.

The creation options available vary by format driver, and some simple formats have no creation options at all. A list of options supported for a format can be listed with the --formats command line option but the documentation for the format is the definitive source of information on driver creation options. See Raster drivers format specific documentation for legal creation options for each format.


Many formats have one or more optional layer creation options that can be used to control particulars about the layer created. For instance, the GeoPackage driver supports layer creation options to control the feature identifier or geometry column name, setting the identifier or description, etc.

May be repeated.

The layer creation options available vary by format driver, and some simple formats have no layer creation options at all. A list of options supported for a format can be listed with the --formats command line option but the documentation for the format is the definitive source of information on driver creation options. See Vector drivers format specific documentation for legal creation options for each format.

Note that layer creation options are different from dataset creation options.


Which output vector format to use. Allowed values may be given by gdal --formats | grep vector | grep rw | sort

Provides a name for the output vector layer.

Allow program to overwrite existing target file or dataset. Otherwise, by default, gdal errors out if the target file or dataset already exists.

--overwrite-layer
Whether overwriting the existing output vector layer is allowed.

Whether the output dataset must be opened in update mode. Implies that it already exists.

RETURN STATUS CODE

The program returns status code 0 in case of success, and non-zero in case of error (non-blocking errors emitted as warnings are considered as a successful execution).

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Produce a GeoPackage with a record for every image that the utility found in the doq folder. Each record holds information that points to the location of the image and also a bounding rectangle shape showing the bounds of the image:

gdal raster index doq/*.tif doq_index.gpkg


Example 2

The --dst-crs option can also be used to transform all input raster geometries into the same output projection:

gdal raster index --dst-crs EPSG:4326 --source-crs-field-name=src_srs *.tif tile_index_mixed_crs.gpkg


Example 3: Creates a STAC-GeoParquet compliant index.

gdal raster index --profile STAC-GeoParquet  *.tif index.parquet


AUTHOR

Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>

COPYRIGHT

1998-2026

April 15, 2026