Automatic Conversion of Vector maps to Raster maps and GeoTiff images using GRASS

1. Ensure vector maps are in appropriate directory

eg. /tmp/vectors/

2. Ensure that the desired output directory for the GeoTiff file exits

3. Run 'auto_grass_vector_tiff_conversion [<vector dir>][<path/name> (of the GeoTiff output)]

for example

auto_grass_vecotr_tiff_conversion tmp/vectors /users/rsg/chrfi/scratch/tiffs/myGeoTiff

Manual Conversion of Vector maps to Raster maps and GeoTiff images using GRASS

1. Ensure vector maps are in appropriate directory

eg. /tmp/vectors/

2. Check table names present using db.tables

   db.tables driver=ogr database=/tmp/vectors/ 
   
   outputs (table names in specified directory):
   mny98build
   mny98lines
   mny98roade
   mny98water
   

3. For each table, check column names present using db.columns

   db.columns table=mny98build driver=ogr database=/tmp/vectors
   
   outputs (columns in specified table, note duplicate column name):
   FNODE_
   TNODE_
   LPOLY_
   RPOLY_
   LENGTH
   MNY98BUILD
   MNY98BUILD
   

4. Import vector map using v.in.ogr. Note that if your table has duplicate column names as this example, you will need to rename your columns using the cnames option, the first argument to which is always an extra category field. Note also that for vector maps without a specified projection you must use the -o flag to override the projection check

   v.in.ogr -o dsn=/tmp/vectors/ output=mny98build layer=mny98build \
   cnames=CAT,FNODE_,TNODE_,LPOLY_,RPOLY_,LENGTH_,MNY98BUILD,MNY98BUILD2 --overwrite
   

5. Patch imported vector layers together into one map using v.patch

   v.patch input=mny98build,mny98lines,mny98roade,mny98water output=patched_map_name --overwrite
   

6. Convert to raster map using v.to.rast. Note this converts for the current region only at the current resolution, so be sure that region and resolution are set as desired

   v.to.rast input=patched_map_name output=raster_map_name use=val value=100 --overwrite
   

7. Convert to 8-bit GeoTiff using r.out.gdal

   r.out.gdal input=raster_map_name type=Byte output=Geotiff_file_name.tif