GRASS Location Wizard

Creating a new location in GRASS

wxGUI Graphical Location Wizard

The location wizard enables to create a new location in a few simple steps. It provides a number of ways to set the map projection: from a geodata file (SHAPE, GeoTIFF etc), using an EPSG code, setting parameters manually, etc.

Here an example:

First screen of the Location wizard which is found in the GRASS GIS Startup window:

GRASS Location Wizard: user choices

The location wizard also helps you select the appropriate geodetic datum and transform parameters for your map projection.:

GRASS Location Wizard: choosing the projection

GRASS Location Wizard: choosing the geodetic datum

GRASS Location Wizard: finishing the creation of the new location

After the location is created successfully, the GRASS GIS session is started. If you generated the new location from a geocoded raster (e.g., GeoTIFF) or vector file (e.g. SHAPE), you are asked if you want to import the map. Doing so, the default region extent is set automatically and the map is imported.

Import raster data

From the main GRASS GIS menu, go to "File" --> "Import raster data" for easy raster map import.

For example, to import multiple GeoTIFF files, run:

Bulk import of GeoTIFF via menu

Bulk import of GeoTIFF via menu (files are auto-selected)

Import vector data

From the main GRASS GIS menu, go to "File" --> "Import vector data" for easy vector map import.

Bulk import of vector files via menu

Bulk import of multiple SHAPES via menu (files are auto-selected)

The usage is similar to that of raster data (see above).

GRASS GIS 6: Text based location wizard

When starting GRASS GIS 6 in text mode, you can also create a new location within the terminal console.

                            GRASS 6.4.3

DATABASE: A directory (folder) on disk to contain all GRASS maps and data.

LOCATION: This is the name of a geographic location. It is defined by a
          co-ordinate system and a rectangular boundary.

MAPSET:   Each GRASS session runs under a particular MAPSET. This consists of
          a rectangular REGION and a set of maps. Every LOCATION contains at
          least a MAPSET called PERMANENT, which is readable by all sessions.

         The REGION defaults to the entire area of the chosen LOCATION.
         You may change it later with the command: g.region
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LOCATION:   newLocation______________  (enter list for a list of locations)
MAPSET:     PERMANENT________________  (or mapsets within a location)

DATABASE: /home/user/grassdata______________________________________________

           AFTER COMPLETING ALL ANSWERS, HIT <ESC><ENTER> TO CONTINUE
                            (OR <Ctrl-C> TO CANCEL)

In the startup text screen enter a new location name, and then continue by pressing "ESC"-"RETURN" - i.e. press (NOT hold) the ESC key, and then press the RETURN key on your keyboard.

The you will be asked "Would you like to create location <newLocation> ? (y/n) [y]": confirm with the RETURN key on your keyboard. Now you reach:

To create a new LOCATION, you will need the following information:

1. The coordinate system for the database
        x,y (for imagery and other unreferenced data)
        Latitude-Longitude
        UTM
        Other Projection
2. The zone for the UTM database
   and all the necessary parameters for projections other than
   Latitude-Longitude, x,y, and UTM
3. The coordinates of the area to become the default region
   and the grid resolution of this region
4. A short, one-line description or title for the location

Do you have all this information? (y/n) [y] 

Confirm with the RETURN key on your keyboard.

Please specify the coordinate system for location <dewLocation>

A   x,y
B   Latitude-Longitude
C   UTM
D   Other Projection
RETURN to cancel

>

Next you will need to assign parameters to the location such as the coordinate system and datum you want to use, the project area's boundary coordinates, and the default resolution for raster data:

• Start by chosing between, X,Y, Latitude-Longitude, UTM, or "other" coordinate system. This choice depends on your data and the use you will make of it;
• You are then prompted for a single line of text describing the project area, for example "Topo Map of the Alps".

Next you are requested for some more information about the projection. Note that the prompts vary from projection to projection, an example follows:

• (if you chose "D - Other Projection") "specify projection name": "list" gives you the list of all available projections, examples are "tmerc" for Transverse Mercator, "lcc" for Lambert Conformal Conic, "moll" for Mollweide, etc.;
• specify datum name: again use "list" to get a list of available datums, examples are "wgs84", "nad27", "eur79", etc.;
• Enter Central Parallel: 0 if you want the Equator as the central parallel;
• Enter Central Meridian: 0 if you want the Greenwich meridian as central meridian;
• Enter Scale Factor at the Central Meridian;
• Enter plural form of map units: for example, meters .

The next step is the description of the project area's boundary coordinates and the definition of the default raster resolution:

The default raster resolution (GRID RESOLUTION) has to be chosen according to your needs. Generally, it is advisable to work in steps of 0.25 (0.25, 0.5, 1.75, 2.00, 12.25 etc.). This resolution does not concern vector and site data since these are stored with their exact coordinate values. Note that every raster map may have its own resolution. You can leave this screen with "ESC"-"RETURN" and then if everything is correct accept the list of parameters that appears.

You will then be back to the startup screen to enter the mapset's name (if not already entered). Another "ESC"-"RETURN" will finally let you leave this screen. This mapset is created within the new location by answering "yes" to the next question. The mapset will use the parameters of the location (such as the region and resolution definitions) as its default parameters.

Now the project area, i.e. the location including a mapset, has been created. You have "arrived" in the GRASS GIS system and can start working within this new location.

GRASS GIS 7: Creating locations from command line

You can create a new location from a raster or vector file or EPSG code:

# create new location from raster map (file must have metadata):
grass70 -c myraster.tif /home/user/grassdata/mynewlocation

# create new location from vector map (file must have metadata):
grass70 -c myvector.shp /home/user/grassdata/mynewlocation

# create new location from EPSG code:
grass70 -c epsg:31370 /home/user/grassdata/mynewlocation

You can use the -c flag to create a new mapset within an existing location:

# create new mapset in an existing location:
grass70 -c /home/user/grassdata/nc_spm_08_grass7/mynewmapset

Using the planetary ellipsoid tables

GRASS 7 and its wxGUI location wizard have ellipsoid tables and support for the planetary bodies (hence, planets other than Earth) in our solar system.

TODO: add here where to find it :-)

Support for Milky Way and Galaxy coordinate systems

Depending on your reference frame, simple XY and lat/lon+spheroid locations can set up arbitrary Cartesian or polar coordinate systems as you like.

See also

• EPSG.io: http://epsg.io/
• EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset (Official database of EPSG codes): http://www.epsg-registry.org/
• Spatial Reference (Database of official and unofficial EPSG codes): http://spatialreference.org/
• How geodetic datum selection works in GDAL/OGR and PROJ4