GRASS and GMT
GMT (The Generic Mapping Tools)
GMT (Generic Mapping Tools) is a Free software package for creating publication quality cartography.
GMT homepage: http://gmt.soest.hawaii.edu
Importing from GMT
Raster
Old style binary grd
- Import using r.in.bin with the -h flag.
- Note: (in case you missed it) r.in.bin -h was written to be used with the old style GMT grd format.
New style NetCDF grd
- r.in.gdal should be used for the new NetCDF GMT grd format directly.
- See the GDAL netCDF driver page.
- If you wish to use the r.in.bin -h method with a NetCDF based grd file you will need to reformat the GMT grid into the old format:
grdreformat in.grd out.grd=bf
Vectors
- Newer versions of OGR support GMT vectors for read/write. Import with the v.in.ogr module.
Coloring
Importing CPT color tables
- Import GMT style .cpt color table files with the r.cpt2grass script on the Add-ons page.
- r.cpt2grass - Import GMT color rules
- For a large collection of GMT .cpt files see http://sview01.wiredworkplace.net/pub/cpt-city/
Exporting GRASS maps to GMT
(Supplied by the GRASS Users Group of Davis, California)
Currently there are several *.out.GMT permutations on the Add-ons page, in several different languages (bash, python, etc.), and each of which with relative pros/cons. An effort to unify these approaches would save much of the current difficulties in moving complex raster+vector data into a GMT-friendly format. A simple road map toward this goal is outlined below.
- v.out.gmt - Vector export for GMT (rewrite to use new OGR r/w support?)
- r.out.gmt - Raster export for GMT
- r.out.gmt2 - Raster export for GMT
Raster
- Conversion of GRASS raster data to GMT compatible binary grids
A combination of r.out.bin | xyz2grd can accomplish this. Several attempts at generalizing this procedure have been proposed: r.out.gmt.py, r.out.gmt (Hamish and Dylan), r.out.gmt.sh (Dylan, based Hamish's work).
Vector
- Conversion of GRASS vector data to GMT compatible ascii files
There is currently an effort (with some funding!), see some of the chatter on the GRASS and GMT mailing lists: GRASS-list GMT-help
- OGR now supports GMT vector (multiline) output, so it is easy to convert data to GMT format for plotting. Use the v.out.ogr module.
Coloring
- Conversion of GRASS raster color data into GMT compatible CPT files
David Finlayson's r.out.gmt.py does a nice job of this. Once we decide on an optimal language to implement the routines in this may need translation.
Symbology
- Automatic conversion of symbology data stored in a gis.m or QGIS saved state to GMT options
Ideas expressed on various mailing list, haven't seem much since. It should be a relatively simple excercise in XML parsing to convert symbology stored in a QGIS project file into something that GMT can use.
Development plans
- General approach:
Since GMT relies on a sequence of specialized programs to "build-up" a postscript file, some thought must be put into how the conversion should take place. As usual, form should follow function- maximum flexibility, robustness, and accuracy being primary objectives. However, a simple means of creating high quality 2D maps would be a tremendous (I think) addition to the GRASS toolset. Especially since this is something frequently cited by critics. --DylanBeaudette 02:47, 10 December 2006 (CET)
1. should we continue down the well troden path of single-use, highly efficient programs for the various conversion steps: i.e v.out.GMT, r.out.GMT, etc.?
2. should there be a unified approach to the process: something akin to ps.map - GMT.map ?
Tutorials
- Dane DEM uzyskane z radarowej misji promu kosmicznego - SRTM-3: Tutorial in Polish