GDAL

Software Overview

GDAL (Geospatial Data Abstraction Library) is an open source translator library for raster geospatial data formats. It is available only as downloadable source code, but several different efforts provide ready-to-use executables for download.

The GDAL library supports many popular raster geospatial data formats, such as NASA ELAS, ERMapper, Intergraph Raster, SGI Image, NITF, and Idrisi Raster. The GDAL open source license allows you to do whatever you want to the source code, including modifying and redistributing the code as your own. GDAL is used by many geospatial programs, such as ArcGIS, Geoconcept, Vectorworks, and Google Earth, to read and write GIS formats. These programs use the different formatted data to create maps, charts, and 3D models of the earth’s surface.

GDAL is a robust library that allows you to modify and redistribute its source code however you wish. You can also download ready-to-use executables of GDAL provided by third-party developers instead of building directly from source code. If you have used a GIS tool before, you’ve most likely already experienced the helpful capabilities of the GDAL library.

Primary File Type

.ADFESRI ArcInfo Binary Grid Format

Supported File Types

Additional Related File Types