Standard File Formats

Read, write, and get information about data files

Read, write, and get information about geospatial data files. For information about supported file formats, see Supported Geospatial File Formats for Import and Export.

Functions

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Raster Data

Read

`readgeoraster`	Read geospatial raster data file
`worldfileread`	Read world file and return reference object
`imread`	Read image from graphics file

Get Information

`georasterinfo`	Information about geospatial raster data file
`geotiffinfo`	Information about GeoTIFF file
`getworldfilename`	Derive world file name from image file name

Write

`geotiffwrite`	Write GeoTIFF file
`worldfilewrite`	Write world file from raster reference object
`imwrite`	Write image to graphics file
`mbtileswrite`	Write georeferenced image or data grid to MBTiles file (Since R2024b)

Vector Data

Read

`readgeotable`	Read geospatial table from vector data file (Since R2021b)
`gpxread`	Read GPX file
`shaperead`	Read vector features and attributes from shapefile

Get Information

shapeinfo Information about shapefile

Write

`kmlwrite`	Write geographic data to KML file
`kmlwriteline`	Write geographic line data to KML file
`kmlwritepoint`	Write geographic point data to KML file
`kmlwritepolygon`	Write geographic polygon to KML file
`makeattribspec`	Create attribute specification
`shapewrite`	Write geographic vector data structure to shapefile
`makedbfspec`	Create DBF specification

Objects

`RasterInfo`	Information about geospatial raster data file
`RPCCoefficientTag`	Rational Polynomial Coefficients Tag

Topics

Supported File Formats

Supported Geospatial File Formats for Import and Export
File formats that Mapping Toolbox™ can read and write, and recommended functions.
Functions That Read and Write Geospatial Data
Functions that read and write geospatial file formats and geospatial data products.

Raster Data

Merge Multiple Raster Tiles Using Datastore
Merge multiple raster tiles from data sets such as DTED, GTOPO30, or GLOBE DEM by using a custom datastore.
Export Images and Raster Grids to GeoTIFF
Write data referenced to standard geographic and projected coordinate systems to GeoTIFF files.

Vector Data

Read Data from OpenStreetMap Files
OpenStreetMap^® files identify locations using tags. Extract information from OpenStreetMap files based on their tags. (Since R2023b)
Data Stored in OpenStreetMap Layers
This topic describes the data stored in each layer of an OpenStreetMap file. (Since R2023b)
Display Buildings from OpenStreetMap Files
Read buildings from OpenStreetMap files. Visualize the buildings and their attributes using colors and data tips. (Since R2023b)
Select Shapefile Data to Read
Import a subset of elements in a shapefile by filtering elements according to attribute names and values.
Export Vector Geodata
You can export geodata as a shapefile, which can be exchanged between different geographic information systems. You can also create KML files to upload geodata to the web.
Exporting Vector Data to KML
Structure geographic point, line, and polygon vector data and export the data to a KML file.

Featured Examples

Create, Process, and Export Digital Surface Model from Lidar Data

Create a digital surface model (DSM) from aerial lidar data, reference the model to projected coordinates, update the model, and export the result to a GeoTIFF file.

Open Live Script

Visualize Sea Ice Concentrations from GRIB Data

Read sea ice concentrations from a GRIB file and visualize the data using a 2-D map, an animated GIF, and histograms.

Open Live Script