ee.Geometry.LineString.buffer

  • The buffer method returns the input geometry buffered by a given distance, expanding it if the distance is positive and contracting it if negative.

  • This method can be applied to a LineString and returns a Geometry.

  • Key arguments include distance (float), maxError (ErrorMargin), and proj (Projection), which influence the buffering operation and distance interpretation.

  • Examples in both JavaScript and Python demonstrate how to use the buffer method with a LineString and display the results.

 Returns the input buffered by a given distance. If the distance is positive, the geometry is expanded, and if the distance is negative, the geometry is contracted.

UsageReturns
LineString.buffer(distance, maxError, proj)Geometry
ArgumentTypeDetails
this: geometryGeometryThe geometry being buffered.
distanceFloatThe distance of the buffering, which may be negative. If no projection is specified, the unit is meters. Otherwise the unit is in the coordinate system of the projection.
maxErrorErrorMargin, default: nullThe maximum amount of error tolerated when approximating the buffering circle and performing any necessary reprojection. If unspecified, defaults to 1% of the distance.
projProjection, default: nullIf specified, the buffering will be performed in this projection and the distance will be interpreted as units of the coordinate system of this projection. Otherwise the distance is interpereted as meters and the buffering is performed in a spherical coordinate system.

Examples

Code Editor (JavaScript)

// Define a LineString object.
var lineString = ee.Geometry.LineString([[-122.09, 37.42], [-122.08, 37.43]]);

// Apply the buffer method to the LineString object.
var lineStringBuffer = lineString.buffer({'distance': 100});

// Print the result to the console.
print('lineString.buffer(...) =', lineStringBuffer);

// Display relevant geometries on the map.
Map.setCenter(-122.085, 37.422, 15);
Map.addLayer(lineString,
             {'color': 'black'},
             'Geometry [black]: lineString');
Map.addLayer(lineStringBuffer,
             {'color': 'red'},
             'Result [red]: lineString.buffer');

Python setup

See the Python Environment page for information on the Python API and using geemap for interactive development.

import ee
import geemap.core as geemap

Colab (Python)

# Define a LineString object.
linestring = ee.Geometry.LineString([[-122.09, 37.42], [-122.08, 37.43]])

# Apply the buffer method to the LineString object.
linestring_buffer = linestring.buffer(distance=100)

# Print the result.
display('linestring.buffer(...) =', linestring_buffer)

# Display relevant geometries on the map.
m = geemap.Map()
m.set_center(-122.085, 37.422, 15)
m.add_layer(linestring, {'color': 'black'}, 'Geometry [black]: linestring')
m.add_layer(
    linestring_buffer, {'color': 'red'}, 'Result [red]: linestring.buffer'
)
m