---
name: "ogrlineref"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gdal"
version: "3.13.3-6"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ogrlineref"
---

# ogrlineref(1)

Create linear reference and provide some calculations using it.

## NAME

ogrlineref - Create linear reference and provide some calculations using it.

## SYNOPSIS

```
ogrlineref [--help] [--help-general] [-progress] [-quiet]
           [-f <format_name>] [-dsco <NAME>=<VALUE>]... [-lco <NAME>=<VALUE>]...
           [-create]
           [-l <src_line_datasource_name>] [-ln <layer_name>] [-lf <field_name>]
           [-p <src_repers_datasource_name>] [-pn <layer_name>] [-pm <pos_field_name>] [-pf <field_name>]
           [-r <src_parts_datasource_name>] [-rn <layer_name>]
           [-o <dst_datasource_name>] [-on <layer_name>] [-of <field_name>] [-s <step>]
           [-get_pos] [-x <long>] [-y <lat>]
           [-get_coord] [-m <position>]
           [-get_subline] [-mb <position>] [-me <position>]
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **ogrlineref** program can be used to:

- •

  create a linear reference file from input data

- •

  return the "linear referenced" distance for the projection of the input coordinates (point) on the path

- •

  return the coordinates (point) on the path according to the "linear referenced" distance

- •

  return the portion of the path according to the "linear referenced" begin and end distances

The **ogrlineref** utility creates a linear reference - a file containing segments of a certain length (e.g. 1 km in reference units.) The user can get coordinates, linear referenced distances or sublines (subpaths) from this file. The utility does not require the **M** or **Z** components in the geometry. The results can be stored in any OGR supported format. Also some information is written to the stdout.

- **--help**

  Show this help message and exit

- **--help-general**

  Gives a brief usage message for the generic GDAL commandline options and exit.

- **-progress**

  Show progress.

- **-q, --quiet**

  Suppress progress messages and other non-error output.

- **-f \<format\_name\>**

  Select an output format name. The default is to create a shapefile.

- **-dsco \<NAME\>=\<VALUE\>**

  Dataset creation option (format specific)

- **-lco \<NAME\>=\<VALUE\>**

  Layer creation option (format specific).

- **-create**

  Create the linear reference file (linestring of parts).

- **-l \<src\_line\_datasource\_name\>**

  The path to input linestring datasource (e.g. the road)

- **-ln \<layer\_name\>**

  The layer name in datasource

- **-lf \<field\_name\>**

  The field name of unique values to separate the input lines (e.g. the set of roads).

- **-p \<src\_repers\_datasource\_name\>**

  The path to linear references points (e.g. the road mile-stones)

- **-pn \<layer\_name\>**

  The layer name in datasource

- **-pm \<pos\_field\_name\>**

  The field name of distances along path (e.g. mile-stones values)

- **-pf \<field\_name\>**

  The field name of unique values to map input reference points to lines.

- **-r \<src\_parts\_datasource\_name\>**

  The path to linear reference file.

- **-rn \<layer\_name\>**

  The layer name in datasource

- **-o \<dst\_datasource\_name\>**

  The path to output linear reference file (linestring datasource)

- **-on \<layer\_name\>**

  The layer name in datasource

- **-of \<field\_name\>**

  The field name for storing the unique values of input lines

- **-s \<step\>**

  The part size in linear units

- **-get\_pos**

  Return linear referenced position for input X, Y

- **-x \<long\>**

  Input X coordinate

- **-y \<lat\>**

  Input Y coordinate

- **-get\_coord**

  Return point on path for input linear distance

- **-m \<position\>**

  The input linear distance

- **-get\_subline**

  Return the portion of the input path from and to input linear positions.

- **-mb \<position\>**

  The input begin linear distance

- **-me \<position\>**

  The input end linear distance

## RETURN STATUS CODE

The program returns status code 0 in case of success, and non-zero in case of error (non-blocking errors emitted as warnings are considered as a successful execution).

## EXAMPLES

### Example 1

This example would create a shapefile (**parts.shp**) containing a data needed for linear referencing (1 km parts):

```
ogrlineref -create -l roads.shp -p references.shp -pm dist -o parts.shp -s 1000 -progress
```

## AUTHOR

Dmitry Baryshnikov \<polimax@mail.ru\>

## COPYRIGHT

1998-2026