ST_BuildArea
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Name

ST_BuildArea — Creates a polygonal geometry formed by the linework of a geometry.

Synopsis

geometry ST_BuildArea(geometry geom);

Description

Creates an areal geometry formed by the constituent linework of the input geometry. The input can be a LineString, MultiLineString, Polygon, MultiPolygon or a GeometryCollection. The result is a Polygon or MultiPolygon, depending on input. If the input linework does not form polygons, NULL is returned.

Unlike ST_MakePolygon, this function accepts rings formed by multiple lines, and can form any number of polygons.

This function converts inner rings into holes. To turn inner rings into polygons as well, use ST_Polygonize.

[Note]

Input linework must be correctly noded for this function to work properly. ST_Node can be used to node lines.

If the input linework crosses, this function will produce invalid polygons. ST_MakeValid can be used to ensure the output is valid.

Availability: 1.1.0

Examples

Building an area from five input lines.

Code
WITH data(geom) AS (VALUES
   ('LINESTRING (180 40,30 20,20 90)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING (180 40,160 160)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING (160 160,80 190,80 120,20 90)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING (80 60,120 130,150 80)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING (80 60,150 80)'::geometry)
)
SELECT ST_BuildArea(ST_Collect(geom )) AS wkt
    FROM data;
Output
POLYGON((180 40,30 20,20 90,80 120,80 190,160 160,180 40),(150 80,120 130,80 60,150 80))
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-buildarea-01

Create a donut from two circular polygons.

Code
WITH input AS (
  SELECT 'POINT(100 90)'::geometry AS geom
),
rings AS (
  SELECT ST_Buffer(geom, 25, 'quad_segs=1') AS inring,
         ST_Buffer(geom, 50, 'quad_segs=1') AS outring
  FROM input
)
SELECT inring AS inner_ring,
       outring AS outer_ring,
       ST_BuildArea(ST_Collect(inring, outring)) AS area
FROM rings;
Output
-[ RECORD 1 ]-----
inner_ring | POLYGON((125 90,100 65,75 90,100 115,125 90))
outer_ring | POLYGON((150 90,100 40,50 90,100 140,150 90))
area       | POLYGON((150 90,100 40,50 90,100 140,150 90),(125 90,100 115,75 90,100 65,125 90))
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-buildarea-02

Input linework that crosses at non-endpoint intersections must be noded before building areas:

Code
WITH lines(geom) AS (VALUES
  ('LINESTRING(36 35,45 307)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING(30 290,390 280)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING(320 60,300 310)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING(20 60,320 60)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING(120 140,168 225)'::geometry),
  ('LINESTRING(140 220,220 150,120 170)'::geometry)
),
noded AS (
  SELECT ST_Node(ST_UnaryUnion(ST_Collect(geom))) AS geom FROM lines
)
SELECT ST_BuildArea(geom) AS area
FROM noded;
Output
POLYGON((320 60,36.8 60,44.4 289.6,302.2 282.4,320 60),(156.9 205.3,135.2 167,220 150,156.9 205.3))
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-buildarea-03

See Also

ST_Collect, ST_MakePolygon, ST_MakeValid, ST_Node, ST_Polygonize, ST_BdPolyFromText, ST_BdMPolyFromText (wrappers to this function with standard OGC interface)