CLI GuideChannel: csvgeojson

CSV to GeoJSON Converter

Guidelines and commands for translating coordinate-rich CSV sheets to GeoJSON.

CSV files lack intrinsic spatial structures. To perform a robust translation, you must declare columns containing Latitude/Longitude or X/Y parameters. Direct conversions can fail without configuration, so using explicit parameters is recommended.

Indirect Mapping Execution Required

Because database connection attributes or local attributes parsing is required, direct web streams are disabled. Use the GDAL CLI script below for precise terminal conversions.

Specification Rules

  • Map business location spreadsheets onto custom web interfaces
  • Convert CSV address listings into interactive geo coordinates
  • Prepare spatial CSV exports for desktop mapping tools
  • Columns must be clearly defined (e.g., Latitude, Longitude)
  • Cannot generate polygon records from standard tabular files
  • Subject to string encoding mismatches on special characters

GDAL Direct Equivalent Terminal Command

sh console shell
$ogr2ogr -f GeoJSON output.geojson input.csv -oo X_POSSIBLE_NAMES=lon* -oo Y_POSSIBLE_NAMES=lat* -a_srs EPSG:4326

Frequently Asked Queries

How does GDAL detect spatial columns in a CSV?

GDAL references system column configurations using standard flags like 'X_POSSIBLE_NAMES' and 'Y_POSSIBLE_NAMES' to auto-locate latitude/longitude attributes.

Can I represent complex polygons inside a CSV?

Yes, but only if the spreadsheet contains geometry columns formatted in WKT (Well-Known Text). Otherwise, only point vector coordinates can be parsed.

What is the best coordinate system for CSV exports?

Standard WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) coordinate values are widely supported and prevent reprojection errors.

Related Transformations Map