sf is an R package that implements “simple features” (standardized vector spatial data) for R. It allows spatial vector data (points, lines, polygons etc.) to be represented as records in data frames (or tibbles) with geometry list columns, and performs spatial operations (geometry operations, coordinate reference system transformations, reading/writing spatial data, integration with spatial databases etc.). It interfaces to GDAL, GEOS, PROJ libraries for robust operations. Reading and writing spatial vector data via many file formats/drivers through GDAL, and spatial databases (PostGIS etc.) Supports all standard simple feature geometry types (points, linestrings, polygons, multi-geometries etc.) in various dimensions (XY, XYZ, XYM, XYZM).

Features

  • Supports all standard simple feature geometry types (points, linestrings, polygons, multi-geometries etc.) in various dimensions (XY, XYZ, XYM, XYZM)
  • Reading and writing spatial vector data via many file formats / drivers through GDAL, and spatial databases (PostGIS etc.)
  • Coordinate reference system (CRS) transformations via PROJ, support for projected and geographic / ellipsoidal coordinate systems
  • Geometric operations: area, intersection, buffer, union, distance etc via GEOS integration
  • Well-designed I/O performance: use of “well-known binary” serialization, list geometry columns, fast I/O, good memory management etc.
  • Extended features via other packages: lwgeom for more advanced PostGIS‐style functions; possible integration with raster / stars for combining vector + raster data etc.

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License

MIT License

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Additional Project Details

Operating Systems

Linux, Mac, Windows

Programming Language

R

Related Categories

R Data Visualization Software

Registered

2025-09-12