Buffer Creation for GIS

Abstract

There is a need for creating buffer facility, which is generally provided in GIS software. This Buffer facility is very important for GIS. It is very useful and essential in decision-making process. Buffers are areas defined by an offset distance from existing geometric sources. The existing geometric source can be any vector feature type: - point, Poly Line or Polygon. Buffers are computed to define a critical area or to indicate proximity or accessibility areas. Buffer can be constructed around a point, Line or area. Buffering creates a new area, enclosing the buffered object. Applications in transportation forestry, resource management are: To find protected zones around lakes and streams & noise pollution around highways, also to find Service zone around bus route & Groundwater pollution around waste side. Buffering is much more difficult from the point of view of the programmer. Problems with buffer operations may occur when buffering very convoluted lines or areas. Buffering is used to identify a zone of interest around an entity, such as point, line, and polygon. In vector coverage buffers can be created around point locations, along the side of the line features or on the inside and/or outside of the polygon features.