Spatial processing and quality checks

Before processing

Open and inspect the data. Confirm the source layer, geometry type, and coordinate system. Prepare polygon data when an operation requires a boundary. A highlighted feature, the current layer, and all loaded layers are different scopes.

Run spatial processing

1. Select the source layer and open the processing menu's spatial-processing dialog.
2. Choose the operation and verify the source layer.
3. Enter a distance in metres for a buffer. Dissolve combines adjacent or overlapping polygons.
4. For clipping, erasing, splitting, and other boundary-based operations, select a polygon feature on the map first. Check the boundary layer and feature shown in the dialog.
5. Start processing, wait for completion, and inspect the new result layer.

Layer processing differs from sketch-based geometry tools in edit mode. These processing operations produce a new layer; export the result to save it as a file.

Check polygon quality

Select a polygon layer and choose an overlap, gap, self-intersection, or spike check from the quality menu. Set thresholds appropriate to the data precision and project requirements; defaults are not acceptance standards.

Locate each reported issue and compare it with source imagery, boundaries, and business rules. Repair controls are in the results panel. Verify the scope and parameters before repair, then run the check again. No reported issues only means the selected checks found none with those parameters.

Inspect the result

Compare extents, feature counts, and attributes before and after processing. Dissolving and similar operations can change counts or attribute ownership. For empty results, check whether the inputs overlap and whether the boundary is correct.