Extract Image GPS Tags

Author: J.Spitzmüller © 2025
Menu: File | Grid | Import

Description

This tool extracts EXIF GPS tags from image files and creates corresponding point features using the Exiv2 library. One can either select individual files or let the tool recursively search entire directories for supported image formats. The output features can be assigned a target coordinate system, and the tool will reproject the GPS coordinates accordingly. The default projection is WGS84. The original GPS values are also preserved for reference.

The following GPS informations are currently extracted if available:

Latitude
Longitude
Altitude
Direction
Compass method (Magnetic or True North)
Dilution of Precision (DOP)

This tool can also add the point features to a new or the currently active map and will display the corresponding images next to each point. To modify the display settings, go to Settings > Display > Image Field.

The image and all extracted information are also displayed in the Information tab of the Properties window (last tab) for the current selection. The Feature Descriptions can be saved as .html-Files to the file system either next to the images or in a specified directory. The corresponding file paths are stored in the attribute table. To recreate this behavior, select the field under Settings > General > Feature Description.

Exiv2 version is 0.28.5

References

Exiv2 C++ metadata library

Parameters

	Name	Type	Identifier	Description	Constraints
Output	Shape	shapes, output	`SHAPES`	Shape	-
Options	Coordinate System Definition	text [CMD]	`CRS_STRING`	Supported formats comprise PROJ and WKT strings, object codes (e.g. "EPSG:4326").	-
	Select From	choice	`SOURCE`	-	Available Choices: [0] Files [1] Directory Default: 0
	Set Image Files	file path	`FILES`	-	-
	Set Image Directory	file path	`DIRECTORY`	-	-
	Recursive	boolean	`RECURSIVE`	-	Default: 0
	HTML Description	choice	`HTML_INFO`	Choose if and where to create additional feature description to be shown for selected features in the 'Information' tab.	Available Choices: [0] do not create [1] create HTML file in the image's directory [2] create HTML file in the selected directory [3] create as attribute field Default: 3
	Directory	file path	`HTML_DIRECTORY`	-	-
	Add to Map	choice [GUI]	`ADD`	-	Available Choices: [0] Don't Add [1] Add to New Map [2] Add to Active Map Default: 1
	Set Image Field	boolean [GUI]	`IMAGE_FIELD`	-	Default: 0

Command Line


Usage: saga_cmd io_grid_image 5 [-SHAPES ] [-CRS_STRING ] [-SOURCE ] [-FILES ] [-DIRECTORY ] [-RECURSIVE ] [-HTML_INFO ] [-HTML_DIRECTORY ]
  -SHAPES:           Shape
	shapes, output
  -CRS_STRING:       Coordinate System Definition
	text
[CMD]
  -SOURCE:           Select From
	choice
	Available Choices:
	[0] Files
	[1] Directory
	Default: 0
  -FILES:            Set Image Files
	file path
  -DIRECTORY:        Set Image Directory
	file path
  -RECURSIVE:        Recursive
	boolean
	Default: 0
  -HTML_INFO:        HTML Description
	choice
	Available Choices:
	[0] do not create
	[1] create HTML file in the image's directory
	[2] create HTML file in the selected directory
	[3] create as attribute field
	Default: 3
  -HTML_DIRECTORY:   Directory
	file path