r3.in.bin - GRASS manual
Author: GRASS Development Team
Description: r3.in.bin: Imports a binary raster file into a GRASS 3D raster map.
Keywords: raster3d, import, voxel

## NAME

r3.in.bin - Imports a binary raster file into a GRASS 3D raster map.

## KEYWORDS

raster3d, import, voxel

## SYNOPSIS

r3.in.bin
r3.in.bin --help
r3.in.bin [-rdis] input=name output=name bytes=integer [order=string] north=float south=float east=float west=float bottom=float top=float rows=integer cols=integer depths=integer [null=float] [--overwrite] [--help] [--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]

### Flags:

-r
  Switch the row order in output from north->south to south->north
-d
  Switch the depth order in output from bottom->top to top->bottom
-i
  Binary data is of type integer
-s
  Signed data (two's complement)
--overwrite
  Allow output files to overwrite existing files
--help
  Print usage summary
--verbose
  Verbose module output
--quiet
  Quiet module output
--ui
  Force launching GUI dialog

### Parameters:

input=name [required]
  Name of binary 3D raster file to be imported
output=name [required]
  Name for output 3D raster map
bytes=integer [required]
  Number of bytes per cell in binary file
  Options: 1, 2, 4, 8
order=string
  Byte order in binary file
  Options: big, little, native, swap
  Default: native
north=float [required]
  Northern limit of geographic region (outer edge)
south=float [required]
  Southern limit of geographic region (outer edge)
east=float [required]
  Eastern limit of geographic region (outer edge)
west=float [required]
  Western limit of geographic region (outer edge)
bottom=float [required]
  Bottom limit of geographic region (outer edge)
top=float [required]
  Top limit of geographic region (outer edge)
rows=integer [required]
  Number of rows
cols=integer [required]
  Number of columns
depths=integer [required]
  Number of depths
null=float
  Set Value to NULL

## DESCRIPTION

r3.in.bin allows a user to create a GRASS 3D raster map from a variety of binary 3D raster data formats.

The top, bottom, north, south, east, and west field values entered are the coordinates of the edges of the geographic region. The depths, rows and cols field values entered describe the dimensions of the matrix of data to follow. If the bytes field is entered incorrectly an error will be generated suggesting a closer bytes value.

## NOTES

The write order of the rows (north->south to south->north) and the write order of the depths (bottom->top to top->bottom) can be switched.

Have a look at r3.out.ascii to manual page that describes the internal layout of the 3D raster maps and the supported row and depth switch options.

Import of little and big endian byte order as well as signed and unsigned integer data types is supported.

## EXAMPLES

First we create a specific region and a 3D raster map that we will export with r3.out.bin and import again.

    g.region w=0 e=180 s=0 n=90 b=0 t=100 res3=10
    r3.mapcalc expr="test_out_bin_float = float(if(row() == 2, null(), row()))"

    r3.out.bin input=test_out_bin_float byte=4 null=-9999 \
        output=test_out_bin_float_native_b4.bin order=native

    r3.in.bin output=test_in_bin_float byte=4 null=-9999 \
        input=test_out_bin_float_native_b4.bin order=native \
        bottom=0 top=100 west=0 east=180 south=0 north=90 \
        cols=18 rows=9 depths=10

## SEE ALSO

r3.out.bin, r3.in.ascii, r3.out.ascii

## AUTHORS

Soren Gebbert, based on r.in.bin from Jacques Bouchard and Bob Covill

## SOURCE CODE

Available at: r3.in.bin source code (history)

Accessed: Monday May 11 17:54:56 2026

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