# Coverages

These functions operate on sets of polygonal geometry that form "implicit coverages". To form a valid coverage polygons must not overlap, and the vertices of adjacent edges must match exactly. Coverages are fast to process, and can be operated on with window functions, which retain the coverage topology inside the window partition while altering the edges.

ST_CoverageInvalidEdges Window function that finds locations where polygons fail to form a valid coverage.
geometry `ST_CoverageInvalidEdges` geometry winset geom float8 tolerance = 0

### Description

A window function which checks if the polygons in the window partition form a valid polygonal coverage. It returns linear indicators showing the location of invalid edges (if any) in each polygon.

A set of valid polygons is a valid coverage if the following conditions hold:

- Non-overlapping - polygons do not overlap (their interiors do not intersect)

- Edge-Matched - vertices along shared edges are identical

As a window function a value is returned for every input polygon. For polygons which violate one or more of the validity conditions the return value is a MULTILINESTRING containing the problematic edges. Coverage-valid polygons return the value NULL. Non-polygonal or empty geometries also produce NULL values.

The conditions allow a valid coverage to contain holes (gaps between polygons), as long as the surrounding polygons are edge-matched. However, very narrow gaps are often undesirable. If the tolerance parameter is specified with a non-zero distance, edges forming narrower gaps will also be returned as invalid.

The polygons being checked for coverage validity must also be valid geometries. This can be checked with .

Availability: 3.4.0

Requires GEOS >= 3.12.0

### Examples

Invalid edges caused by overlap and non-matching vertices

    WITH coverage(id, geom) AS (VALUES
      (1, 'POLYGON ((10 190, 30 160, 40 110, 100 70, 120 10, 10 10, 10 190))'::geometry),
      (2, 'POLYGON ((100 190, 10 190, 30 160, 40 110, 50 80, 74 110.5, 100 130, 140 120, 140 160, 100 190))'::geometry),
      (3, 'POLYGON ((140 190, 190 190, 190 80, 140 80, 140 190))'::geometry),
      (4, 'POLYGON ((180 40, 120 10, 100 70, 140 80, 190 80, 180 40))'::geometry)
    )
    SELECT id, ST_AsText(ST_CoverageInvalidEdges(geom) OVER ())
      FROM coverage;

     id |               st_astext
    ----+---------------------------------------
      1 | LINESTRING (40 110, 100 70)
      2 | MULTILINESTRING ((100 130, 140 120, 140 160, 100 190), (40 110, 50 80, 74 110.5))
      3 | LINESTRING (140 80, 140 190)
      4 | null

    -- Test entire table for coverage validity
    SELECT true = ALL (
        SELECT ST_CoverageInvalidEdges(geom) OVER () IS NULL
        FROM coverage
        );

### See Also

, ,

ST_CoverageSimplify Window function that simplifies the edges of a polygonal coverage.
geometry `ST_CoverageSimplify` geometry winset geom float8 tolerance boolean simplifyBoundary = true

### Description

A window function which simplifies the edges of polygons in a polygonal coverage. The simplification preserves the coverage topology. This means the simplified output polygons are consistent along shared edges, and still form a valid coverage.

The simplification uses a variant of the Visvalingam–Whyatt algorithm. The tolerance parameter has units of distance, and is roughly equal to the square root of triangular areas to be simplified.

To simplify only the "internal" edges of the coverage (those that are shared by two polygons) set the simplifyBoundary parameter to false.

If the input is not a valid coverage there may be unexpected artifacts in the output (such as boundary intersections, or separated boundaries which appeared to be shared). Use to determine if a coverage is valid.

Availability: 3.4.0

Requires GEOS >= 3.12.0

### Examples

Input coverage | Simplified coverage

    WITH coverage(id, geom) AS (VALUES
      (1, 'POLYGON ((160 150, 110 130, 90 100, 90 70, 60 60, 50 10, 30 30, 40 50, 25 40, 10 60, 30 100, 30 120, 20 170, 60 180, 90 190, 130 180, 130 160, 160 150), (40 160, 50 140, 66 125, 60 100, 80 140, 90 170, 60 160, 40 160))'::geometry),
      (2, 'POLYGON ((40 160, 60 160, 90 170, 80 140, 60 100, 66 125, 50 140, 40 160))'::geometry),
      (3, 'POLYGON ((110 130, 160 50, 140 50, 120 33, 90 30, 50 10, 60 60, 90 70, 90 100, 110 130))'::geometry),
      (4, 'POLYGON ((160 150, 150 120, 160 90, 160 50, 110 130, 160 150))'::geometry)
    )
    SELECT id, ST_AsText(ST_CoverageSimplify(geom, 30) OVER ())
      FROM coverage;

     id |               st_astext
    ----+---------------------------------------
      1 | POLYGON ((160 150, 110 130, 50 10, 10 60, 20 170, 90 190, 160 150), (40 160, 66 125, 90 170, 40 160))
      2 | POLYGON ((40 160, 66 125, 90 170, 40 160))
      3 | POLYGON ((110 130, 160 50, 50 10, 110 130))
      4 | POLYGON ((160 150, 160 50, 110 130, 160 150))

### See Also

ST_CoverageUnion Computes the union of a set of polygons forming a coverage by removing shared edges.
geometry `ST_CoverageUnion` geometry set geom

### Description

An aggregate function which unions a set of polygons forming a polygonal coverage. The result is a polygonal geometry covering the same area as the coverage. This function produces the same result as , but uses the coverage structure to compute the union much faster.

If the input is not a valid coverage there may be unexpected artifacts in the output (such as unmerged or overlapping polygons). Use to determine if a coverage is valid.

Availability: 3.4.0 - requires GEOS >= 3.8.0

### Examples

Input coverage | Union result

    WITH coverage(id, geom) AS (VALUES
      (1, 'POLYGON ((10 10, 10 150, 80 190, 110 150, 90 110, 40 110, 50 60, 10 10))'::geometry),
      (2, 'POLYGON ((120 10, 10 10, 50 60, 100 70, 120 10))'::geometry),
      (3, 'POLYGON ((140 80, 120 10, 100 70, 40 110, 90 110, 110 150, 140 80))'::geometry),
      (4, 'POLYGON ((140 190, 120 170, 140 130, 160 150, 140 190))'::geometry),
      (5, 'POLYGON ((180 160, 170 140, 140 130, 160 150, 140 190, 180 160))'::geometry)
    )
    SELECT ST_AsText(ST_CoverageUnion(geom))
      FROM coverage;

    --------------------------------------
    MULTIPOLYGON (((10 150, 80 190, 110 150, 140 80, 120 10, 10 10, 10 150), (50 60, 100 70, 40 110, 50 60)), ((120 170, 140 190, 180 160, 170 140, 140 130, 120 170)))

### See Also

,