Description

Computes the Alpha-Shape of the points in a geometry. An alpha-shape is a (usually) concave polygonal geometry which contains all the vertices of the input, and whose vertices are a subset of the input vertices. An alpha-shape provides a closer fit to the shape of the input than the shape produced by the convex hull.

The "closeness of fit" is controlled by the alpha parameter, which can have values from 0 to infinity. Smaller alpha values produce more concave results. Alpha values greater than some data-dependent value produce the convex hull of the input.

The computed shape does not contain holes unless the optional allow_holes argument is specified as true.

This function effectively computes a concave hull of a geometry in a similar way to ST_ConcaveHull, but uses CGAL and a different algorithm.

Availability: 3.5.0 - requires SFCGAL >= 1.4.1.

This method needs SFCGAL backend.

Examples

SELECT ST_AsText(CG_AlphaShape('MULTIPOINT((63 84),(76 88),(68 73),(53 18),(91 50),(81 70),
        (88 29),(24 82),(32 51),(37 23),(27 54),(84 19),(75 87),(44 42),(77 67),(90 30),(36 61),(32 65),
        (81 47),(88 58),(68 73),(49 95),(81 60),(87 50),
        (78 16),(79 21),(30 22),(78 43),(26 85),(48 34),(35 35),(36 40),(31 79),(83 29),(27 84),(52 98),(72 95),(85 71),
        (75 84),(75 77),(81 29),(77 73),(41 42),(83 72),(23 36),(89 53),(27 57),(57 97),(27 77),(39 88),(60 81),
        (80 72),(54 32),(55 26),(62 22),(70 20),(76 27),(84 35),(87 42),(82 54),(83 64),(69 86),(60 90),(50 86),(43 80),(36 73),
        (36 68),(40 75),(24 67),(23 60),(26 44),(28 33),(40 32),(43 19),(65 16),(73 16),(38 46),(31 59),(34 86),(45 90),(64 97))'::geometry,80.2));

POLYGON((89 53,91 50,87 42,90 30,88 29,84 19,78 16,73 16,65 16,53 18,43 19,
    37 23,30 22,28 33,23 36,26 44,27 54,23 60,24 67,27 77,
    24 82,26 85,34 86,39 88,45 90,49 95,52 98,57 97,
    64 97,72 95,76 88,75 84,83 72,85 71,88 58,89 53))

SELECT ST_AsText(CG_AlphaShape('MULTIPOINT((63 84),(76 88),(68 73),(53 18),(91 50),(81 70),(88 29),(24 82),(32 51),(37 23),(27 54),(84 19),(75 87),(44 42),(77 67),(90 30),(36 61),(32 65),(81 47),(88 58),(68 73),(49 95),(81 60),(87 50),
    (78 16),(79 21),(30 22),(78 43),(26 85),(48 34),(35 35),(36 40),(31 79),(83 29),(27 84),(52 98),(72 95),(85 71),
    (75 84),(75 77),(81 29),(77 73),(41 42),(83 72),(23 36),(89 53),(27 57),(57 97),(27 77),(39 88),(60 81),
    (80 72),(54 32),(55 26),(62 22),(70 20),(76 27),(84 35),(87 42),(82 54),(83 64),(69 86),(60 90),(50 86),(43 80),(36 73),
    (36 68),(40 75),(24 67),(23 60),(26 44),(28 33),(40 32),(43 19),(65 16),(73 16),(38 46),(31 59),(34 86),(45 90),(64 97))'::geometry, 100.1,true))

POLYGON((89 53,91 50,87 42,90 30,84 19,78 16,73 16,65 16,53 18,43 19,30 22,28 33,23 36,
26 44,27 54,23 60,24 67,27 77,24 82,26 85,34 86,39 88,45 90,49 95,52 98,57 97,64 97,72 95,
76 88,75 84,83 72,85 71,88 58,89 53),(36 61,36 68,40 75,43 80,60 81,68 73,77 67,
81 60,82 54,81 47,78 43,76 27,62 22,54 32,44 42,38 46,36 61))

SELECT ST_AsText(CG_AlphaShape(
                'MULTIPOINT ((132 64), (114 64), (99 64), (81 64), (63 64), (57 49), (52 36), (46 20), (37 20), (26 20), (32 36), (39 55), (43 69), (50 84), (57 100), (63 118), (68 133), (74 149), (81 164), (88 180), (101 180), (112 180), (119 164), (126 149), (132 131), (139 113), (143 100), (150 84), (157 69), (163 51), (168 36), (174 20), (163 20), (150 20), (143 36), (139 49), (132 64), (99 151), (92 138), (88 124), (81 109), (74 93), (70 82), (83 82), (99 82), (112 82), (126 82), (121 96), (114 109), (110 122), (103 138), (99 151), (34 27), (43 31), (48 44), (46 58), (52 73), (63 73), (61 84), (72 71), (90 69), (101 76), (123 71), (141 62), (166 27), (150 33), (159 36), (146 44), (154 53), (152 62), (146 73), (134 76), (143 82), (141 91), (130 98), (126 104), (132 113), (128 127), (117 122), (112 133), (119 144), (108 147), (119 153), (110 171), (103 164), (92 171), (86 160), (88 142), (79 140), (72 124), (83 131), (79 118), (68 113), (63 102), (68 93), (35 45))'::geometry,102.2, true));

POLYGON((26 20,32 36,35 45,39 55,43 69,50 84,57 100,63 118,68 133,74 149,81 164,88 180,
            101 180,112 180,119 164,126 149,132 131,139 113,143 100,150 84,157 69,163 51,168 36,
            174 20,163 20,150 20,143 36,139 49,132 64,114 64,99 64,90 69,81 64,63 64,57 49,52 36,46 20,37 20,26 20),
            (74 93,81 109,88 124,92 138,103 138,110 122,114 109,121 96,112 82,99 82,83 82,74 93))

See Also

ST_ConcaveHull, CG_OptimalAlphaShape