r.random.cells - GRASS GIS manual
Author: GRASS Development Team
Description: r.random.cells: Generates random cell values with spatial dependence.
Keywords: raster, sampling, random, autocorrelation

## NAME

r.random.cells - Generates random cell values with spatial dependence.

## KEYWORDS

raster, sampling, random, autocorrelation

## SYNOPSIS

r.random.cells
r.random.cells --help
r.random.cells output=name distance=float [ncells=integer] [seed=integer] [--overwrite] [--help] [--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]

### Flags:

--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:

output=name [required]
  Name for output raster map
distance=float [required]
  Maximum distance of spatial correlation (value >= 0.0)
ncells=integer
  Maximum number of cells to be created
  Options: 1-
seed=integer
  Random seed, default [random]

## DESCRIPTION

r.random.cells generates a random sets of raster cells that are at least distance apart. The cells are numbered from 1 to the numbers of cells generated, all other cells are NULL (no data). Random cells will not be generated in areas masked off.

### Detailed parameter description

output
  Random cells. Each random cell has a unique non-zero cell value ranging from 1 to the number of cells generated. The heuristic for this algorithm is to randomly pick cells until there are no cells outside of the chosen cell's buffer of radius distance.
distance
  Determines the minimum distance the centers of the random cells will be apart.
seed
  Specifies the random seed that r.random.cells will use to generate the cells. If the random seed is not given, r.random.cells will get a seed from the process ID number.

## NOTES

The original purpose for this program was to generate independent random samples of cells in a study area. The distance value is the amount of spatial autocorrelation for the map being studied.

## EXAMPLES

### Random cells in given distances

North Carolina sample dataset example:

    g.region n=228500 s=215000 w=630000 e=645000 res=100 -p
    r.random.cells output=random_500m distance=500

### Limited number of random points

Here is another example where we will create given number of vector points with the given minimal distances. Let's star with setting the region (we use large cells here):

    g.region raster=elevation
    g.region rows=20 cols=20 -p

Then we generate random cells and we limit their count to 20:

    r.random.cells output=random_cells distance=1500 ncells=20 seed=200

Finally, we convert the raster cells to points using r.to.vect module:

    r.to.vect input=random_cells output=random_points type=point

An example of the result is at the Figure below on the left in comparison with the result without the cell limit on the right.

Additionally, we can use v.perturb module to add random spatial deviation to their position so that they are not perfectly aligned with the grid. We cannot perturb the points too much, otherwise we might seriously break the minimal distance we set earlier.

    v.perturb input=random_points output=random_points_moved parameters=50 seed=200

In the above examples, we were using fixed seed. This is advantageous when we want to generate (pseudo) random data, but we want to get reproducible results at the same time.

Figure: Generated cells with limited number of cells (upper left), derived vector points (lower left), cells without a count limit (upper right) and corresponding vector points (lower right)

## REFERENCES

Random Field Software for GRASS GIS by Chuck Ehlschlaeger

As part of my dissertation, I put together several programs that help GRASS (4.1 and beyond) develop uncertainty models of spatial data. I hope you find it useful and dependable. The following papers might clarify their use:

- Ehlschlaeger, C.R., Shortridge, A.M., Goodchild, M.F., 1997. Visualizing spatial data uncertainty using animation. Computers & Geosciences 23, 387-395. doi:10.1016/S0098-3004(97)00005-8
- Modeling Uncertainty in Elevation Data for Geographical Analysis, by Charles R. Ehlschlaeger, and Ashton M. Shortridge. Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling, Delft, Netherlands, August 1996.
- Dealing with Uncertainty in Categorical Coverage Maps: Defining, Visualizing, and Managing Data Errors, by Charles Ehlschlaeger and Michael Goodchild. Proceedings, Workshop on Geographic Information Systems at the Conference on Information and Knowledge Management, Gaithersburg MD, 1994.
- Uncertainty in Spatial Data: Defining, Visualizing, and Managing Data Errors, by Charles Ehlschlaeger and Michael Goodchild. Proceedings, GIS/LIS'94, pp. 246-253, Phoenix AZ, 1994.

## SEE ALSO

r.random.surface, r.random, v.random, r.to.vect, v.perturb

## AUTHOR

Charles Ehlschlaeger; National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, University of California, Santa Barbara.

## SOURCE CODE

Available at: r.random.cells source code (history)

Accessed: Wednesday Jun 03 04:19:43 2026

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