[GIS] Finding middle point (midpoint) of line in QGIS

Question

How can I locate the coordinates of the middle point (midpoint) of a line feature in QGIS?

Answer 1

Since this question was asked, an interpolate function has been added to PyQGIS on the QgsGeometry object.

Here is a quick example of how to use this in the Python console inside of QGIS (Plugins -> Python Console).

layer = iface.activeLayer() #layer selected in your layers panel
feature = layer.selectedFeatures()[0] #the first feature of selected features
geom = feature.geometry() #QgsGeometry representing your line
length = geom.length() #length of geometry in the layer CRS. If EPSG:4326 this will be degrees
point = geom.interpolate(length/2.0) #QgsGeometry representing the mid point
x = point.geometry().x() #X coordinate in layer CRS
y = point.geometry().y() #Y coordinate in layer CRS

An even easier option...

In the processing toolbox there is a QGIS function under Vector Geometry that is called Interpolate point on line that is most likely using the interpolate function described above.

For your input layer select the line layer you want to find the midpoints

Warning! Make sure you are using a projected coordinate system appropriate for the area where you are finding midpoints. Geographic coordinate systems like EPSG 4326 (WGS 84) are not accurate for measuring distances, and a world wide projected coordinate system like EPSG 3857 (WGS 84 / Pseudo-Mercator) will not be as accurate as a projected coordinate system for a specific region.

For distance, this is the distance to be interpolated along the line by the given units. If you give a distance of 10 and meters is selected, then a point will be created 10 meters along the line for every line in your layer. What we want here is a calculated value, not a static value like 10. To calculate a value for distance, click on the drop down to the far right (shown circled in red below) and select edit...

In the expression box, put in the expression $length / 2.0 This will calculate half the length of the given line feature in the coordinate reference system for that layer (hence the warning above). Select OK.

Run the Interpolate Point on Line function, and it will then create a point layer with a point at the midpoint of every line feature in the selected layer, and each midpoint will have the attributes of the original line feature copied over to it.