QGIS – Fixing Kernel Density Error in QGIS Processing

errorkernel densityqgissaga

I have been getting this error when trying to create kernel density maps using QGIS 2.0.1 and SAGA 2.1.0. It seems to occur only when the extent is large, i.e. the entire state of Texas. If I do it on a smaller region, it works well. This occurs with any combination of settings. I also get the same error any time if I try to do any sort of Kriging, regardless of parameter settings. I have attached the error message I got and the settings I used this go-round. The log file is at the bottom.

Any ideas? I am sure others are experiencing this issue as well. I am on Ubuntu 13.04.

The error message
The settings

Log File
Algorithm Kernel density estimation started
grid_gridding "Kernel Density Estimation" -POINTS "/home/ross/GIS/Ham Radio/NewShapes/txhams.shp" -POPULATION "wgt" -RADIUS 5280 -KERNEL 0 -TARGET 0 -USER_XMIN 343308.727344 -USER_XMAX 4398326.38181 -USER_YMIN 8477265.06341 -USER_YMAX 12335473.6077 -USER_SIZE 100 -USER_GRID "/tmp/processing/USER_GRID.tif.sgrd"
io_gdal 1 -GRIDS "/tmp/processing/USER_GRID.tif.sgrd" -FORMAT 4 -TYPE 0 -FILE "/tmp/processing/52ac69fe3bfe4f939401e6b9a226a791/USER_GRID.tif"
Error: grid: memory allocation failed [1872.40mb]
Error: executing module [Kernel Density Estimation]

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library path: /usr/lib/saga/libgrid_gridding.so
library name: Grid – Gridding
module name : Kernel Density Estimation
author : O.Conrad (c) 2010

Load shapes: /home/ross/GIS/Ham Radio/NewShapes/txhams.shp…

Parameters

Points: txhams
Population: wgt
Radius: 5280.000000
Kernel: quartic kernel
Target Grid: user defined

Inconsistency detected by ld.so: dl-close.c: 759: _dl_close: Assertion `map->l_init_called' failed!
Error: Grid file could not be opened.
Error: executing module [GDAL: Export Raster]

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library path: /usr/lib/saga/libio_gdal.so
library name: Import/Export – GDAL/OGR
module name : GDAL: Export Raster
author : O.Conrad (c) 2007

Load grid: /tmp/processing/USER_GRID.tif.sgrd…
failed
GDAL: Export Raster: could not initialize data objects
Inconsistency detected by ld.so: dl-close.c: 759: _dl_close: Assertion `map->l_init_called' failed!
Converting outputs
Loading resulting layers
Algorithm Kernel density estimation finished

Best Answer

As underdark pointed out, you are running out of RAM. How much RAM do you have? 64 bit system or 32 bit?

SAGA GIS always puts all datafiles completely in memory. This is one of the reasons why it is so fast, but it fails on huge files.

Things you could do to:

  • Increase the grid resolution to eg 200m.
  • You may also try to run the command directly from the command line or saga gui, when qgis is not taking up memory.
  • If you do require full resolution and the above solutions don't work you could try enabling file cache in saga gui (you will have to run through gui, afaik this is not supported in saga_cmd): in the manager window click the data tab and click again on data in the top of the tree. In the settings window you should now find an option "grid file caching". You can enable automatic mode here. Performance may be very poor when doing so. I'd really recommend increasing the grid resolution if that is an option.
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