lijnpad

Lijnpad is a Dutch term used in fields such as geographic information systems (GIS), computer-aided design (CAD), and computer graphics. It refers to a path defined by a sequence of straight line segments that connect a series of points. In many contexts, a lijnpad is treated as a polyline, meaning it is open (not forming a closed loop) unless specified otherwise.

In practice, a lijnpad is represented by an ordered list of vertices and coordinates. These coordinates may be 2D (x, y) or 3D (x, y, z) depending on the coordinate reference system and the application. Common data formats that store lijnpaden include WKT (LINESTRING), GeoJSON (LineString), shapefiles with polyline geometry, and CAD formats such as DXF. In mapping and geometry, a lijnpad can model features such as roads, rivers, trails, or any linear infrastructure.

Key operations on een lijnpad include calculating its length by summing the distances between consecutive vertices, and performing geometric queries such as intersections or proximity tests. Processing tasks often involve simplifying a lijnpad (reducing vertex count while preserving shape), densifying (adding vertices to meet resolution requirements), snapping to a grid or other features, and buffering or offsetting to generate parallel lines. Rendering systems approximate curves or rounded shapes with sequences of straight segments, making lijnpaden a foundational concept in vector graphics and map visualization.

Related concepts include polyline, path, and linestring. In SVG, a polyline element represents a lijnpad as a connected series of straight-line segments, while in GIS a LINESTRING serves a similar role. The term highlights the emphasis on straight-line geometry as opposed to curved paths.