diff --git a/src/plugins/runner/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/runner/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/plugins/runner/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/runner/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -38,3 +38,11 @@
 if( LIBSHP_FOUND )
   add_subdirectory( shp )
 endif( LIBSHP_FOUND )
+
+macro_optional_find_package( GDAL 2.0.0 )
+marble_set_package_properties( GDAL PROPERTIES DESCRIPTION "Geospatial Data Abstration Library" )
+marble_set_package_properties( GDAL PROPERTIES URL "http://www.gdal.org/" )
+marble_set_package_properties( GDAL PROPERTIES TYPE OPTIONAL PURPOSE "reading datasets supported by the GDAL library" )
+if( GDAL_FOUND )
+  add_subdirectory( gdal )
+endif( GDAL_FOUND )
diff --git a/src/plugins/runner/gdal/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+PROJECT( GdalPlugin )
+
+INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(
+ ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}
+ ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}
+ ${QT_INCLUDE_DIR}
+ ${GDAL_INCLUDE_DIR}
+)
+
+set( gdal_SRCS GdalPlugin.cpp GdalRunner.cpp )
+
+set( GdalPlugin_LIBS ${GDAL_LIBRARY} )
+
+add_compile_options(-Wno-switch)
+
+marble_add_plugin( GdalPlugin ${gdal_SRCS} )
diff --git a/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalPlugin.h b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalPlugin.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalPlugin.h
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+//
+// This file is part of the Marble Virtual Globe.
+//
+// This program is free software licensed under the GNU LGPL. You can
+// find a copy of this license in LICENSE.txt in the top directory of
+// the source code.
+//
+// Copyright 2016 Chris Hills <chaz@chaz6.com>
+
+#ifndef MARBLEGDALPLUGIN_H
+#define MARBLEGDALPLUGIN_H
+
+#include "ParseRunnerPlugin.h"
+
+namespace Marble
+{
+
+class GdalPlugin : public ParseRunnerPlugin
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA( IID "org.kde.edu.marble.GdalPlugin" )
+    Q_INTERFACES( Marble::ParseRunnerPlugin )
+
+public:
+    explicit GdalPlugin( QObject *parent = 0 );
+
+    QString name() const;
+
+    QString nameId() const;
+
+    QString version() const;
+
+    QString description() const;
+
+    QString copyrightYears() const;
+
+    QList<PluginAuthor> pluginAuthors() const;
+
+    QString fileFormatDescription() const;
+
+    QStringList fileExtensions() const;
+
+    virtual ParsingRunner* newRunner() const;
+};
+
+}
+#endif // MARBLEGDALPLUGIN_H
diff --git a/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalPlugin.cpp b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalPlugin.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalPlugin.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+//
+// This file is part of the Marble Virtual Globe.
+//
+// This program is free software licensed under the GNU LGPL. You can
+// find a copy of this license in LICENSE.txt in the top directory of
+// the source code.
+//
+// Copyright 2016 Chris Hills <chaz@chaz6.com>
+
+#include "GdalPlugin.h"
+#include "GdalRunner.h"
+
+#include <gdal_priv.h>
+
+namespace Marble
+{
+
+GdalPlugin::GdalPlugin( QObject *parent ) :
+    ParseRunnerPlugin( parent )
+{
+    GDALAllRegister();
+}
+
+QString GdalPlugin::name() const
+{
+    return tr( "GDAL Import Plugin" );
+}
+
+QString GdalPlugin::nameId() const
+{
+    return "GDAL";
+}
+
+QString GdalPlugin::version() const
+{
+    return "1.0";
+}
+
+QString GdalPlugin::description() const
+{
+    return tr( "Create GeoDataDocument using GDAL" );
+}
+
+QString GdalPlugin::copyrightYears() const
+{
+    return "2016";
+}
+
+QList<PluginAuthor> GdalPlugin::pluginAuthors() const
+{
+    return QList<PluginAuthor>()
+            << PluginAuthor( "Chris Hills", "chaz@chaz6.com" );
+}
+
+QString GdalPlugin::fileFormatDescription() const
+{
+    return tr( "GDAL supported files" );
+}
+
+QStringList GdalPlugin::fileExtensions() const
+{
+    QStringList qslExtensions;
+    for ( int i=0; i<GetGDALDriverManager()->GetDriverCount(); ++i ){
+        GDALDriver* gDriver = GetGDALDriverManager()->GetDriver( i );
+        if ( gDriver->GetMetadataItem( GDAL_DCAP_VECTOR, NULL ) ) {
+            QString extension( gDriver->GetMetadataItem( GDAL_DMD_EXTENSIONS, NULL ) );
+            if ( extension.size() > 2 ) {
+                qslExtensions << extension.split(' ');
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    qslExtensions.sort();
+    return qslExtensions;
+}
+
+ParsingRunner* GdalPlugin::newRunner() const
+{
+    return new GdalRunner;
+}
+
+}
+
+Q_EXPORT_PLUGIN2( GdalPlugin, Marble::GdalPlugin )
+
+#include "moc_GdalPlugin.cpp"
diff --git a/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalRunner.h b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalRunner.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalRunner.h
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+//
+// This file is part of the Marble Virtual Globe.
+//
+// This program is free software licensed under the GNU LGPL. You can
+// find a copy of this license in LICENSE.txt in the top directory of
+// the source code.
+//
+// Copyright 2016 Chris Hills <chaz@chaz6.com>
+
+#ifndef MARBLEGDALRUNNER_H
+#define MARBLEGDALRUNNER_H
+
+#include "ParsingRunner.h"
+
+namespace Marble
+{
+
+class GdalRunner : public ParsingRunner
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit GdalRunner(QObject *parent = 0);
+    ~GdalRunner();
+    GeoDataDocument* parseFile( const QString &fileName, DocumentRole role, QString& error );
+};
+
+}
+#endif // MARBLEGDALRUNNER_H
diff --git a/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalRunner.cpp b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalRunner.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/runner/gdal/GdalRunner.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+//
+// This file is part of the Marble Virtual Globe.
+//
+// This program is free software licensed under the GNU LGPL. You can
+// find a copy of this license in LICENSE.txt in the top directory of
+// the source code.
+//
+// Copyright 2016 Chris Hills <chaz@chaz6.com>
+
+#include "GdalRunner.h"
+
+#include "GeoDataDocument.h"
+#include "GeoDataPlacemark.h"
+#include "GeoDataPolygon.h"
+#include "GeoDataSchema.h"
+#include "GeoDataSimpleField.h"
+#include "GeoDataStyle.h"
+#include "GeoDataPolyStyle.h"
+#include "MarbleDebug.h"
+
+#include <QtCore/QFileInfo>
+
+#include <gdal_priv.h>
+#include <ogrsf_frmts.h>
+
+namespace Marble
+{
+
+GdalRunner::GdalRunner(QObject *parent) :
+    ParsingRunner(parent)
+{
+}
+
+GdalRunner::~GdalRunner()
+{
+}
+
+GeoDataDocument *GdalRunner::parseFile( const QString &fileName, DocumentRole role, QString &error )
+{
+
+    GDALDataset *gDataset;
+    gDataset = static_cast<GDALDataset*>( GDALOpenEx( fileName.toStdString().c_str(), GDAL_OF_VECTOR, NULL, NULL, NULL ) );
+
+    if ( gDataset == NULL ) {
+        error = QString("Failed to read %1").arg(fileName);
+        mDebug() << error;
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    if ( gDataset->GetLayerCount() < 1 ) {
+        mDebug() << "No layers found!";
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    GeoDataDocument *document = new GeoDataDocument;
+    document->setDocumentRole( role );
+
+    OGRLayer *gLayer;
+    gLayer = gDataset->GetLayer(0); // TODO: support for multiple layers
+
+    OGRFeature *gFeature;
+    gLayer->ResetReading();
+    while( ( gFeature = gLayer->GetNextFeature() ) != NULL ) {
+        OGRGeometry *gGeometry;
+        gGeometry = gFeature->GetGeometryRef();
+        if( gGeometry != NULL ) {
+            GeoDataPlacemark  *placemark = 0;
+            placemark = new GeoDataPlacemark;
+ 
+            switch( gGeometry->getGeometryType() ) {
+                case wkbPoint: {
+                    OGRPoint *gPoint = static_cast<OGRPoint*>( gGeometry );
+                    GeoDataPoint *point = new GeoDataPoint( gPoint->getX(), gPoint->getY(), 0, GeoDataCoordinates::Degree );
+                    document->append( placemark );
+                    placemark->setGeometry( point );
+                    mDebug() << "point " << placemark->name();
+                    break;
+                }
+                case wkbLineString: {
+                    OGRLineString *gLineString = static_cast<OGRLineString*>( gGeometry );
+                    GeoDataLineString *line = new GeoDataLineString;
+                    OGRPoint p;
+
+                    for( int j=0; j<gLineString->getNumPoints(); ++j ) {
+                        gLineString->getPoint( j, &p );
+                        line->append( GeoDataCoordinates(
+                                      p.getX(), p.getY(),
+                                      0, GeoDataCoordinates::Degree ) );
+                    }
+ 
+                    document->append( placemark );
+                    placemark->setGeometry( line );
+                    mDebug() << "arc " << placemark->name();
+                    break;
+                }
+                case wkbPolygon: {
+                    OGRPolygon *gPolygon = static_cast<OGRPolygon*>( gGeometry );
+ 
+                    GeoDataPolygon *polygon = new GeoDataPolygon;
+
+                    OGRLinearRing *gLinearRing = gPolygon->getExteriorRing();
+                    GeoDataLinearRing outerRing; 
+
+                    for( int j=0; j<gLinearRing->getNumPoints(); ++j ) {
+                        OGRPoint gPoint;
+                        gLinearRing->getPoint( j, &gPoint );
+                        outerRing.append( GeoDataCoordinates(
+                                      gPoint.getX(), gPoint.getY(),
+                                      0, GeoDataCoordinates::Degree ) );
+                    }
+                    polygon->setOuterBoundary( outerRing );
+ 
+                    for( int j=0; j<gPolygon->getNumInteriorRings(); ++j ) {
+                        GeoDataLinearRing ring;
+                        gLinearRing = gPolygon->getInteriorRing( j );
+                        for( int k=0; k<gLinearRing->getNumPoints(); ++k ) {
+                            OGRPoint gPoint;
+                            gLinearRing->getPoint( k, &gPoint );
+                            ring.append( GeoDataCoordinates(
+                                          gPoint.getX(), gPoint.getY(),
+                                          0, GeoDataCoordinates::Degree ) );
+                        }
+                        polygon->appendInnerBoundary( ring );
+                    }
+ 
+                    placemark->setGeometry( polygon );
+                    document->append( placemark );
+                    mDebug() << "polygon " << placemark->name(); 
+                    break;
+                }
+                case wkbMultiPoint: {
+                    GeoDataMultiGeometry *multigeom = new GeoDataMultiGeometry;
+
+                    OGRMultiPoint *gMultipoint = static_cast<OGRMultiPoint *>( gGeometry );
+                    for (int j=0; j < gMultipoint->getNumGeometries(); ++j ){
+                        OGRPoint *gPoint = static_cast<OGRPoint *>(gMultipoint->getGeometryRef( j ) );
+                        GeoDataPoint *point = new GeoDataPoint( gPoint->getX(), gPoint->getY(), 0, GeoDataCoordinates::Degree );
+                        multigeom->append( point );
+                    }
+
+                    placemark->setGeometry( multigeom );
+                    document->append( placemark );
+                    mDebug() << "multipoint " << placemark->name();
+                    break;
+                }
+                case wkbMultiLineString: {
+                    GeoDataMultiGeometry *multigeom = new GeoDataMultiGeometry;
+                    
+                    OGRMultiLineString *gMultiLineString = static_cast<OGRMultiLineString *>( gGeometry );
+                    for (int j=0; j < gMultiLineString->getNumGeometries(); ++j ){
+                        OGRLineString *gLinestring = static_cast<OGRLineString *>( gMultiLineString->getGeometryRef( j ) );
+                        GeoDataLineString *line = new GeoDataLineString;
+                        
+                        OGRPoint p;
+                        for ( int k=0; k<gLinestring->getNumPoints(); ++k ) {
+                            gLinestring->getPoint( k, &p );
+                            line->append( GeoDataCoordinates( 
+                                          p.getX(), p.getY(),
+                                          0, GeoDataCoordinates::Degree ) );
+                        }
+
+                        multigeom->append( line );
+                    }
+                    placemark->setGeometry( multigeom );
+                    document->append( placemark );
+                    mDebug() << "multilinestring " << placemark->name();
+                    break;
+                }
+                case wkbMultiPolygon: {
+                    GeoDataMultiGeometry *multigeom = new GeoDataMultiGeometry;
+                    
+                    OGRMultiPolygon *gMultiPolygon = static_cast<OGRMultiPolygon *>( gGeometry );
+                    for ( int j=0; j<gMultiPolygon->getNumGeometries(); ++j ){
+                        OGRPolygon *gPolygon = static_cast<OGRPolygon *>( gMultiPolygon->getGeometryRef( j ) );
+                        GeoDataPolygon *polygon = new GeoDataPolygon;
+                        
+                        OGRLinearRing *gLinearRing = gPolygon->getExteriorRing();
+                        GeoDataLinearRing outerRing;
+                        for( int k=0; j<gLinearRing->getNumPoints(); ++k ) {
+                            OGRPoint gPoint;
+                            gLinearRing->getPoint( k, &gPoint );
+                            outerRing.append( GeoDataCoordinates(
+                                          gPoint.getX(), gPoint.getY(),
+                                          0, GeoDataCoordinates::Degree ) );
+                        }
+                        polygon->setOuterBoundary( outerRing );
+
+                        for( int k=0; j<gPolygon->getNumInteriorRings(); ++j ) {
+                            GeoDataLinearRing ring;
+                            gLinearRing = gPolygon->getInteriorRing( k );
+                            for( int l=0; k<gLinearRing->getNumPoints(); ++l ) {
+                                OGRPoint gPoint;
+                                gLinearRing->getPoint( l, &gPoint );
+                                ring.append( GeoDataCoordinates(
+                                             gPoint.getX(), gPoint.getY(),
+                                             0, GeoDataCoordinates::Degree ) );
+                            }
+                            polygon->appendInnerBoundary( ring );
+                        }
+                        multigeom->append( polygon );
+                    }
+
+                    placemark->setGeometry( multigeom );
+                    document->append( placemark );
+                    mDebug() << "polygon " << placemark->name();
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if ( document->size() ) {
+        document->setFileName( fileName );
+        return document;
+    } else {
+        delete document;
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+}
+
+}
+
+#include "moc_GdalRunner.cpp"