Python Libraries for Geospatial Data
Explore important Python libraries for geospatial data, understanding their roles and how they support GIS tasks. Learn about GeoPandas for vector data, GDAL for data processing, Rasterio and FIONA for raster and vector handling, Shapely for geometry operations, and PyProj for coordinate transformations.
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The Python ecosystem
Anyone familiar with the Python ecosystem knows there are thousands of packages available that cater to virtually any task imaginable. As of March 2023, precisely 436,422 packages were accessible through the PyPI repository. These packages can be installed in the Python environment using popular package managers like PIP or Conda.
The Python ecosystem offers a wealth of tools and libraries for various applications, including data manipulation, visualization, and machine learning, and GIS is no exception. A brief description of the most relevant packages is given below.
Most relevant geospatial packages
For geospatial analysis, here are the most relevant packages that a beginner must be aware of.
GDAL
The Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) is a powerful, open-source geospatial data processing ...