• GeoDataViewer Team
New in GeoDataViewer: Spatial Analysis in Your Browser
Create buffers, calculate area and length, generate centroids, and compare polygon layers with the new local spatial analysis tools in GeoDataViewer Studio.
Blog
Latest news, updates and tutorials from the GeoDataViewer team.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Open KML, KMZ and GeoJSON with Their Original Map Styles
GeoDataViewer Studio now reads colors, line widths, transparency and custom icons from KML, KMZ and GeoJSON. See real screenshots and the supported properties.
• GeoDataViewer Team
What Is an OSM PBF File? OpenStreetMap Binary Format Explained
Learn what an OSM PBF file is, how it compares with OSM XML and GeoJSON, when to use regional extracts, and how to open or convert PBF data online.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Map the Trans-Siberian Railway with Python & Cartopy
Learn how to map the Trans-Siberian Railway and Pan-American Highway with OpenStreetMap, Python, Cartopy, and Matplotlib, including incomplete OSM relations.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Why Use Vector Tiles for Large GIS Data? MVT & PMTiles
Learn why MVT and PMTiles make large GML, Shapefile, GeoJSON, and GeoParquet datasets faster to browse by loading only visible map tiles.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Re:Earth Terrain — Globally Open Terrain Tiles for 3D Globes
Explore Re:Earth Terrain (terrain.reearth.land): a free, open-source terrain tile service that converts DEM elevations to ellipsoid heights for CesiumJS, MapLibre, and any WebGL globe.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Free Health and Education Facility GIS Data Sources
Discover free global health facility and school location datasets including WHO Health Facilities, UNICEF Global Schools Map, HDX health data, and the Malaria Atlas Project.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Free Natural Hazards Data Sources for GIS: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Floods and More
Find free global natural hazards GIS data including USGS earthquakes, GEM faults, flood hazard maps, NASA FIRMS wildfires, and volcano records.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Free Vegetation and Ecosystem GIS Data Sources
Discover free global vegetation and ecosystem datasets including MODIS NDVI/EVI, VIIRS Nightlights, GEDI canopy height, WWF Ecoregions, and the IUCN Ecosystem Typology.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Overture Maps Download — GeoParquet & GeoJSON Guide
Download Overture Maps Foundation data by theme — Places, Buildings, Transportation, Addresses, Base, and Divisions — as GeoParquet or GeoJSON, then inspect it in GIS.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Free Marine and Ocean GIS Data Sources for Coastal and Maritime Mapping
Discover free global marine and ocean GIS datasets including EEZ boundaries, marine protected areas, shipping lanes, sea surface temperature, and mangrove mapping data.
• GeoDataViewer Team
How to Calculate Map Tiles for Your GIS Project
Learn how to calculate map tile counts and storage requirements at different zoom levels using the free Map Tile Calculator tool.
• GeoDataViewer Team
How to Convert Coordinates Between Latitude/Longitude and UTM Online
Learn how to convert coordinates between Decimal Degrees, DMS, UTM, and MGRS formats using the free online GeoDataViewer Coordinate Converter tool.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Complete Guide to Free Building Footprint Data Sources
A comprehensive guide to free global building footprint datasets including Microsoft Building Footprints, Google Open Buildings, Overture Maps, DLR Urban Footprint, and more.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Free Global Energy Infrastructure Data Sources for GIS
Discover free GIS datasets for energy infrastructure including the Global Power Plant Database, oil and gas pipelines, global mines, solar atlas, and wind atlas.
• GeoDataViewer Team
GIS Data Loading: Files, Tiles & PMTiles
Compare GIS data loading from local files to raster tiles, vector tiles, and PMTiles. Choose the right delivery pattern for browser maps and large datasets.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Free Global Air Pollution and Air Quality Data Sources for GIS
Discover free global air quality datasets including PM2.5 surface concentration maps, Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite pollutants, and CAMS atmospheric composition data.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Free Global Conflict and Security Data Sources for GIS
A guide to free conflict and security datasets including ACLED political violence events, the Global Terrorism Database, and FEWS NET food security classifications for GIS analysis.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Where to Download Free Cropland and Agriculture GIS Data
Find free global cropland, irrigation, and crop production GIS data, including GFSAD30, FAO irrigation, SPAM, USDA CDL, and WorldCereal.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Viewing COG and GeoTIFF Raster Data in GeoDataViewer
Learn how GeoDataViewer supports Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG) and standard GeoTIFF files — drag-and-drop raster visualization in your browser.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Extract POIs from OSM PBF or Overture Maps
Extract POIs from OpenStreetMap PBF or Overture Maps GeoParquet for EV charging stations, gas stations, and other places with practical GIS workflows.
• GeoDataViewer Team
GIS File Viewer for VS Code — Geo Data Viewer Fast
Preview Shapefile, GeoJSON, KML, PMTiles, and other geospatial files inside VS Code without opening a full desktop GIS.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Comprehensive Comparison of GIS Data Viewers: From Desktop to Browser
Compare GIS viewers from ArcGIS and QGIS to Kepler.gl and GeoDataViewer. Desktop vs browser, cost, format support, and speed.
• GeoDataViewer Team
What Is GeoParquet? Columnar Geospatial Data for Analytics
Learn what GeoParquet is, why it works well for large geospatial datasets, how browser rendering works today, and where deck.gl fits next.
• GeoDataViewer Team
FileGDB vs GeoPackage — Which GIS Format Should You Use?
FileGDB vs GeoPackage compared for ArcGIS and open GIS: choose FileGDB for ESRI workflows or GeoPackage for portable, multi-layer storage.
• GeoDataViewer Team
GeoJSON vs GeoPackage: Web Interchange vs GIS Container
GeoJSON vs GeoPackage compared: size, portability, multi-layer support, and when to convert for web maps or GIS workflows.
• GeoDataViewer Team
GeoJSON vs Shapefile — Which Format Should You Use?
GeoJSON vs Shapefile compared for GIS data exchange: choose GeoJSON for web maps and APIs or Shapefile for legacy GIS, government portals, and CRS flexibility.
• GeoDataViewer Team
GeoParquet vs GeoPackage: Which GIS Format Should You Use?
Compare GeoParquet and GeoPackage for analytics, GIS exchange, portability, editing, and browser viewing. Choose the right format for spatial work.
• GeoDataViewer Team
GML vs GeoJSON — GIS Format Comparison & Conversion
GML vs GeoJSON compared for GIS: keep GML for OGC/WFS schemas or choose GeoJSON for web maps, APIs, and fast browser inspection.
• GeoDataViewer Team
GPX vs GeoJSON — Which Format for GPS Tracks and Web Maps?
GPX vs GeoJSON compared: keep GPX for GPS tracks, routes, and waypoints; choose GeoJSON for web maps, APIs, and flexible GIS properties.
• GeoDataViewer Team
How to Convert DWG to GeoJSON (Online, No Upload)
Convert DWG to GeoJSON step-by-step in your browser. Preview the layer, export GeoJSON, and troubleshoot common DWG conversion issues.
• GeoDataViewer Team
How to Open a Shapefile Online (with .dbf, .shx, .prj)
Step-by-step: open a Shapefile online in your browser, upload the required sidecar files, and troubleshoot missing .dbf/.shx/.prj issues.
• GeoDataViewer Team
KML vs GeoJSON: When Should You Convert?
KML vs GeoJSON explained: compatibility, typical use cases, and the simplest way to open and convert files for modern web mapping.
• GeoDataViewer Team
MapInfo vs Shapefile: TAB/MIF vs .SHP for GIS Exchange
MapInfo vs Shapefile compared: sidecar files, compatibility, and when to convert TAB or MIF/MID datasets into Shapefile or GeoJSON.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Shapefile vs GeoPackage — Which GIS Format Is Better?
Shapefile vs GeoPackage compared: choose Shapefile for legacy compatibility or GeoPackage for one-file, multi-layer GIS workflows.
• GeoDataViewer Team
What Is an SHP File? Shapefile, DBF & SHX Explained
Learn what an SHP file is, why a Shapefile also needs DBF, SHX, and PRJ files, and how to open or convert the complete dataset online.
• GeoDataViewer Team
What Is FileGDB? ESRI File Geodatabase Format Explained
What is an ESRI File Geodatabase (FileGDB)? Learn how its folder-based layers and tables work, how to open a zipped GDB, and how to convert it online.
• GeoDataViewer Team
What Is GeoJSON? File Format, Example & Viewer Guide
What is GeoJSON and why is it common in web maps and APIs? Learn the file structure, geometry types, RFC 7946 rules, limitations, and how to view or validate it online.
• GeoDataViewer Team
What Is a GeoPackage (GPKG)? Single-File GIS Format Explained
What is a GeoPackage (GPKG) file? Learn why it replaces multi-file GIS formats, what it stores, and how to open or convert GeoPackage data online.
• GeoDataViewer Team
What Is KML/KMZ? Google Earth File Formats Explained
What are KML and KMZ files? Learn how Google Earth formats store placemarks, paths, polygons, and overlays, and how to open or convert them online.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Understanding GML (Geography Markup Language) and GeoDataViewer Support
Learn what GML is, how it compares to GeoJSON, common use cases, and how to open and visualize GML files using GeoDataViewer.
• GeoDataViewer Team
Introducing GeoDataViewer
A secure, local-first GIS data viewer and converter directly in your browser.