Foundation Guides

Understand the core concepts behind spatial data in Python before diving into tasks and workflows.

Every practical GIS workflow rests on a small set of foundational ideas. What is a GeoDataFrame? What does a CRS actually do? How do raster and vector data differ, and when should you use each? These guides answer those questions directly — without padding, without assumed expertise.

If you're just starting with Python GIS, work through these pages first. They'll give you the vocabulary and mental models that make all the how-to guides easier to follow. If you're already working in the field, these pages make useful references when a concept needs refreshing.

Topics covered include GeoPandas, Shapely geometry objects, coordinate reference systems, EPSG codes, Rasterio, Folium, and the fundamental difference between vector and raster spatial data.

8 Foundation guides
27 How-To guides
8 Troubleshooting guides

Start here

These guides cover the building blocks that every other guide on this site assumes you know.

All foundation guides

Each guide focuses on one concept — short enough to read in a sitting, detailed enough to be genuinely useful.

Ready to apply these concepts?

Once you're comfortable with the foundations, the how-to guides walk through specific tasks step by step — from reading a shapefile to running a spatial join.

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