Geospatial Python Toolbox

The first three chapters of this book covered the history of geospatial analysis, the types of geospatial data that are used by analysts, and the major software and libraries found within the geospatial industry. We used some simple Python examples here and there to illustrate certain points, but we mainly focused on the field of geospatial analysis, independent of any specific technology. Starting here, we will be using Python to conquer geospatial analysis and we will continue with that approach for the rest of this book. This chapter explains the software you will need in your toolbox to do just about anything you want in the geospatial field.

We’ll discover the Python libraries that are used to access the different types of data that were found in the Knowing about the most widely used vector data types and Understanding raster data types sections of Chapter 2, Learning about Geospatial Data. Some of these libraries are pure Python, as well as...