A technical overview of how geospatial data delivery has evolved — from monolithic file formats through raster and vector tiles to modern single-file tile archives like PMTiles — and how to choose the right approach for your data.
Learn how GeoDataViewer supports Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG) and standard GeoTIFF files — drag-and-drop raster visualization in your browser.
Extract EV charging and gas station POIs from NYC OSM data with osmium, and compare with Overture Maps' GeoParquet pipeline.
Preview 10+ geospatial formats (Shapefile, GeoJSON, KML, PMTiles) directly inside VS Code with Kepler.gl rendering.
Compare GIS viewers from ArcGIS and QGIS to Kepler.gl and GeoDataViewer. Desktop vs browser, cost, format support, and speed.
FileGDB vs GeoPackage compared: portability, ecosystem support, multi-layer datasets, and when to convert between formats.
GeoJSON vs GeoPackage compared: size, portability, multi-layer support, and when to convert for web maps or GIS workflows.
GeoJSON vs Shapefile compared: structure, file packaging, performance, web friendliness, tooling support, and when it makes sense to convert between formats in modern GIS workflows.
GML vs GeoJSON compared: structure, size, validation, and the best choice for GIS, web maps, and data exchange—plus when to convert.
GPX vs GeoJSON compared: what each format stores, common use cases, and when to convert GPX tracks into GeoJSON.
Step-by-step: open a Shapefile online in your browser, upload the required sidecar files, and troubleshoot missing .dbf/.shx/.prj issues.
KML vs GeoJSON explained: compatibility, typical use cases, and the simplest way to open and convert files for modern web mapping.
MapInfo vs Shapefile compared: sidecar files, compatibility, and when to convert TAB or MIF/MID datasets into Shapefile or GeoJSON.
Shapefile vs GeoPackage compared: portability, attributes, CRS handling, performance, and when it’s worth converting your data.
What is a Shapefile and why does it include multiple sidecar files? Learn how Shapefile works, the required files, common issues, limitations, and how to open and convert Shapefiles online.
Learn what an ESRI File Geodatabase (FileGDB) is, what it’s used for, and how to open or convert FileGDB datasets online.
What is GeoJSON, why is it so common in web maps and APIs? Learn the structure, geometry types, use cases, limitations, and how to open, validate, and convert GeoJSON online.
Learn what a GeoPackage (GPKG) file is, what it’s used for, and how to open or convert GeoPackage data online in your browser.
Learn what GML is, why it’s used in GIS and OGC services, and how to open or convert GML files online in your browser.
What is a GPX file and what is it used for? Learn how GPX stores tracks, routes, and waypoints, and how to open or convert GPX online.
Learn what KML and KMZ are, what they’re used for, and how to open or convert KML/KMZ to GeoJSON for modern web mapping.
Learn what MapInfo TAB and MIF/MID files are, how sidecar files work, and how to open or convert MapInfo datasets online.
Learn what GML is, how it compares to GeoJSON, common use cases, and how to open and visualize GML files using GeoDataViewer.
A secure, local-first GIS data viewer and converter directly in your browser.