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@latlong.blog

A weblog exploring and documenting geospatial technology, data and standards on the Web. Edited by Oliver Roick in Melbourne, Australia. https://latlong.blog

235 followers79 following93 posts

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A5, the equal-area grid for spatial indexing, has reached 1.0, introducing stable cell IDs, faster data processing, and new hierarchy functions. https://latlong.blog/2026/10/a5-reaches-10-stable-cell-ids-faster-operations-and-a-growing-ecosystem.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogA5 Reaches 1.0: Stable Cell IDs, Faster Operations and a Growing Ecosystem | Lat × LongA5, a geospatial indexing system using equal-area pentagons, reached version 1.0 with improved grid layout, faster spatial operations, and expanded ecosystem support across multiple tools and programming languages.
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Kiri Carini and Martha Morrisey’s primer on geospatial embeddings is the best I’ve encountered. It covers what embeddings are, how they are produced and what they are used for. https://developmentseed.org/blog/2026-10-02-earth-embeddings/#from-raw-data-to-foundation-models

developmentseed.orgA Primer for Earth Data Embeddings — Development SeedEmbeddings are becoming an important thread running through modern geospatial AI, helping systems search, compare, and reason across Earth observation data.
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SuperSTAC lets you search multiple STAC catalogues through one interface. Built in Rust it comes with a Python API, CLI, name aliases and local caching. https://latlong.blog/2026/10/superstac-adds-aliases-and-offline-caching-to-multi-catalogue-stac-search.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogSuperSTAC Adds Aliases and Offline Caching to Multi-Catalogue STAC Search | Lat × LongSuperSTAC provides a unified search interface for multiple STAC catalogues with features like aliases for standardized naming and local GeoParquet caching.
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Just three hours to publish a Portolan catalogue from existing Shapefile data; using Claude's agent skills, complete with custom styles and browser. https://www.portolan-sdi.org/blog/building-portolan-trimet

portolan-sdi.orgBuilding Portolan: TriMet Mirror — Three hours from shapefiles to a live catalogTriMet publishes eight geospatial datasets as plain files. Mirroring them into a Portolan catalog, with a custom-themed browser, took about three hours of work on a plane.
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Overture swapped its hand-written YAML for a Pydantic Python library as its schema's source of truth. JSON Schema, PySpark validation, and docs now generate from the same models. https://latlong.blog/2026/09/the-overture-schema-is-a-library-now.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blog‘The Overture Schema Is a Library Now’ | Lat × LongOverture Maps released schema v2.0.0 as a Python library with Pydantic models that serve as the single source of truth for generating JSON Schema, validation tools, and documentation.
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zarr-python is becoming an umbrella project for several, previously separately maintained Zarr-related Python projects. https://latlong.blog/2026/09/zarr-python-is-becoming-an-umbrella-project-for-zarr-related-python-projects.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogZarr-Python Is Becoming an Umbrella Project for Zarr-Related Python Projects | Lat × LongZarr-python is becoming an umbrella project consolidating previously separate Zarr-related Python packages like zarr-metadata and zarr-indexing, which will be released independently while reducing code duplication.
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Ben Joffe demonstrates a method for smooth transitions between equal-area and conformal projections based on zoom level using a simple, visually-tuned formula. https://latlong.blog/2026/09/equal-area-to-mercator-zoom-dependent-interactive-maps.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogEqual-Area to Mercator: Zoom-Dependent Interactive Maps | Lat × LongBen Joffe demonstrates a method for creating interactive maps that smoothly transition between equal-area and conformal projections based on zoom level using a simple, visually-tuned formula.
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Daniel Huffman makes a case for AI in cartography. Not to draw maps from scratch, but to handle the grunt work: label checking, georeferencing, data extraction. https://latlong.blog/2026/09/the-boring-parts-where-generative-ai-actually-helps-cartographers.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogThe Boring Parts: Where Generative AI Actually Helps Cartographers | Lat × LongGenerative AI tools could streamline tedious cartographic tasks like label checking and data extraction while preserving mapmakers' creative control and allowing error verification.
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Portolan’s Origin Story as Told by Creator Chris Holmes https://latlong.blog/2026/09/portolans-origin-story-as-told-by-creator-chris-holmes.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogPortolan’s Origin Story as Told by Creator Chris Holmes | Lat × LongChris Holmes created Portolan to make foundational geospatial data accessible to AI by using simple Markdown and JSON files instead of complex infrastructure that previous SDI initiatives failed to provide.
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Layercake just shipped a slick data explorer: draw a bounding box, filter by OSM tags, pick your columns, and export. All in your browser via DuckDB Wasm. https://latlong.blog/2026/09/layercakes-new-data-explorer-makes-browsing-openstreetmap-a-breeze.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogLayercake's New Data Explorer Makes Browsing OpenStreetMap a Breeze | Lat × LongLayercake's new interactive data explorer lets users query OpenStreetMap thematic layers, filter by OSM tags, and export in multiple formats directly in-browser using DuckDB WebAssembly.
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Google's new study shows nudging drivers around congestion-prone routes really does cut traffic and emissions city-wide. But smarter routing isn't the same as fewer cars on the road. https://latlong.blog/2026/09/googles-ab-test-to-ease-congestion-in-cities.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogGoogle’s A/B Test to Ease Congestion in Cities | Lat × LongGoogle's Maps study shows that rerouting traffic reduces congestion citywide, but critics argue it merely redistributes vehicles rather than reducing car dependency needed for real emissions cuts.
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OSRM and Valhalla can now route pedestrians straight across squares and plazas, not just around them. Stefan Keller breaks down how the two engines pull it off. https://spatialists.ch/posts/2026/09/04-osm-based-navigation-beyond-paths-with-osrm-and-valhalla/

spatialists.chOSM-based navigation beyond paths with OSRM and Valhalla – Spatialists – geospatial newsWhile mainstream #webmaps still route #pedestrians around the edges of open spaces, #OpenStreetMap engines like #OSRM and #Valhalla make the leap to true area #routing across squares and other open spaces. This shift beyond line-based paths brings digital #navigation much closer to real-world human movement and urban #walkability.
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Bert Temme took the new Portolan CLI for a spin, turning an ArcGIS dataset into a published data catalogue with PMTiles in just eleven commands. https://bertt.wordpress.com/2026/09/03/from-arcgis-online-to-blob-storage-a-portolan-v0-8-0-walkthrough/

bertt.wordpress.comFrom ArcGIS Online to Blob Storage: A Portolan v0.8.0 WalkthroughIntroductionSetting up a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) as a data publisher has traditionally meant significant work and cost: • Loading data into spatial databases (SQL Server, Oracle, PostGIS)…
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Ian Turton, an OSGeo founding member and GeoTools co-founder, receives 2026 Sol Katz Award in recognition for his decades of community contributions and mentorship in open-source geospatial software. https://www.osgeo.org/foundation-news/ian-turton-receives-the-2026-sol-katz-award/

osgeo.orgIan Turton receives the 2026 Sol Katz Award - OSGeoIan has been a member of our community from the very beginning, as an original voting member who gathered in Chicago in February 2006 to establish OSGeo. He also is a co-founder of GeoTools, the Java library that is the … Continued
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The UN voted to ditch the Mercator map for one that gets Africa's size right. 164 countries said yes. The US said no, calling it "superfluous." Queue the executive order renaming Earth to "Planet America." https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/04/un-vote-world-map-mercator-equal-earth-africa

theguardian.comUN votes to adopt new world map that shows Africa’s true scaleTogo-sponsored resolution called to phase out traditional map that depicts continent as similar size to Greenland
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Portolan is a set opinionated, STAC-based conventions for geospatial-data publishing, plus a CLI, agent skills, and validator; making datasets discoverable for humans, APIs, and AI agents alike. https://latlong.blog/2026/09/portolan.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogPortolan: Opinionated Conventions for Publishing Geospatial Data | Lat × LongPortolan simplifies geospatial data publishing with opinionated STAC conventions, cloud-native formats, and tools for creating, validating, and discovering datasets online.
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geoparquet-io 1.4: Curved geometry support, STR sorting, and grid/boundary aggregations over A5, H3, or admin areas. #GeoParquet #GIS https://latlong.blog/2026/09/geoparquet-io-14-adds-curved-geometries-str-sorting-and-grid-aggregations.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.bloggeoparquet-io 1.4 Adds Curved Geometries, STR Sorting, and Grid Aggregations | Lat × LongNew geoparquet-io 1.4: Curved geometry support, STR sorting, and grid/boundary aggregations over A5, H3, or admin areas.
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Google improved Pixel Watch 5 GPS accuracy using Google Maps 3D building data and AI, but provided no details or statistical evidence supporting the claims. https://latlong.blog/2026/08/google-says-it-improved-gps-precision-on-the-pixel-5-but-wont-say-how.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blogGoogle Says It Improved GPS Precision on the Pixel 5, but Won’t Say How | Lat × LongGoogle improved Pixel Watch 5 GPS accuracy using Google Maps 3D building data and AI, but provided minimal technical details and no statistical evidence supporting performance claims.
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Sparkgeo built a serverless tile server using SQLite instead of an always-on database — cutting costs for the Canadian Institute of Forestry's API while keeping full query flexibility. https://latlong.blog/2026/08/serverless-vector-tiles-on-aws-lambda.html?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social

latlong.blog‘Serverless Vector Tiles on AWS Lambda’ | Lat × LongSparkGeo built a cost-effective serverless vector tile server on AWS Lambda using SQLite and SpatiaLite instead of traditional PostGIS, bundling the database file in a Docker image.
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geojson.io got a major overhaul: rebuilt on Placemark Play with multi-select, bulk editing, undo/redo, and more. What was once a simple GeoJSON preview tool turns into a more serious spatial-data editor. https://latlong.blog/2026/08/geojsonio-gets-a-complete-rebuild-on-placemark-play.html

latlong.bloggeojson.io Gets a Complete Rebuild on Placemark Play | Lat × LongThe geojson.io GeoJSON editor received a major architectural overhaul based on Placemark Play, adding features like multiselect, bulk editing, undo/redo, and style editing for serious spatial data work.
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A JupyterGIS paper has been published in The Journal of Open Source Software, giving researchers a citable and peer reviewed resource to reference the software in publications. https://latlong.blog/2026/08/jupytergis-is-now-citable-in-the-journal-of-open-source-software.html

latlong.blogJupyterGIS Is Now Citable in The Journal of Open Source Software | Lat × LongJupyterGIS is a new JupyterLab extension enabling collaborative web-based GIS workflows with Python API support, geospatial data format compatibility, and advanced visualization features.
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Zarrista is a new Rust-powered Python library that speeds up Zarr I/O by 1.9×–2.7× over Zarr-Python. It’s a thin binding to zeros, and it’s header into Zarr-Python itself, so you get speedup with zero code changes. https://latlong.blog/2026/08/zarrista-makes-reading-zarr-1927-faster-in-python.html

latlong.blogZarrista Makes Reading Zarr 1.9×–2.7× Faster in Python | Lat × LongZarrista, a new Rust-based Python library, offers 1.9–2.7× performance improvements over Zarr-Python and is being integrated as a native backend into Zarr-Python for ecosystem-wide benefits.
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Prefer R for your data viz chores? Geovizr wraps the Geoviz JS library (built on D3) so you can make interactive, zoomable maps—plus static SVGs for editorial work in R. https://riatelab.github.io/geovizr/

riatelab.github.iogeoviz: thematic cartographyThis package is an implementation of the geoviz javascript library. can be used to create a wide range of interactive, zoomable vector maps, taking advantage of d3’s many features: proportional symbols, pictograms, typologies, choropleth maps, spikes, tiles, Dorling cartograms, etc. It can also be used to create pretty static vectorial maps in SVG format, suitable for editorial cartography.
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Render NetCDF data live on a web map—no precompiled tiles. A stack of small open-source tools (VirtualiZarr, Icechunk, icechunk-js, zarr-layer) reads straight from NetCDF and it's surprisingly fast. https://latlong.blog/2026/08/streaming-netcdf-to-the-browser-with-zarr-and-icechunk.html

latlong.blogStreaming NetCDF to the Browser with Zarr and Icechunk | Lat × LongHagen and Loeffler demonstrate how to visualize NetCDF data on web maps dynamically using VirtualiZarr, Icechunk, and zarr-layer without precompiling tiles.
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ohsome-planet's new geometry assembly approach transforms OpenStreetMap PBF data to GeoParquet 10x faster and without relation-size constraints. https://heigit.org/rebuilding-geometry-assembly-from-the-ground-up-with-ohsome-planet-1-3-1/

heigit.orgRebuilding geometry assembly from the ground up with ohsome-planet 1.3.1 – HeiGITWe are releasing version 1.3.1 of ohsome-planet under the codename "Baarle-Hertog". This tool is designed to facilitate the transformation of raw OpenStreetMap (OSM) history data into the GeoParquet format, making it more accessible for spatial data analysis.