Native support for GeoPackage file format

[juliohm]

Issue

The GeoPackage file format was developed by OGC a while ago to store "vector" and "raster" data as SQLite containers. It is widely adopted in open datasets like GADM and GeoBR.

GeoIO.jl currently relies on the external GDAL library to load/save .gpkg files:

load

https://github.com/JuliaEarth/GeoIO.jl/blob/e2f1bc5e9d6b79f9ce5892b4e143fe2cbd260003/src/extra/gis.jl#L66-L69

save

https://github.com/JuliaEarth/GeoIO.jl/blob/e2f1bc5e9d6b79f9ce5892b4e143fe2cbd260003/src/extra/gis.jl#L53-L55

Given the numerous reports of GDAL build failures (at least one per year for the last 5 years):

• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/191
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/179
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/174
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/173
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/158
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/151
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/130
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/126
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/113
• https://github.com/JuliaGeo/GDAL.jl/issues/101

we can't rely on it moving forward.

Bounty

We need a new extra/gpkg.jl implementation that handles GeoPackage "vector" tables in native Julia.

The load implementation should consist of SQLite.jl queries that convert

1. the table of attributes stored in the database into a Tables.jl table
2. the geometries (with CRS information) into a vector of geometries geoms from Meshes.jl

followed by a geotable = georef(table, geoms) call to combine these two objects into a GeoTable.

The save implementation should do the reverse operation, i.e. it should save

1. the values(geotable) as a SQLite attribute table
2. the domain(geotable) as SQLite geometries

in the final GeoPackage file.

A solution that

1. implements the corresponding OGC GeoPackage specification
2. can load/save all *.gpkg files from GeoArtifacts.GADM
3. can load/save all *.gpkg files from GeoArtifacts.GeoBR
4. adheres to our code style and passes our current tests

will get a /bounty $500.

Tips

• The GeoPackage guidance document contains useful information, including an implementation guide
• If you need any assistance, please feel free to ask questions in our Zulip channel

[algora-pbc[bot]]

💎 $500 bounty • JuliaEarth

Steps to solve:

1. Start working: Comment /attempt #167 with your implementation plan
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Attempt	Started (UTC)	Solution	Actions
🟢 @MAVRICK-1	Sep 03, 2025, 04:24:58 PM	#172	Reward

[Omar-Elrefaei]

I'd be happy to continue working with you @juliohm

So if GeoArtifacts provide gpkg, is there example user or package which produces GeoTables that need to be saved as gpkg. Ie. Does anyone produce a GeoTable without reading it from a gpkg? Maybe a better question would be: for the user of gpkg = save(geotable), where did they acquire the geotable information from?

[juliohm]

Hi @Omar-Elrefaei , that is great to hear.

Answering your question: any GeoTable over a GeometrySet where the geometries are described in terms of 2D coordinates can be saved into gpkg. Like other GIS formats, the gpkg format also has some partial support for 3D coordinates.

Does that answer your question? A common thing to do in practice is load *.shp files and save into *.gpkg because the former has limitations, see http://switchfromshapefile.org

[juliohm]

• To claim a bounty, you need to provide a short demo video of your changes in your pull request
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Please ignore these bot messages. I need to find where I can configure them later.

[MendeBadra]

Hi, @juliohm I'm planning to give this bounty a go since I have graduated recently. However, I'm from Mongolia and algora account doesn't support my country. So I don't know about how to get the bounty in an event of completion. Although I'm not an expert, I have some knowledge about GIS, Julia and Python. I'm able to commit lot of hours that's it.

[Omar-Elrefaei]

@MendeBadra feel free to take a jab at it. I'm currently a bit occupied and I'm not fully sure when am I going to be able to work on it.

[juliohm]

@MendeBadra it is unfortunate that Algora doesn't support Mongolia yet. Maybe try to contact the Algora team to see why that is the case and if there is any upcoming support.

[MendeBadra]

Ok, I am going to attempt implementing it. I will try to contact Algora team.

[MendeBadra]

Currently, I am not working on this issue. However, I am learning SQL at the moment. I might be little bit unqualified for this task.

[MAVRICK-1]

/attempt #167

[jph6366]

#174 Just pushing my work I have collected so far.

Not interested in cash reward, just want to contribute to simply be able to showcase accolades on my github profile

Definitely interested in future contributions, so please accept this as an entry contribution for future issues

[Sahelisaha04]

@juliohm is this open ? i saw #177 . i can help to complete it

[juliohm]

There is another ongoing PR. Let's wait a bit more before parallel attempts.

Em qua., 10 de set. de 2025, 22:32, Saheli Saha @.***> escreveu:

Sahelisaha04 left a comment (JuliaEarth/GeoIO.jl#167) https://github.com/JuliaEarth/GeoIO.jl/issues/167#issuecomment-3277253259

@juliohm https://github.com/juliohm is this open ? i saw #177 https://github.com/JuliaEarth/GeoIO.jl/pull/177 . i can help to complete it

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/JuliaEarth/GeoIO.jl/issues/167#issuecomment-3277253259, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAZQW3LS5GO4I27V524MCNL3SDUMFAVCNFSM6AAAAAB6A7S3Z6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTENZXGI2TGMRVHE . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: @.***>

[juliohm]

@jph6366 finished the reader part of this issue in #188. We merged the PR today.

He already has an open PR for the writer in #182, which we will hopefully update and merge soon.

Thank you all for the comments and interest on this issue.