Remove GeoPandas dependency

[mdtanker]

Description of the desired feature:

GeoPandas is causing some issues with Poetry and packaging/install on a Windows machine, I think mostly due to its C dependencies. Since we only use it to read shapefiles, there might be an alternative.

• This thread suggests Pandas/Shapely or Spatialpandas.

• Or maybe pyshp with this Gist

• Look here for discussion on spatialpandas

• Article on using Arcpy

• Link to using spark.read.shapefile()

• Another similar one

Are you willing to help implement and maintain this feature?