Did you ever want to visualize massive amounts of spatial data interactively with Python, only to find that libraries like folium or pydeck can’t quite keep up?
Imagine handling and visualizing Germany’s population data - consisting of around 3 million 100m x 100m polygons - with ease and efficiency. In this post, I’ll introduce you to the powerful Python library lonboard. and show you how it can make this a reality.
We’ll start with an overview of lonboard and why it stands out from other libraries. Then, dive into a hands-on example using a Jupyter notebook to experience firsthand how lonboard turns raw census data into compelling interactive visualizations.
Full Notebook
To get the full hands-on experience, you’ll need the complete notebook that walks you through preparing the data, setting up the visualizations, and exploring Germany’s population data interactively.
You can view the full notebook directly here or download and explore the hosted version here.
How lonboard’s Advanced Architecture Enhances Geospatial Visualization
lonboard transforms geospatial data visualization with its powerful GPU-based rendering and efficient data handling technologies. Unlike most other libraries that rely on GeoJSON, lonboard leverages advanced formats like GeoArrow and GeoParquetto ensure fast, interactive experiences even with massive datasets. For more details on how it works, explore further here.
Understanding Coordinate Reference Systems (CRS)
When visualizing spatial data, one key concept to understand is Coordinate Reference Systems (CRS), which helps translate our 3D world onto flat 2D maps.
- The World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) is the standard system used for most global maps. It works by fitting the entire Earth onto a flat map and uses latitude and longitude to pinpoint locations. It is referenced with the EPSG code 4326.
- For Germany’s population data, the European Terrestrial Reference System of 1989 (ETRS89) with the Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection is used. This system is specifically tailored for Europe and uses meters for measurements. Think of it as the “European specialist” for regional maps. It is referenced with the EPSG Code 3035.