Python for GIS and Geoscience

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# Python for GIS and Geoscience

Doctoral schools of Ghent University 
December 12, 16 and 19, 2024

Joris Van den Bossche, Stijn Van Hoey

https://github.com/jorisvandenbossche/DS-python-geospatial

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# Who are you?

Go to https://hackmd.io/GaohdyaETeuUAI1F8sjXPw?both

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### Joris Van den Bossche

<a href="https://github.com/jorisvandenbossche"><img src="./static/img/icon_github.svg" alt="Github logo" class="icon"> jorisvandenbossche</a>

* Open source software developer and teacher
* Pandas, GeoPandas, scikit-learn, Apache Arrow

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### Stijn Van Hoey

<a href="https://github.com/stijnvanhoey"><img src="./static/img/icon_github.svg" alt="Github logo"> stijnvanhoey</a>

* Freelance developer and teacher
* Research software engineer at [Fluves](https://www.fluves.com/)

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![:scale 90%](./static/img/work_stijn_1.png)]

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# Setting up a working environment

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## Setting up a working environment

For the setup instructions, see the [setup page](https://jorisvandenbossche.github.io/DS-python-geospatial/setup.html).

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0. If not already downloaded the course material, installed conda and setup the environment, see [setup instructions section 1 and 2](https://jorisvandenbossche.github.io/DS-python-geospatial/setup.html)
1. Next, make sure to complete 3 and 4 of the [setup instructions](https://jorisvandenbossche.github.io/DS-python-geospatial/setup.html).

> If you succesfully done all steps, put up your `green sticky note` on your laptop screen...

- Surf to and fill in [the questionnaire](https://hackmd.io/GaohdyaETeuUAI1F8sjXPw?both)
- In Jupyter Lab, start with the 'notebooks/00-jupyter_introduction.ipynb'.

> Installation or setup issues? Put up your `red sticky note` on your laptop screen.

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When you see something like this...

![:scale 100%](./static/img/startup.png)

...relax, you're ready to start!

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![:scale 100%](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PlaYMh-u-2w/maxresdefault.jpg)

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### Time is divided between

- group sessions: we explain new concepts (aka 'theory')
- practise sessions: you work on exercises or case studies

In case of questions, remarks, suggestions, you can always interrupt us and just ask.

During practise sessions, use the `red sticky note` on top of your laptop screen to let us know you have a question.

### Status check

We will regularly ask for a check (ready with exercise, installation succesfull...). Use the `green sticky note` on top of your laptop screen to say 👍.

### Feel lost?

Just ask either one of us, we are here to help you.

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![:scale 80%](./static/img/issuetracker.png)

Report bugs, typo's, suggestions... as issues ([New issue](https://github.com/jorisvandenbossche/course-python-geospatial/issues/new))

or see the [contributing guidelines](https://github.com/jorisvandenbossche/course-python-geospatial/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)

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# Working with Python

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# Conda

### Why using conda?

- Consistent package manager across Windows, Mac and Linux
- Many precompiled packages available
- Less problems with installation

### Why different environments?

- Manage the dependencies of a specific project/paper/group/...
- You can install different version of Python and other packages alongside on your computer
- Easily share environments with other

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## Small overview of conda commands

Creating a new environment:

```
conda create -n my_env python=3.10 pandas

# or from environment file
conda env create -f environment.yml
```

Activating an environment:

```
conda activate my_env
```

Install a new package:

```
conda install matplotlib     # if not working, try: pip install ...
```

List all installed packages: `conda list`

List all your environments: `conda info -e`

See the docs: https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/index.html

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### Keep track of your python ecosystem with an `environment.yml`

```
conda env export > environment.yml
```

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# Writing Python code

## IPython console

.center[![:scale 75%](./static/img/ipython.png)]

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## Interactive Development Environment (IDE)

* [**Spyder**](https://pythonhosted.org/spyder/) is shipped with Anaconda. The familiar environment for Matlab/Rstudio-users.
* [**VS Code**](https://code.visualstudio.com/) is also shipped with Anaconda. General purpose editor with powerful plugin ecosystem.
* [**PyCharm**](https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/): Popular for web-development and Django applications, powerful when doing 'real' development (packages, libraries, software)
* [Eclipse + **pyDev plugin**](http://www.pydev.org/): If you already work in Eclipse, add the python environment
* ...

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## Jupyter Lab/Notebook
(*previously called IPython notebook*)

**Jupyter notebook** provides an **interactive** scripting environment, ideal for exploration, prototyping,...

.center[![:scale 70%](./static/img/notebook.png)]

...the stuff we're dealing with in this course!

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# How are you feeling?

![:scale 100%](http://esq.h-cdn.co/assets/15/51/980x490/landscape-1450137389-john-cleese.JPG)

### https://forms.gle/trjSSDhzD656j63LA

Please fill in the questionnaire.

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# Closing notes

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# Python's scientific/GIS ecosystem

#### ## Inspired by figure by Jake VanderPlas

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background-image: url(./static/img/ecosystem-gis-overview_6.svg)
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background-image: url(./static/img/ecosystem-gis-overview_5.svg)
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background-image: url(./static/img/ecosystem-gis-overview_3.svg)
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background-image: url(./static/img/ecosystem-gis-overview_2.svg)
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background-image: url(./static/img/ecosystem-gis-overview_1.svg)
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# A rich ecosystem of packages

![:scale 60%](https://pysal.org/pysal1.png)

Python Spatial Analysis Library (https://pysal.org). Collection of packages for:

* detection of spatial clusters, hot-spots, and outliers
* construction of graphs from spatial data
* spatial regression and statistical modeling on geographically embedded networks
* spatial econometrics
* exploratory spatio-temporal data analysis
* ...

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# A rich ecosystem of packages

Building up on / integrating with GeoPandas:

**MovingPandas** (https://anitagraser.github.io/movingpandas/): working with movement data

**Momepy** (http://docs.momepy.org/en/latest/): quantitative analysis of urban morphology

**geoplot** (https://residentmario.github.io/geoplot/):  high-level Python geospatial plotting library (combining GeoPandas, matplotlib and cartopy)

**...**

Check out the [GeoPandas ecosystem](https://geopandas.org/en/stable/community/ecosystem.html#geopandas-ecosystem).

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# A rich ecosystem of packages

Building up on / integrating with xarray:

**Satpy** (https://satpy.readthedocs.io/en/stable/): package for earth-observing satellite data processing

**xesmf** (https://xesmf.readthedocs.io/): Universal Regridder for Geospatial Data

**verde** (https://www.fatiando.org/verde/): interpolating spatial data on regular grids

**...**

Check out the [Xarray ecosystem](https://docs.xarray.dev/en/stable/ecosystem.html).

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# A rich ecosystem of packages

Several more domain/application specific packages:

**MetPy** (https://unidata.github.io/MetPy): working with weather data

**xgcm** (https://xgcm.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html): working with output from General Circulation Models

**osmnx** (https://github.com/gboeing/osmnx): street networks

**...**

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# A rich ecosystem of packages

**Machine learning**: scikit-learn, tensorflow, pytorch, keras, chainer, ...

**Performance**: Numba, Cython, Numexpr, Pythran, C/Fortran wrappers, ...

**Visualisation**: Bokeh, Seaborn, Plotnine, Altair, Plotly, Mayavi, HoloViews, datashader, vaex ...

**Data structures and parallel/distributed computation**: Xarray, Dask, Distributed, Cupy, ...

Specialized packages in many **scientific fields**: astronomy, natural language processing, image processing, geospatial, ...

**Packaging and distribution**: pip/wheels, conda, Anaconda, Canopy, ...

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### Reading advice

[Good Enough Practices in Scientific Computing](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1609.00037v1.pdf)

> "*However, while most scientists are careful to validate their laboratory and field equipment, most do not know how reliable their software is*"

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# Thanks

### Joris Van den Bossche

<a href="https://github.com/jorisvandenbossche"><img src="./static/img/icon_github.svg" alt="Github logo"> jorisvandenbossche</a>

### Stijn Van Hoey

<a href="https://github.com/stijnvanhoey"><img src="./static/img/icon_github.svg" alt="Github logo"> stijnvanhoey</a>