JupyterGIS: A Collaborative GIS Environment for JupyterLab

JupyterGIS is a JupyterLab (Kluyver et al., 2018) extension that enables web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) workflows.It provides a familiar GIS interface inspired by traditional desktop GIS tools, real-time collaborative editing, and a Python API for programmatic control, making it a powerful tool for geospatial data analysis and visualization.JupyterGIS supports a wide range of geospatial data formats, including GeoTIFFs and Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFFs, Shapefile, GeoParquet, and PMTiles, and provides advanced features such as symbology editing, spatio-temporal animations, and a browser-based processing toolbox powered by WebAssembly (WASM) builds of GDAL (Rouault et al., 2026).• Enabling real-time collaborative editing for GIS projects.• Providing interactive maps and geospatial visualizations within Jupyter notebooks.• Supporting programmatic control via a Python API, allowing for automation and reproducibility.• Offering browser-based access to GIS workflows, reducing the need for desktop software. State of the FieldThe geospatial software ecosystem comprises a broad diversity of tools addressing specific needs, including proprietary solutions and open-source alternatives, cloud-based platforms, and notebook-integrated workflows.However, none of the existing open-source offerings addresses the growing demand for real-time collaboration. Closed-Source Desktop SolutionsEsri's ArcGIS remains the dominant proprietary GIS platform, offering comprehensive tools for data management, analysis, and visualization.While ArcGIS Online provides cloud-based collaboration features, it is not as instantaneous.Edits are synchronized at scheduled intervals or manually, not in real time. Open-Source Desktop SolutionsQGIS is the leading open-source desktop GIS, renowned for its extensibility, support for diverse data formats, and vibrant community.It provides a powerful alternative to proprietary software but does not allow real-time collaborative editing of GIS documents.As a desktop application, it must be installed on the user's device. Closed-Source Cloud-Based PlatformsGoogle Earth Engine enables large-scale geospatial analysis in the cloud.However, its focus on script-based workflows and lack of interactive, collaborative editing make it less suitable for teams needing real-time collaboration.Felt is a collaborative web-based mapping tool focused on ease of use for non-technical users.It includes a REST API and a Python client to add layers to maps. In-Notebook ToolsLibraries like ipyleaflet and folium bring interactive mapping to Jupyter notebooks.While useful for exploratory analysis, these tools lack a graphical user interface for non-developers wishing to create GIS documents with advanced layer styling. JupyterGISJupyterGIS brings a collaborative, desktop-style GIS experience to the web, enabling real-time coediting of GIS documents directly in JupyterLab. Supported Layer TypesJupyterGIS supports a broad range of geospatial data formats, including vector formats (GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoParquet), raster formats (Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFFs), as well as raster and vector tile layers.