iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

Here are my top 5 geospatial Python libraries. Which would you add?

Reposted by Matt Forrest

Qiusheng Wu @giswqs.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

📣 Exciting News! I'm thrilled to announce the release of my new book: Introduction to GIS Programming: A Practical Python Guide to Open Source Geospatial Tools! ✨ What’s Included: All code examples are freely available. Access to 26 hours of free video tutorials to complement your learning.

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Reposted by Matt Forrest

Robert Simmon @rsimmon.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

First light of thermal images from Muon Space/FireSat looking good: www.muonspace.com/press/muon-s... 🛰️🗺️

Composite of thermal, midwave, shortwave, and near infrared images of Sydney Australia showing variations in temperature.

Composite of thermal and midwave infrared images of Kilauea Volcano showing the heat signature of the camera lava flows.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

Has anyone tried out the new SQL Rooms functionality from @foursquarecom.bsky.social? Looks pretty cool I must say! sqlrooms.org

sqlrooms.org

SQLRooms

Build powerful analytics apps with DuckDB

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

If you’ve ever wanted to learn this stuff, but don’t know where to start or want to have something to show for your skills. Start small. Learn fast. Build modern spatial skills. Brick E1 is live now. Link + early bird discount in the next post 👇

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

E1 is part of a full “Data Engineering for Spatial” track: file formats to Apache Iceberg, to Airflow workflows, to CI/CD for spatial pipelines. Each brick is practical. Stackable. And career-relevant.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

The Brick runs in a Gitpod notebook (zero setup) or locally if you want. Watch the videos, run the code, push to GitHub, and the grader gives you a grade. If it all checks out? You earn a badge. A real, verifiable badge you can share anywhere.

Certification badge for a Modern GIS course focused on Cloud-Native Geospatial data and formats

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

You’ll learn how to: Read & write Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFFs Work with GeoParquet for scalable vector storage Use AWS S3 to put this data in the cloud Understand why these formats matter, even locally

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

I've been down this road so I am trying to build something new: ✅ 4–6 hour mini-courses ✅ Auto-graded via GitHub ✅ Skills-first, backed by OpenBadges ✅ Stacked into career-focused tracks The first stack of four focuses on Geospatial Data Engineering. Here is what is in the first "brick" or course:

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

The truth is, you don’t need a master’s degree to learn modern GIS. You need small, focused learning units. You need real-world projects. You need proof of skills you can show. And you need a path to do so, not just scattered tutorials.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

The gap is widening too. Cloud-native geospatial is moving fast and it is an in demand skill Most GIS programs don't cover them. Most online courses barely scratch the surface. Most professionals are left to figure it out on their own.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

IMO this leads to a mismatch in hiring where job postings ask for everything and the kitchen sink, the full stack geospatial expert, when that isn't the reality.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

The options aren't great if you want to quickly learn a new technology and prove that you know it. Traditional education usually is behind, and that leaves you sifting through blog posts and online tutorials.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 27/06/2025

For years I’ve watched smart and motivated GIS professionals struggle to keep up with modern tools. Not because they’re not capable. But because the way we teach GIS hasn’t evolved with the technology.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 29/01/2025

Okay that helps. A lot of what I see online and LinkedIn looks like really cool 3D viewers but my assumption was that they can account for and work with different scenarios and show what it would look like. Or at least that is the goal which it sounds like what you are saying - thanks!

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 29/01/2025

That’s my understanding too. But does it add anything beyond just beyond the visual aspect?

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 29/01/2025

So I have a question - can you all help me understand the need or use cases for digital twins? Most of the ones that I see are 3D representations of a city or place, which is cool but what are they used for? And how can they create value?

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 08/01/2025

Encoded polylines and lat/lng pairs in reverse order in a STRING! Not cool NYC Open Data.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 06/01/2025

I wonder how far we can push NYC Open Data...

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 13/12/2024

3️⃣ Earth Observation Services - The boom in high-resolution satellite and drone data is transforming many different industries. EO platforms are democratizing access to actionable insights, enabling businesses to monitor, predict, and act with precision.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 13/12/2024

2️⃣ Agriculture - Precision agriculture is revolutionizing how we grow food. With drones, sensors, and increasingly better satellite imagery, farmers can optimize yields, reduce waste, and adapt to climate challenges.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 13/12/2024

1️⃣ Climate Risk - As climate change intensifies, geospatial tools are becoming essential for assessing and mitigating risks like floods, wildfires, and rising sea levels. Industries like insurance, ESG reporting, and real estate are leveraging predictive models and real-time analytics.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 13/12/2024

🔮 What do you think the next year will hold for geospatial? Which areas are going to grow the most? What new companies are going to emerge? Here are my top 3 (share yours as well!):

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

They don't today but I could do it I think...

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

Esri is showing signs of progress, but their journey toward modern GIS is far from complete. They must fully embrace cloud-native and open systems to lead the future.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

🌐 Modern GIS requires: Scalability Interoperability Modularity Esri could leverage their strengths as a connector in the geospatial ecosystem, like their existing connections with tools like Redshift, BigQuery, and Snowflake.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

📦 Esri’s containerization efforts align with cloud-native principles, but there’s a bigger challenge: rethinking their core architecture to fully embrace modern GIS.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

To clarify: Cloud-enabled = Legacy apps migrated to the cloud. Cloud-based = Designed for better cloud efficiency. Cloud-native = Built for the cloud, leveraging full scalability and cost efficiency.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

ArcPy still relies heavily on traditional Esri tools, creating bottlenecks in scalability and flexibility. And Esri Server falls short of true cloud-native capabilities.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

DuckDB is a great example: a small, efficient tool for querying and handling data. Esri’s integration is a good sign, but...

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

Esri’s use of DuckDB shows they’re nodding to the modern data stack. It’s a step toward scalable, nimble tools in GIS. But is it enough? 🤔

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 09/12/2024

I’ve been exploring Esri’s approach to modern GIS and found some interesting signs of progress—but also some critical gaps. Let’s dive in. 🧵

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 06/12/2024

Busy week but managed to get this video up today. Let me know what you think! youtu.be/u1hIU0AsOFc?...

youtu.be

Spatial SQL Tools Explained: The Ultimate Guide

YouTube video by Matt Forrest

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 26/11/2024

Here is one way I might summarize the live stream.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 26/11/2024

ICYMI: Check out my livestream today announcing the Wherobots Series A and where we are headed next: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mf6...

youtube.com

BREAKING: Special Livestream Announcment!

YouTube video by Matt Forrest

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 22/11/2024

I think Microsoft is in Overture too but not sure if it is their global or just US data

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 22/11/2024

Overture is the best place to start since it has Google and OSM all in one place.

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Reposted by Matt Forrest

Robbi Bishop-Taylor 🛰️🌏 @satellitesci.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Happy #GISDay everyone! Excited to share a powerful new coastal monitoring tool available on our #opensource DEA Maps platform: you can now easily compare #DigitalEarthAU Intertidal Elevation data to map 3D coastal change across Australia over time! ⏱ 🌊 🗺️ Map app: maps.dea.ga.gov.au#share=s-pXFl...

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Reposted by Matt Forrest

Mike Wulder @mikewulder.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

We use satellite data to map Canada's forests. 🛰️🌲 National maps represent forest status and trends. Peer reviewed methods & accuracy statements. #landcover #biomass #wildfire #Landsat #Sentinel2 Access open data here: opendata.nfis.org/mapserver/nf... Info/pubs: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

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Reposted by Matt Forrest

Miko Czerkawski @mikonvergence.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

To get in the habit of posting on 🦋, this is one of the first Landsat images capturing the region around Rome (11 August 1972). Here's me looking at my current home from space, over 2 decades before I was born. Open data programmes are an extraordinary treasure.

Landsat satellite image in the red channel of the Rome area

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Reposted by Matt Forrest

Iryna Dronova @irynad.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Our microclimate in San Francisco Bay Area is sensitive to the Pacific fog. You know they say the fog enters through the Golden Bay Bridge and goes right to North Berkeley? Occasionally satellite images capture this precise moment. #Landsat

Part of a Landsat satellite image showing fog entering San Francisco Bay Area

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 19/11/2024

I would check out Apache Iceberg and how we adapted it to geospatial data in Wherobots and Apache Sedona. Just posted a thread about it if you want to take a look.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 19/11/2024

And here is the result! If you want more details you can see the first part of the data on Source Cooperative: source.coop/wherobots/us... #gis #moderngis #spatialsql #apachesedona #wherobots

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 19/11/2024

From there I just connected the data into Snowflake, created the 3D geometries and line of sight with SedonaSnow (Apache Sedona in Snowflake), then loaded the result in QGIS. The tables loaded in under a few seconds for 125 million building footprints. docs.snowflake.com/en/user-guid...

docs.snowflake.com

Configure an external volume for Amazon S3 | Snowflake Documentation

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 19/11/2024

All this data was loaded in Iceberg tables in AWS S3 in my own buckets which Wherobots lets you connect to the platform so I can take that Iceberg table anywhere that supports it (see below) in this case Snowflake. docs.wherobots.com/latest/devel...

docs.wherobots.com

S3 Storage integration - Wherobots documentation

Wherobots is the Spatial Intelligence Cloud: the spatial data analytics and AI platform by the original creators of Apache Sedona.

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 19/11/2024

Next I did the same thing for the OpenCellID towers and also created a dataset with the average distance to buildings that do not have any line of sight conflict. The tower data was just a g'zipped CSV. www.opencellid.org#zoom=16&lat=...

opencellid.org

OpenCelliD - Open Database of Cell Towers & Geolocation

OpenCelliD is the largest Open Database of Cell Towers & their locations. You can geolocate IoT & Mobile devices without GPS, explore Mobile Operator coverage and more!

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Matt Forrest @forrest.nyc · 19/11/2024

From there I turned the files into a Sedona Dataframe and into an Iceberg table, which is basically Parquet data with a data schema that allows you to treat it like a SQL table. Read this for more information. iceberg.apache.org

iceberg.apache.org

Apache Iceberg - Apache Iceberg™

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