idea Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API in Developers Ideas

Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API

JoshuaBixby — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 11:54:35 GMT

I suggest adding __geo_interface__ support to arcgis.features and arcgis.geometry.

__geo_interface__ is "a GeoJSON-like protocol for geo-spatial (GIS) vector data." It follows a similar model/idea as NumPy's Array Interface. It was proposed or put forward in 2013, and more than a dozen geospatial Python applications (see Python Geo_interface applications) implement the protocol. The protocol allows for simple and efficient transferring of features and geometries between various geospatial Python packages.

ArcPy currently supports __geo_interface__ in its Geometry classes (it can be argued there is only partial support since the current implementation is broken in several ways). On a system with both ArcPy and Shapely installed, passing a geometry object from the former to the latter can be done efficiently with a single function call:

>>> import arcpy
>>> from shapely.geometry import shape
>>> 
>>> arc_polygon = arcpy.FromWKT('POLYGON((0 0, 10 0, 10 10, 0 10, 0 0))',
...                             arcpy.SpatialReference(3857))
... 
>>> arc_polygon.area
100.0
>>> 
>>> shapely_polygon = shape(arc_polygon)  # pass ArcPy geometry to Shapely
>>> 
>>> shapely_polygon.area
100.0
>>> shapely_polygon.buffer(1.0).area
143.13654849054595
>>>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Granted, there are numerous ways features and geometry objects can be passed between geospatial Python packages, but __geo_interface__ represents an established, open, well-adopted, and efficient means that should be supported within the ArcGIS Python API. Additionally, the protocol is lightweight and straightforward to implement.

Re: Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API

JoshuaBixby — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 21:23:21 GMT

https://community.esri.com/groups/arcgis-python-api?sr=search&searchId=50d754f8-2f12-4efb-b441-02e41a945a17&searchIndex=0‌, https://community.esri.com/community/developers/gis-developers/python?sr=search&searchId=1f448b11-3e32-43d9-8a16-9fc287315e41&searchIndex=0‌

Re: Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API

JoshuaBixby — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 23:05:55 GMT

Ironically, this has already been implemented, although parts of the support are broken at the moment.

Re: Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API

RohitSingh2 — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 19:22:59 GMT

Can you post which parts are broken on the Community forum or the SDK repo? We'll look into fixing them.

Re: Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API

JoshuaBixby — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 19:53:05 GMT

Rohit Singh‌, the issue is discussed in more detail here: https://community.esri.com/thread/210827-geointerface-generates-different-and-incorrect-output-when-arcpy-not-installed . The issue is isolated to when ArcPy is not installed. I can't speak for all the ways it is, or isn't, broken; but it definitely handles polygons with hole in them incorrectly when ArcPy is not installed.

Re: Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:58:54 GMT

almost 2 years on.... still under consideration

Re: Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API

JoshuaBixby — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:16:47 GMT

When I originally posted this Idea, it was already partially supported/implemented. The issue at the time were some edge cases that were not compliant, but as noted in https://community.esri.com/thread/210827-geointerface-generates-different-and-incorrect-output-when-arcpy-not-installed, those edge cases were address in version 1.5. For all intents and purposes, this Idea is "Implemented." Why wouldn't the ArcGIS API for Python team want to take credit for their work and update the status? No idea.

Re: Implement __geo_interface__ in ArcGIS Python API - Status changed to: Implemented

John-Foster — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 19:26:06 GMT