Crunch Vectors with GeoPandas

Overview

Working with spatial data means more than making maps—it means producing results that planners and decision-makers can trust. In this short, hands-on course, Crunch Vectors with GeoPandas, learners practice transforming raw vector data into map-ready, planning-quality insights using GeoPandas. Through realistic examples and guided activities, learners perform spatial joins between cities and counties, choose spatial relationships intentionally, reproject data to EPSG:3857 for web mapping, and summarize attributes into clear service-territory totals. Designed for beginner data analysts, this course builds confidence in spatial reasoning, validation, and aggregation—helping learners deliver datasets that support accurate mapping, reporting, and real-world planning decisions.

Syllabus

Connect Places: Spatial Joins for Territory Analysis

In this lesson, you will explore spatial joins in GeoPandas by connecting cities to their corresponding counties. Through a planning-focused scenario, learners practice selecting the appropriate spatial predicate, validating join results, and identifying common issues that can affect service-territory analysis.

Make It Map-Ready: Reprojection and Aggregation

In this lesson, you will explore how coordinate reference systems affect spatial accuracy and why reprojection to EPSG:3857 is required for web mapping. Through videos, readings, reflection, and hands-on practice, you will prepare spatial data that aligns correctly with web maps and supports planning-ready analysis.

Summarizing and Interpreting Territory Totals

In this lesson, you will analyze how to group spatial data into territory-level totals, evaluate how aggregation choices affect interpretation, and validate results to produce planning-ready insights.