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Welcome to the Geospatial Explorer tutorials

In this tutorial series, you will use the Geospatial Explorer Configuration Builder to create your own Geospatial Explorer solution.

Tutorials are divided into "core" and "topic" tutorials.

"Core" tutorials introduce the Geospatial Explorer and the Configuration Builder and get you started creating your first simple configuration. It is recommended that anybody working with the Geospatial Explorer for the first time follows these tutorials in the order they are listed.

"Topic" tutorials explore a specific area of functionality. You can dive straight into any topic of interest in any order. For example, a "Time series" tutorial could be done before a "statistics" tutorial or vice versa. Topics with similar names and #1, #2 suffixes, etc., would generally be done in sequence; this would be clarified in the pre-requisites of each topic.

What you need

Here is the best bit. The tutorials require:

  • No Earth observation experience.
  • No software development experience.
  • No pre-installed tools or environments on your machine.
  • No detailed technical knowledge.
  • The only requirement is a computer with a web browser and internet access.

The tutorials make use of a few key technologies and data formats, in particular:

  • Cloud Optimised GeoTIFF (COG) files
  • Mapping services, such as WMS / WMTS and XYZ tile services
  • Vector data in GeoJSON and FlatGeobuf format
  • SpatioTemporal Asset Catalogs (STAC)

Some basic understanding of these concepts is useful but not essential. The tutorials make use of them but do not aim to teach them.

Tutorial setup

For the majority of tutorials you will be consulting this guide while working with the Geospatial Explorer Configuration Builder.

  • Modern browser required. Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari (latest version) will all work. The Config Builder is a single-page web app — nothing to install.
  • Two monitors are ideal. Keep the Config Builder open on one screen and this guide on the other so you can follow along without switching windows.
  • One monitor is fine too. If you only have one screen, open the Config Builder and this guide in two separate browser tabs and switch between them as you work through each step.
  • One monitor and phone. If you want to avoid too much tab switching, you might find it easier to read the tutorial instructions on your phone and follow them on your monitor — then just switch tabs for things like copying URLs to the clipboard. Scan this QR code to open the Tutorials home page on your phone:

QR code linking to the Tutorials home page

Each tutorial is broken into short steps, most of which take 5 to 10 minutes. Use the tutorial menu to see the full outline of tutorials and jump to any step. The tutorial menu is to the left of the page, or in the top-left dropdown menu if accessed on a phone. At the bottom of each page, the Previous and Next arrows step you through the tutorials in order.

If you fall behind, don't worry — you can catch up quickly by jumping to the current step.

Tutorial pre-requisites

Each tutorial has its own "home" page explaining what it will cover, followed by a pre-requisites step. This tells you which other tutorials we recommend you complete first. If you have done those tutorials, you can keep using the configuration you have been working on. If not, and you want to dive straight in, the pre-requisites page provides a suitable starting configuration.

Tutorials 2 and 3 build directly on Tutorial 1. The remaining tutorials assume completion of all core tutorials (1–3), or existing familiarity with the Configuration Builder.

Workshops

If attending a workshop, the tutorial content will be used as a combination of facilitator-led demonstrations and self-paced learning exercises.

Interrupt the facilitator at any time — questions are welcome and usually help everyone. If you get stuck on a step, flag it early rather than falling behind.

BYO data

The tutorials use cloud-hosted data sources — such as Cloud Optimised GeoTIFF (COG) files, WMS / WMTS services and more — so you can follow along without preparing anything in advance.

If you have your own data at a publicly accessible URL, you are welcome to try substituting it in the tutorials. If you are doing this in a workshop environment, whilst your facilitator may be more than happy to help if possible, we can't use workshop sessions to troubleshoot any issues with your own data, as this is likely to impact attention for the other delegates.