Preface

Preface#

Purpose of the Book#

Web Geographic Information Systems (Web GIS) have revolutionized how we interact with spatial data and create location-based applications. This book provides a comprehensive, practical guide to modern Web GIS development, focusing on open-source technologies and industry best practices.

In an era where interactive maps power everything from ride-sharing apps to environmental monitoring dashboards, understanding how to build robust, scalable Web GIS applications has become an essential skill for developers, GIS professionals, and data scientists alike.

This book bridges the gap between traditional GIS knowledge and modern web development practices, teaching you to create powerful geospatial applications using cutting-edge tools like MapLibre GL JS, React, TypeScript, and Next.js.

Target Audience#

This book is designed for:

  • Web developers looking to add geospatial capabilities to their applications

  • GIS professionals wanting to transition to web-based development

  • Data scientists who need to create interactive spatial visualizations

  • Students in geography, computer science, or related fields

  • Anyone interested in building location-aware web applications

Whether you’re building your first interactive map or architecting enterprise-level geospatial systems, this book provides the knowledge and practical examples you need to succeed.

Prerequisites#

To get the most out of this book, you should have:

Basic GIS Knowledge#

  • Understanding of coordinate systems and projections

  • Familiarity with common geospatial data formats (GeoJSON, Shapefile)

  • Basic knowledge of spatial concepts (points, lines, polygons)

JavaScript Familiarity#

  • Comfort with modern JavaScript (ES6+) syntax

  • Basic understanding of DOM manipulation

  • Familiarity with asynchronous programming (promises, async/await)

Web Development Basics#

  • HTML and CSS fundamentals

  • Understanding of client-server architecture

  • Basic command line usage

Don’t worry if you’re not an expert in all these areas—we’ll cover the essential concepts as we go, and provide resources for deeper learning when needed.

How to Use This Book#

This book is structured as a hands-on learning journey, progressing from fundamental concepts to advanced implementation techniques.

Learning Approach#

Progressive Complexity: Each chapter builds upon previous knowledge, introducing new concepts while reinforcing earlier lessons.

Practical Examples: Every concept is illustrated with real-world code examples that you can run and modify.

Modern Tools Focus: We emphasize current, actively-maintained libraries and frameworks that represent industry best practices.

Code Examples and GitHub Repository#

All code examples in this book are available in the accompanying GitHub repository at github.com/giswqs/webgis-book.

The repository includes:

  • Complete source code for all examples

  • Sample datasets for hands-on exercises

  • Additional resources and links

  • Errata and updates

Chapter Organization#

Each chapter follows a consistent structure:

  • Learning Objectives: Clear goals for what you’ll accomplish

  • Prerequisites: What you need to know before starting

  • Hands-on Examples: Step-by-step tutorials with code

  • Best Practices: Industry standards and recommendations

  • Further Reading: Resources for deeper exploration

Interactive Elements#

This book is published as a Jupyter Book, offering several interactive features:

  • Live Code Examples: Many code snippets can be executed directly in your browser

  • Downloadable Content: Easy access to example files and datasets

  • Cross-references: Clickable links between related concepts

  • Search Functionality: Quickly find specific topics or examples

Getting Help#

As you work through the examples, you might encounter issues or have questions. Here are some resources:

  • GitHub Issues: Report problems or ask questions in the book’s repository

  • Community Forums: Engage with other readers and the broader Web GIS community

  • Documentation Links: We provide extensive links to official documentation for all tools covered

A Note on Technology Choices#

The Web GIS landscape is rich with options, and technology choices can be overwhelming. This book focuses on:

  • Open-source solutions that offer flexibility and community support

  • Modern JavaScript frameworks that enable scalable, maintainable applications

  • Industry-standard tools with strong community adoption

  • Cross-platform compatibility ensuring your applications work everywhere

While we can’t cover every possible tool or approach, the principles and patterns you’ll learn are transferable to other technologies and frameworks.

Acknowledgments#

This book wouldn’t be possible without the incredible open-source community that has built the tools and libraries we rely on. Special thanks to the maintainers of MapLibre GL JS, React, TypeScript, and the countless other projects that make modern Web GIS development possible.

Let’s begin your journey into modern Web GIS development!

Contents