# What is your favorite mapping package?

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Tags:** question, plotting, geo, gmt\
**Created:** [October 27, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509 "2021-10-27T19:57:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![j\_u](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/j_u/32/219081_2.png) [@j\_u](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/j_u)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/21 "2021-10-29T14:00:04Z")

</div>

> [@joa-quim](#):
>
> **Problem 1:** […] In Linux it’s `xdg-open` , and that normally _comes_ with Linux. It seems that it’s not your case. You will have to install it.

It seems that I have only xdg:

```julia
whereis xdg
xdg: /etc/xdg

```

I am reading that “xdg-open is for use inside a desktop session only. It is not recommended to use `xdg-open` as root.” I am using remote machine accessing it via SSH and VS Code and that’s the way I am usually using Julia. I will try with GNOME desktop soon. Anyway, its not a big problem.

How can I direct GMT to save the file with the plot into desired location?

> [@joa-quim](#):
>
> **Problem 2:** […]  
> Please try as I said: `data = gmtread("/path/to/gpx"); imshow(data)` but be aware that the full control for line plots is provided by the `plot` function.

A.  
In case of `data = gmtread("/path/to/gpx");` I am getting:

`ERROR: LoadError: Must select one input data type (grid, image, dataset, cmap or ps)`

However, this syntax seems to work correctly with geojson, and semi correctly with kml. (As for geojson and kml please see the plots below as this is the same situation).

B.  
In case of `data = gmtread("/path/to/gpx", ogr=true);` I am getting:

`Vector{GMTdataset} with 0 segments`

With geojson everything seems to work ok, however, 180 meridian seems to be not automaticly recognized. Kml also seems to work but the plot is only showing half of my data. Enclosed please find the files with plots.

geojson:

 ![GMTjl_tmp_geojson](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/original/3X/d/d/ddc307061e8b088b8fdaa14f58e0a50b1f96b9b7.png)

kml:

 ![GMTjl_tmp_kml](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/original/3X/4/c/4c6f41b770cd1169dc3e901ec10413561025816e.png)

C.  
What would be the correct syntax to prepare the plot with both netCDF and geojson (gpx) data combined?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joa-quim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/joa-quim/32/227_2.png) [@joa-quim](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/joa-quim)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/22 "2021-10-29T15:30:07Z")

</div>

> [@j\_u](#):
>
> How can I direct GMT to save the file with the plot into desired location?

Use `savefig="figname"` Image format is picked from `figname` extension (default saves it in current dir)

The `gmtread` case. This function automatically detects many, raster and vector, formats. But not all. When it doesn’t you get that error message telling user that he/she must help a bit by specifying what type of data is expected to be read.

The `kml` and `json` cases. I would probably have to gave a look to the data (if we go into this detail level, please open an issue in GMT.jl so we don’t bother others with _package imperfections_). But generically, GMT knows how to wrap data around the the globe when it’s told that data is geographic and one asks for a projection. Otherwise, _dateline_ limit comes into play. There are configuration option in GMT to tell were we break the sphere. Default is _dateline_ but that can be set with the [FORMAT\_GEO\_OUT](https://docs.generic-mapping-tools.org/dev/gmt.conf.html#term-FORMAT_GEO_OUT) parameter that one would set probably as `par=(FORMAT_GEO_OUT="+D")` option in `imshow` or `plot` modules.  
Using `projection=:guess` often works pretty well and gets you a nice projected map (when the referencing system is known from input data).

**The gpx case**. Now here things look pretty more complicated. I made a couple of attempts and I’m puzzled because those files do not seem to be read very well by GDAL and violate the GDAL vector model. That is why you get that

```julia-auto
Vector{GMTdataset} with 0 segments

```

For example, if you try with (unzip attached file)

```julia-auto
julia> gmtread("25708.gpx", ogr=true)
Vector{GMTdataset} with 0 segments

```

But if you convert it to, for example, geopackage with

```julia-auto
ogr2ogr("25708.gpx", dest="25708.gpkg")

```

Then we can do (again, this can be made more user friendly if I can _teach_ `imshow` to recognize the file format)

```julia-auto
D = gmtread("25708.gpkg") # No need to tell it the format because ``.gpkg`` are automatically detected
imshow(D, proj=:guess, savefig="tricked_gpx.png")

```

 ![tricked_gpx](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/original/3X/8/a/8a415952ff54d4d4f7440f26495dc782ce736fc4.png)

> [@j\_u](#):
>
> What would be the correct syntax to prepare the plot with both netCDF and geojson (gpx) data combined?

We can continue this in another thread. Basically, use `grdimage()`, `plot!(...)`, etc. Remember GMT builds maps by layers.

P.S. Sorry, Discourse doesn’t let me attach a .zip or .gps file

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![j\_u](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/j_u/32/219081_2.png) [@j\_u](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/j_u)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/23 "2021-10-29T19:36:29Z")

</div>

> [@joa-quim](#):
>
> If you have a GDAL built with _expat_ (you do if you installed GMT.jl on Windows)

Thanks a lot for this intro to GMT! I really appreciate the time you took to provide the advice.

Just one more question, as it is not fully clear to me. You wrote:

“If you have a GDAL built with expat (you do if you installed GMT.jl on Windows)”

and on GDAL webpage [[GPX - GPS Exchange Format — GDAL documentation](https://gdal.org/drivers/vector/gpx.html?highlight=gpx)] it is written:

“OGR has support for GPX reading (if GDAL is build with expat library support) and writing.”

Do I have this read and write OGR GPX support if I am on Linux? It seems that _ogr2ogr gpx to gpkg_ conversion is working, however, I wanted to double check, thus the question. Is there any (other) way to check it?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joa-quim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/joa-quim/32/227_2.png) [@joa-quim](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/joa-quim)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 8:17pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/24 "2021-10-29T20:17:34Z")

</div>

You likely have the GDAL binaries as well so you should be able to do `ogr2ogr --formats` and see the list of available drivers.  
With the wrapper I don’t know how to list them all but you can do this.

```julia
julia> GMT.Gdal.GDALGetDriverCount()
220

julia> GMT.Gdal.OGRGetDriverCount()
83

julia> getdriver("gpx") # will be NULL if driver does not exist or the name is wrong
Driver: GPX/GPX

```

BTW, I think I fixed the `gpx` issue. If you update to GMT.jl#master the `gpx` format should be detected automatically and data loaded from it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![j\_u](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/j_u/32/219081_2.png) [@j\_u](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/j_u)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:17am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/25 "2021-10-30T00:17:12Z")

</div>

Thank you for the info.

I removed _GMT v0.38.0_ and added _GMT.jl#master_ which resulted in _GMT v0.38.0 `https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/GMT.jl.git#master`_ in my status.

On _GMT v0.38.0_ I was receiving:

```julia
julia> GMT.Gdal.GDALGetDriverCount()
0

julia> GMT.Gdal.OGRGetDriverCount()
0

julia> getdriver("gpx")
NULL Driver

```

On _GMT v0.38.0 `https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/GMT.jl.git#master`_ I am receiving:

```julia
julia> GMT.Gdal.GDALGetDriverCount()
215

julia> GMT.Gdal.OGRGetDriverCount()
80

julia> getdriver("gpx")
Driver: GPX/GPX

```

Among impressive list of supported formats _ogr2ogr --formats_ brings:

`GPX -vector- (rw+v): GPX`

so I guess GPX is supported.

However, when  
`data = gmtread("path/to/gpx", ogr=true)`  
I still see  
`Vector{GMTdataset} with 0 segments`  
and it is not possible to plot it due to  
`ERROR: Input has zero segments where it can't be.`

I did some additional tests, however, I was not able to overcome the limit of datetime line. If you find it suitable, I think that it might be better if you take a look at the underling data by yourself. Below please find the links to gpx and the same data in geojson. Should I be of any help please let me know.

[https://ibmb2.s3.eu-de.cloud-object-storage.appdomain.cloud/R1v1.geojson](https://ibmb2.s3.eu-de.cloud-object-storage.appdomain.cloud/R1v1.geojson)  
[https://ibmb2.s3.eu-de.cloud-object-storage.appdomain.cloud/R1v1.gpx](https://ibmb2.s3.eu-de.cloud-object-storage.appdomain.cloud/R1v1.gpx)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joa-quim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/joa-quim/32/227_2.png) [@joa-quim](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/joa-quim)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:53am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/26 "2021-10-30T00:53:39Z")

</div>

Hmm, I’m very surprised that you got

```julia
julia> GMT.Gdal.GDALGetDriverCount()
0

```

with 0.38.0 That is one of the CI tests that run on Linux and it always gets a (way) \> 0 count. But as I said in another thread, can we move this to the GMT forum? We are now talking on package implementation/(bugs?) details.

> **[GMT Community Forum](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/)**
>
> A forum for discussions and Q&A about the Generic Mapping Tools

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![j\_u](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/j_u/32/219081_2.png) [@j\_u](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/j_u)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/27 "2021-10-30T01:26:38Z")

</div>

> [@joa-quim](#):
>
> I’m very surprised that you got
> 
> ```julia
> julia> GMT.Gdal.GDALGetDriverCount()
> 0
> 
> ```
> 
> with 0.38.0 That is one of the CI tests that run on Linux and it always gets a (way) \> 0 count.

I will double check. There is a lot of new things associated with the GMT for me.

> [@joa-quim](#):
>
> But as I said in another thread, can we move this to the GMT forum? We are now talking on package implementation/(bugs?) details.

Thank you. Please expect a message from me there, however, this might not be immediately. I would like to take some time to at least slightly more familiarize myself with the software. I also mentioned that I have some due things related to this forum. I would like to underline that I am really interested in the GMT package.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![j\_u](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/j_u/32/219081_2.png) [@j\_u](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/j_u)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/28 "2021-10-30T22:34:15Z")

</div>

Hi, as I informed I did additional testing. I will try to be concise.

**GMT.Gdal.GDALGetDriverCount()**  
I can not exactly track the reason for` julia> GMT.Gdal.GDALGetDriverCount() 0` that I indicated in my post [https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/25](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/25)

I did 2 additional new installs in completely new Julia and Conda environments.

This time I saw `julia> GMT.Gdal.GDALGetDriverCount() 0` as well, however, it was on `https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/GMT.jl.git#master`. It was only once just after the package add. When I exited Julia and started again the number was 215. In the second environment, with `GMT v0.38.0`. I tried to replicate the situation and executed the command fresh after the package add and I saw 215. When / if I track the reason, I will let you know on GitHub. My current understanding is that all is working fine.

**GPX**

> [@joa-quim](#):
>
> BTW, I think I fixed the `gpx` issue. If you update to GMT.jl#master the `gpx` format should be detected automatically and data loaded from it.

I can not make gpx work directly. When I follow your suggestion and use gpkg everything works fine (almost, with dateline exception), however, when I try to plot directly from gpx I still see:

```julia
Vector{GMTdataset} with 0 segments
Vector{GMTdataset} with 0 segments

```

When I convert my file to gpkg and set:  
`imshow(data, proj=:guess, savefig="file_gpkg.png")`  
I see

```julia
psxy [WARNING]: Conical projections with full 360 longitude range require the projection central longitude to be at the mid-point
psxy [ERROR]: Option -R parsing failure. Correct syntax:
        -R<xmin>/<xmax>/<ymin>/<ymax>[/<zmin>/<zmax>]
          Append +r if giving lower left and upper right coordinates
        -Rg or -Rd for global domain
        -R<grdfile> to take the domain from a grid file
psxy [ERROR]: Offending option -R-180/180/34/57
ERROR: LoadError: Something went wrong when calling the module. GMT error number = 72

```

When I use `proj=:Mercator`, it results in a plot, however, there is still a problem with dateline.

**Note**  
As I indicated earlier, I am using Julia Version 1.8.0-DEV.829 (I am trying its new BLAS abilities) and PythonCall (due to some reasons it suites me better).

**#master**  
I would like to ask if `GMT v0.38.0` and `GMT v0.38.0 https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/GMT.jl.git#master` is the same thing? The numbers are the same. So far I mostly used registered packages. When I was using #master it happened that the new package version was different to the previous one. Now I see the same version numbers. I was on the GMT v0.38.0, and followed your suggestion to upgrade to #master thus the question.

---

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**Author:** ![joa-quim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/joa-quim/32/227_2.png) [@joa-quim](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/joa-quim)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/29 "2021-10-30T22:58:58Z")

</div>

Confusing, `GMT v0.38.0 https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/GMT.jl.git#master` should be the master version. And with that it works for me. Note that your data is geographic so if you plot it linearly you see the split you showed before. I made a couple of attempts and I get.

I will tag a new version (will be 0.38.1). Keep and eye on the GMT.jl repo (maybe a 1/2 till it gets done).

```julia
julia> D = gdalread("R1v1.gpx");
Warning 1: The output driver does not natively support DateTime type for field time. Misconversion can happen. -mapFieldType can be used to control field type conversion.
Warning 6: Field time create as date field, though DateTime requested.
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'geoidheight' to 'geoidheigh'
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'ageofdgpsdata' to 'ageofdgpsd'
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'route_point_id' to 'route_poin'
Warning 1: The output driver does not natively support DateTime type for field time. Misconversion can happen. -mapFieldType can be used to control field type conversion.
Warning 6: Field time create as date field, though DateTime requested.
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'geoidheight' to 'geoidheigh'
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'ageofdgpsdata' to 'ageofdgpsd'
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'track_seg_id' to 'track_seg_'
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'track_seg_point_id' to 'track_se_1'
Warning 1: The output driver does not natively support DateTime type for field time. Misconversion can happen. -mapFieldType can be used to control field type conversion.
Warning 6: Field time create as date field, though DateTime requested.
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'geoidheight' to 'geoidheigh'
Warning 6: Normalized/laundered field name: 'ageofdgpsdata' to 'ageofdgpsd'

julia> imshow(D, proj=:eqc, region=(135,240,34,57), par=(MAP_FRAME_TYPE="plain",))

```

 ![GMTjl_tmp](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/original/3X/3/d/3d2aa5abb38da449dd81b30bbe4a8d813612507c.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![j\_u](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/j_u/32/219081_2.png) [@j\_u](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/j_u)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/30 "2021-10-30T23:14:19Z")

</div>

I like it sharp and simple - no confusion. 😉 Thank you for taking the time, for providing solution and for all the explanations. I will look forward to GMT v0.38.1.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joa-quim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/joa-quim/32/227_2.png) [@joa-quim](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/joa-quim)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2021, 12:01am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/31 "2021-10-31T00:01:50Z")

</div>

Done. You can now do `] up` (but possibly you need to get out of the #master version)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![j\_u](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/j_u/32/219081_2.png) [@j\_u](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/j_u)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-your-favorite-mapping-package/70509/32 "2021-10-31T15:31:08Z")

</div>

Thanks for the info.

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