Our platform officially supports the following dataset formats for upload:
- CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
- FlatGeobuf
- GeoJSON
- GeoTIFF (For raster data)
- KML (Keyhole Markup Language)
- Parquet / GeoParquet
- Shapefile (Typically uploaded as a .zip or by dragging the .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj bundle)
- File Geodatabase (.gdb)
- Zarr (Multi-dimensional raster arrays; Zarr v2 and v3 stores or inside .zip archives)
- Google Drive Direct Import (Direct cloud-to-workspace file import)
Drawing and Managing Areas of Interest (AOIs)
The Area of Interest (AOI) feature lets you sketch custom geographic boundaries directly on the map using either a freehand tool or a rectangle tool. Once you name and save an AOI to your Data Catalog, it becomes a reusable spatial layer that you can organize into folders, display or hide on the map, zoom to instantly, rename, edit, share across sessions, or export.
Saved AOIs can also be passed directly to the platform's AI Agent to define your study area for downstream analysis—such as clipping datasets to exact borders or restricting data downloads to only the relevant spatial region—allowing you to set up your boundary once and reuse it across all your workflows.
Our platform offers robust export capabilities, allowing you to download your spatial datasets in the formats and Coordinate Reference Systems (CRS) that best suit your workflow.
- Vector Data Exports:
- Shapefile (.shp) – Traditional format for compatibility with legacy GIS software.
- GeoJSON (.geojson) – Lightweight, open format ideal for web applications and developer workflows.
- GeoParquet (.parquet) – High-performance, cloud-native columnar storage optimized for large-scale vector datasets.
- FlatGeobuf (.fgb) – An efficient, streamable binary encoding for geographic data.
- KML (.kml) – Keyhole Markup Language, optimized for Google Earth.
- Raster Data Exports:
- Universal Format: Currently, all raster datasets are exported exclusively in GeoTIFF format.
- What's Next: Support for additional raster export formats will be introduced in upcoming platform updates.
Automatic Zoom-to-Layer with a double-click
Double-clicking the eye icon next to any layer now automatically zooms the map to fit that layer's entire area on your screen, eliminating the need to search for off-screen data. When enabled, it allows you to toggle a layer on and immediately bring it into full view with a double click, streamlining navigation and saving time across your visual workflows.
Exporting the Map as an Image or PDF
The Map Export feature allows you to quickly convert your active map view into a shareable PNG, JPEG, or PDF file directly from the map interface. Unlike a standard screen capture, exports are rendered at high resolution to ensure crisp text, sharp spatial features, and clean layouts suitable for presentations, reports, or printed materials. The export seamlessly preserves your basemap alongside all visible data layers and their active styling, ensuring your visual customizations are fully captured. Additionally, you have full control over the final presentation, with the option to include or exclude the map legend depending on whether you need detailed context or a clean map view.
CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
- How to Upload: Drag and drop your
.csv file directly into the Layers panel or use the global upload interface. Ensure your file contains clear coordinate columns (such as latitude and longitude) or well-known text (WKT) geometry strings.
- Platform Processing: The platform automatically parses the tabular text, detecting spatial headers and converting coordinate records into renderable spatial attributes.
- How to Use: View the points instantly plotted across the interactive map canvas, open the dataset as a full attribute table to inspect rows, or use natural language prompts in the assistant panel to execute spatial queries and distance calculations.
FlatGeobuf
- How to Upload: Upload your
.fgb file seamlessly through the file catalog upload zone.
- Platform Processing: Because it utilizes a modern spatial index structure based on FlatBuffers, the platform indexes the features on the fly without requiring heavy server-side pre-parsing.
- How to Use: Stream massive vector datasets directly into the viewport, query specific spatial bounds dynamically via agentic chat instructions, and run high-speed vector overlays.
GeoJSON
- How to Upload: Drop your
.geojson or .json file into the upload workspace.
- Platform Processing: The platform parses the structural JSON objects, mapping geometries and properties directly into the data catalog as clean vector layers.
- How to Use: Instantly visualize points, lines, or polygons over your base map, inspect feature properties via attribute tables, or incorporate the data into downstream spatial analysis pipelines.
GeoTIFF (For Raster Data)
- How to Upload: Upload your
.tif or .tiff raster file via the data layers interface.
- Platform Processing: The platform extracts embedded geospatial metadata (including coordinate reference systems, bounding boxes, and affine transformations) to align the raster correctly.
- How to Use: Seamlessly drape digital elevation models, climate grids, or satellite imagery over terrain layers, and pass the raster data into advanced upsampling or zonal analytics workflows.
KML (Keyhole Markup Language)
- How to Upload: Select and upload your
.kml (or compressed .kmz) file into the platform catalog.
- Platform Processing: The system translates XML-based geographic annotations, paths, and custom polygon boundaries into native platform vector structures.
- How to Use: Visualize custom boundaries or project markers directly on the map canvas, measure distances, or intersect them with other catalog layers using conversational commands.
Parquet / GeoParquet
- How to Upload: Upload your
.parquet or .geoparquet cloud-native files through the layer manager.
- Platform Processing: The system reads the optimized columnar storage format, leveraging embedded spatial column metadata for instant multi-gigabyte ingestion.
- How to Use: Leverage the dataset for high-performance distributed spatial analytics, fast spatial joins, and large-scale vector processing managed directly through the assistant panel.
Shapefile
- How to Upload: Compress your complete Shapefile bundle (
.shp for geometry, .shx for positional index, .dbf for attributes, and .prj for coordinate systems) into a .zip archive, or drag the multi-file bundle together directly into the upload area.
- Platform Processing: The system automatically correlates the companion files to reconstruct the fully qualified vector layer without leaving loose file clutter in your directory.
- How to Use: Render legacy vector layers directly on the map, open tabular attributes for data verification, and export or analyze the dataset within any platform workflow.
File Geodatabase (.gdb)
- How to Upload a File Geodatabase (.gdb):
- Zip the Directory: Compress your Esri File Geodatabase folder into a standard
.zip archive (containing the .gdb structure and its internal files).
- Initiate Upload: Go to the Layers panel on the left side of the interface and use the upload option to select or drag and drop your zipped
.gdb file.
- Single Item Representation: Unlike traditional methods that leave you with a pile of loose raw files, the zipped archive will upload and appear as a single cohesive item in your upload list.
- Processing and Catalog Structure:
- Automatic Ingestion: Once processing is complete, the platform parses the internal contents of the geodatabase.
- Folder Organization: All assets contained within the GDB—including feature classes, standalone tables, and rasters—are automatically organized and listed in the Data Catalog.
- Naming: They appear nested inside a dedicated folder named directly after the uploaded GDB.
- How to Use GDB Layers in the Platform:
- Every individual layer extracted from the geodatabase functions just like any other native file in the data catalog. You can interact with them across the workspace using the following capabilities:
- Visualize: View individual vector or raster layers directly on the main map canvas.
- Inspect Data: Open attribute tables for feature classes or standalone tables to review records.
- Run Spatial Analysis: Incorporate the layers into your agentic spatial tasks, workflows, or modeling pipelines via the assistant panel.
- Export: Export layers individually in any supported format as needed.
Zarr (Multidimensional Raster Arrays)
- How to Upload: Upload a supported Zarr store or a
.zip archive containing Zarr data through the Data Catalog upload interface or chat composer.
- Platform Processing: Supports both Zarr v2 and v3 specifications. GriidAi automatically parses multidimensional arrays, analyzing available variables, time intervals, and depth or elevation dimensions.
- How to Use: Review the discovered variables and dimensions in the slice selector, choose the specific variables and slices required for your analysis (supporting up to 1,000 selected outputs per upload), and add them directly to the session as raster assets for map visualization and geospatial calculation.
Google Drive Import
- How to Import: Select the Google Drive option in the upload interface, authenticate your Google account, and browse your files. Drive import supports CSV, FlatGeobuf, GeoJSON, GeoTIFF, KML, Parquet, and Shapefile.
- Platform Processing: The platform performs pre-import validation to verify supported GIS file formats before ingestion starts.
- How to Use: Import supported files directly from Google Drive into your active workspace without downloading them manually. Zarr imports are not currently supported from Google Drive; upload a Zarr store through the Data Catalog or chat composer instead. For browser issues, see the Google Drive Import — Browser Troubleshooting Guide.
- Troubleshooting: See the Google Drive Import — Browser Troubleshooting Guide.
Managing Your Export History (Export Catalog)
Once an export task is triggered and completed, your files are stored safely in the Export Catalog.
Upload Data
GriidAi offers multiple intuitive ways to ingest datasets into your workspace:
- Data Catalog Upload: The upload drop zone in the left Data Catalog panel brings data files and existing layers together in a single unified view.
- Direct Chat Composer Upload: You can also upload directly within the prompt composer box in the chat panel. This lets you upload spatial datasets on the fly without interrupting your conversational train of thought.
Upload Capabilities: Zipped Files & Folder Uploads
Our data upload tool includes intelligent parsing and flexible file management options:
- Zipped File Support: You can upload compressed ZIP archives containing various spatial data formats. The platform automatically extracts, identifies, and validates the contents inside.
- Full Folder Uploads: Instead of zipping your datasets, you can upload an entire uncompressed folder from your local machine straight to the Data Catalog. The platform will batch-upload all supported GIS files contained within that folder at once.
- Drag-and-Drop Batch Uploads: Drag and drop all the individual files you want to import directly into the upload drop zone to batch-upload multiple datasets at once without needing to pre-organize them.
Folder Management in the Data Catalog
To help you keep your workspace structured and tidy, the Data Catalog includes robust folder management features:
- Creating and Nesting Folders: Organize files into custom folder structures. The platform supports deeply nested subfolders.
- Menu-Driven Relocation (With Search): Click the three-dots menu icon (...) next to any folder and select the move option. A modal with a built-in search bar will appear to let you quickly find the target destination.
- Drag-and-Drop: Click and drag any folder or file directly within the Data Catalog panel and drop it into another folder.
Dynamic Map Layer Ordering via the Data Catalog
The visual hierarchy of your map—determining which vector or raster layers appear on top of others—is now directly controlled by the arrangement of your files in the Data Catalog.
- How it Works: The vertical order of your datasets inside the Data Catalog panel directly reflects their overlay order on the map canvas. Layers at the top of the list render on top of layers below them.
- Easy Rearrangement: Drag and drop layers into your preferred position within the catalog list to automatically optimize map visibility.
File Sharing Across Sessions
The Share File to another Session feature allows you to seamlessly transfer datasets, layers, and project .csv files from one active session to another without re-uploading.
- Read-Accessible Only: Shared files are completely read-accessible in the target session. Edits made in the target session will absolutely not affect the original dataset.
- Automatic Expiration: Shared references expire automatically when the source session is closed or if the original file is deleted from the source catalog.
Bulk File Operations (Delete & Move)
Managing large volumes of geospatial data is now much more efficient with support for bulk operations:
- Bulk Move: Select multiple vector or raster files at once and move them into your preferred target folder in a single action.
- Bulk Delete: Clean up your workspace by selecting expired, redundant, or temporary datasets and deleting them permanently.
- Bulk Share: Select multiple files from the Data Catalog and share them with another chat session. Click Select Multiple next to New Folder, choose the files, select Share, and choose the destination session.
When exploring your vector data, you can easily view the detailed attributes of any specific point, line, or polygon directly from the map interface without needing to open the full attribute table.
To view a feature's data, simply click on the feature (such as a specific building, parcel, or boundary) directly on the map. This action opens the Feature Information Popup.
Inside the Information Popup
The popup provides a quick, easy-to-read summary of the selected feature's underlying data:
- Header / Title: The top of the popup displays the name of the dataset or the primary identifier for the selected feature.
- Attribute List: Below the header, you will see a clean list of the feature's attributes (columns from your dataset) on the left, paired with their specific values on the right.
- Close Button (
x): Click the x in the top right corner to close the popup and return to exploring the map.
View in Table Link
If the quick summary isn't enough and you want to see this feature in the context of your entire dataset, click the blue View in Table → link at the bottom of the popup.
This will automatically open the full Attribute Table at the bottom of your screen with the specific row for your selected feature highlighted, allowing you to perform deeper analysis, sorting, filtering, or multi-selections.
Field Renaming Feature
Feature Overview & Purpose
- What it Does: Allows users to clean up messy or cryptic column names instantly in place, eliminating the need to re-upload files or create duplicate datasets just to fix a name.
- Global Synchronization: Changes apply immediately and are automatically reflected everywhere the field is used across the platform, including existing map styling and active filters.
- Manual Renaming via Table View:
- Open your dataset as a table within the interface.
- Locate the target column header.
- Click the rename icon directly on the column header to modify the field name in place.
- Conversational Renaming via Agent Assistant:
- Use natural language prompts in the assistant panel to instruct the AI to rename one or more fields (e.g., "Rename the column 'lat_coord' to 'latitude'").
- The agent processes the instruction and updates the schema instantly across your workspace workflows and visualizations.