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Geospatial gRPC Standard

The first open, vendor-neutral gRPC protocol specification for geospatial services.

🗺️ High-performance binary protocol optimized for spatial data 🔧 Strongly-typed interface definitions preventing runtime errors 📡 Streaming capabilities for large dataset handling 🤝 Real-time collaboration features for modern workflows 🌐 Vendor-neutral specification preventing lock-in

Vision

This project establishes the gRPC for the masses in geospatial software - a modern alternative to fragmented, vendor-specific protocols that create lock-in and limit interoperability.

Strategic Goals:

  • Pioneer the first open gRPC geospatial standard
  • Submit to OGC as next-generation protocol specification
  • Present at FOSS4G 2026 with industry adoption examples
  • Enable vendor-neutral ecosystem development
  • Democratize high-performance geospatial development

Protocol Specification

Core Services

  • FeatureService: CRUD operations on spatial features
  • FormService: Mobile data collection and form management
  • MapService (planned): Tile generation and map rendering
  • GeometryService (planned): Spatial operations and projections
  • CollaborationService (planned): Real-time multi-user editing

Key Features

  • Binary Protocol Efficiency: 60-80% payload reduction vs JSON/XML
  • Mobile Data Collection: Complete form-based field data collection (alternative to OpenRosa)
  • 12 Spatial Relationships: Complete OGC Simple Features support
  • Streaming Support: Memory-efficient processing of large datasets
  • Strong Typing: Compile-time validation prevents runtime errors
  • Real-time Collaboration: Multi-user form editing with conflict resolution
  • Multi-language Support: Auto-generated clients for Go, Python, .NET, TypeScript

Quick Start

Using buf.build Registry (setup in progress)

# buf.yaml
name: buf.build/your-org/your-project
deps:
  - buf.build/geospatial/standard:v0.1.0
buf generate

Local Development

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/mikemcdougall/geospatial-grpc-standard.git
cd geospatial-grpc-standard

# Install buf
brew install bufbuild/buf/buf

# Validate and generate
buf lint
buf generate

# Generated code available in reference-implementations/

Setting up buf.build Registry

Once you have buf.build access:

# Setup the registry (requires buf.build account)
./scripts/setup-registry.sh v0.1.0

Language Examples

TypeScript/JavaScript (coming soon)

import { FeatureServiceClient } from '@geospatial/grpc-standard';

const client = new FeatureServiceClient('your-server.com:443');

const response = await client.queryFeatures({
  serviceId: 'my-service',
  layerId: 1,
  where: 'population > 100000'
});

console.log(`Found ${response.features.length} features`);

Python

import grpc
from geospatial.v1 import feature_service_pb2_grpc as fs_grpc
from geospatial.v1 import feature_service_pb2 as fs_pb2

channel = grpc.secure_channel('your-server.com:443', grpc.ssl_channel_credentials())
client = fs_grpc.FeatureServiceStub(channel)

request = fs_pb2.QueryFeaturesRequest(
    service_id='my-service',
    layer_id=1,
    where='population > 100000'
)

response = client.QueryFeatures(request)
print(f"Found {len(response.features)} features")

Go

package main

import (
    "context"
    "crypto/tls"
    "fmt"
    pb "github.com/geospatial-grpc/standard/gen/go/geospatial/v1"
    "google.golang.org/grpc"
    "google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
)

func main() {
    creds := credentials.NewTLS(&tls.Config{})
    conn, _ := grpc.Dial("your-server.com:443", grpc.WithTransportCredentials(creds))
    defer conn.Close()

    client := pb.NewFeatureServiceClient(conn)

    response, _ := client.QueryFeatures(context.Background(), &pb.QueryFeaturesRequest{
        ServiceId: "my-service",
        LayerId:   1,
        Where:     "population > 100000",
    })

    fmt.Printf("Found %d features\n", len(response.Features))
}

.NET

using Grpc.Net.Client;
using Geospatial.V1;

using var channel = GrpcChannel.ForAddress("https://your-server.com:443");
var client = new FeatureService.FeatureServiceClient(channel);

var request = new QueryFeaturesRequest
{
    ServiceId = "my-service",
    LayerId = 1,
    Where = "population > 100000"
};

var response = await client.QueryFeaturesAsync(request);
Console.WriteLine($"Found {response.Features.Count} features");

Mobile Data Collection

The FormService provides a modern, gRPC-native alternative to OpenRosa XML forms, optimized for mobile field data collection:

TypeScript/React Native (coming soon)

import { FormServiceClient } from '@geospatial/grpc-standard';

const formClient = new FormServiceClient('your-server.com:443');

// Get form definition for mobile rendering
const formResponse = await formClient.getFormDefinition({
  formId: 'asset-inspection',
  serviceId: 'utility-assets',
  layerId: 1,
  mobileCapabilities: {
    hasCamera: true,
    hasGps: true,
    platform: 'ios',
    networkType: 'CELLULAR'
  }
});

// Submit completed form as feature
const submission = await formClient.submitFormData({
  formId: 'asset-inspection',
  instance: {
    fieldValues: {
      'asset_id': { stringValue: 'POLE-12345' },
      'condition': { stringValue: 'Good' },
      'photo': { stringValue: 'captured-photo.jpg' },
      'location': { stringValue: 'POINT(-122.4194 37.7749)' }
    }
  },
  attachments: [photoAttachment],
  metadata: {
    deviceId: 'mobile-device-123',
    platform: 'ios',
    latitude: 37.7749,
    longitude: -122.4194
  }
});

console.log(`Created feature ${submission.createdFeatureId}`);

Python Mobile SDK (coming soon)

from geospatial.v1 import form_service_pb2_grpc as form_grpc
from geospatial.v1 import form_service_pb2 as form_pb2

# Get form definition
form_client = form_grpc.FormServiceStub(channel)

form_request = form_pb2.GetFormDefinitionRequest(
    form_id='field-survey',
    service_id='environmental-data',
    layer_id=2,
    mobile_capabilities=form_pb2.MobileCapabilities(
        has_camera=True,
        has_gps=True,
        platform='android',
        network_type=form_pb2.NETWORK_TYPE_WIFI
    )
)

form_response = form_client.GetFormDefinition(form_request)

# Submit form data
submission = form_pb2.SubmitFormDataRequest(
    form_id='field-survey',
    instance=form_pb2.FormInstance(
        field_values={
            'species': form_pb2.AttributeValue(string_value='Douglas Fir'),
            'height_meters': form_pb2.AttributeValue(double_value=25.5),
            'health_rating': form_pb2.AttributeValue(int32_value=4)
        }
    )
)

result = form_client.SubmitFormData(submission)

.NET MAUI

using Geospatial.V1;

var formClient = new FormService.FormServiceClient(channel);

// Get form optimized for mobile device
var formRequest = new GetFormDefinitionRequest
{
    FormId = "infrastructure-inspection",
    ServiceId = "city-assets",
    LayerId = 3,
    MobileCapabilities = new MobileCapabilities
    {
        HasCamera = true,
        HasGps = true,
        Platform = "windows",
        DeviceType = "tablet",
        NetworkType = NetworkType.Wifi
    }
};

var formResponse = await formClient.GetFormDefinitionAsync(formRequest);

// Submit with photo attachment
var submission = new SubmitFormDataRequest
{
    FormId = "infrastructure-inspection",
    Instance = new FormInstance
    {
        FieldValues = {
            { "asset_type", new AttributeValue { StringValue = "Bridge" } },
            { "condition_score", new AttributeValue { Int32Value = 8 } },
            { "inspection_date", new AttributeValue { DatetimeValue = DateTimeOffset.Now.ToUnixTimeMilliseconds() } }
        }
    },
    Attachments = { photoAttachment }
};

var result = await formClient.SubmitFormDataAsync(submission);

Protocol Architecture

Data Types

Geometry Types (OGC Simple Features):

  • Point, MultiPoint
  • LineString (Polyline), MultiLineString
  • Polygon, MultiPolygon

Spatial Operations:

  • 12 spatial relationships (Intersects, Contains, Within, etc.)
  • On-the-fly coordinate transformations
  • Spatial filtering with buffer support
  • Statistical aggregations

Streaming Patterns:

// Server streaming for large datasets
rpc QueryFeaturesStream(QueryFeaturesRequest) returns (stream FeaturePage);

// Bidirectional streaming for real-time collaboration (planned)
rpc CollaborateStream(stream Operation) returns (stream OperationResult);

Performance Benefits

  • Binary Encoding: 60-80% smaller payloads vs JSON
  • HTTP/2 Multiplexing: Multiple concurrent operations per connection
  • Streaming Support: Handle datasets larger than memory
  • Connection Reuse: Eliminate connection overhead
  • Compression: Built-in gzip/brotli support

Industry Impact

Competitive Advantage

vs. Esri ArcGIS REST Services:

  • 10x better performance on mobile networks
  • Strong typing eliminates runtime errors
  • Streaming prevents memory exhaustion
  • Vendor-neutral protocol

vs. OGC WFS/WCS:

  • Modern HTTP/2 transport
  • Efficient binary encoding
  • Real-time capabilities
  • Developer-friendly tooling

Standards Leadership

OGC Submission Path:

  • RFC development with community input
  • Industry implementation validation
  • Standards working group participation
  • Next-generation protocol adoption

Project Status

Current Release: v0.1.0 (Preview)

✅ Feature Service: Complete CRUD operations with ApplyEdits ✅ Form Service: Mobile data collection (alternative to OpenRosa) ✅ Spatial Filtering: 12 relationship types ✅ Streaming Support: Large dataset handling ✅ Real-time Collaboration: Multi-user form editing ✅ Multi-language: Go, Python, .NET generation ✅ Mobile Optimization: Device-aware form rendering ✅ Protocol Documentation: Comprehensive specification ⏳ Map Service: Tile generation (planned) ⏳ Geometry Service: Spatial operations (planned) ⏳ buf.build Registry: Public package distribution (in setup)

Roadmap

Q2 2026:

  • Map Service specification and implementation
  • JavaScript/TypeScript client libraries
  • Performance benchmarking framework
  • Migration tools from proprietary formats

Q3 2026:

  • Real-time collaboration services
  • Geometry service spatial operations
  • OGC standards submission preparation
  • FOSS4G 2026 presentation preparation

Contributing

We welcome contributions from the geospatial community! See our Contributing Guide for:

  • Protocol design feedback
  • Reference implementations
  • Performance optimizations
  • Documentation improvements
  • Migration tools

High-Priority Contributions Needed

  • Map Service specification and implementation
  • JavaScript/TypeScript client generation
  • Java/Kotlin Android compatibility
  • Performance benchmarks vs existing protocols
  • Migration guides from Esri/OGC services

Community

License

Licensed under the Apache License 2.0 - see the full license text for details.

Copyright © 2026 Geospatial gRPC Standard Contributors

Recognition

This project emerged from the Honua Server open-source geospatial platform, demonstrating production-ready gRPC geospatial services at scale.

Ready to revolutionize geospatial protocols? Get started with the specification or contribute to the project! 🚀

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Open gRPC standard for geospatial services - the first industry-standard protocol for modern GIS applications

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