Mapbox Vector Tile (MVT) is a Python library for encoding and decoding Mapbox Vector Tiles. It is currently at version 2.2.0 and receives active maintenance releases, typically addressing dependency updates and minor improvements. MVTs are an efficient format for tiled vector data, commonly used in web mapping applications for performant rendering.
pip install mapbox-vector-tileVerified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.
Demonstrates encoding a simple GeoJSON-like structure (using WKT geometries) into a Mapbox Vector Tile and then decoding it back. The `encode` method expects a list of layer dictionaries, each containing a name and a list of features with geometry (WKT, WKB, or Shapely object) and properties. The `decode` method returns a dictionary where keys are layer names and values are the decoded layer data.
Upgrade your Python environment to 3.9 or later. If you need Python 2 compatibility, you must use a version older than 2.0.0.
If you require the exact output format of `decode()` from versions prior to 2.0.0, explicitly set `geojson=False` in your `decode()` call (e.g., `mapbox_vector_tile.decode(tile_data, geojson=False)`). Otherwise, adapt your code to handle the RFC7946 compliant output.
For performance-critical applications, consider installing the C++ `protobuf` bindings for your system. This may involve installing `libprotoc` and `protobuf-compiler` packages, and setting environment variables like `PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION=cpp` and `PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION=2` before running your Python program. Refer to the `protobuf` library's documentation for detailed installation instructions for your specific OS.
Ensure your input geometries are OGC-valid. Use libraries like Shapely to validate and, if necessary, fix geometries (e.g., `shapely.validation.make_valid`). Pay close attention to polygon winding orders for complex polygons with holes.
Before encoding, flatten any `GeometryCollection` features into their constituent 'Point', 'LineString', or 'Polygon' geometries. You will need to process the input GeoJSON to extract individual geometry types.
If you need the pre-2.0.0 output format, pass `geojson=False` to the `decode` method: `decoded_data = mapbox_vector_tile.decode(tile_bytes, geojson=False)`. Otherwise, adjust your code to expect the RFC7946 compliant GeoJSON output structure.
Ensure that exterior rings of polygons are clockwise and interior rings (holes) are counter-clockwise when viewed in screen coordinates. Validate geometries for self-intersections or other invalid conditions before encoding. The library's internal `on_invalid_geometry_make_valid` option can help, but pre-validation is often more robust.