This presentation will provide an introduction to using Geopackage (and to some extent, Spatialite) spatial databases without using specialized geographic information systems (GIS) software. This doesn't mean that it is a GIS replacement, but GIS software learning curves are steep, and may not be necessary depending on your needs.

Not sure if this is for you? Here are some situations where Geopackages can be useful:

• if you’re familiar with databases but not GIS software
• to analyse spatial data when the output is not a map (e.g. calculate distance between points)
• to filter or manipulate spatial data before opening it in GIS software (e.g. if source dataset is large)
• to work with spatial data where GIS software is not available (e.g. in mobile app development)

The only software you will need is an interface to SQLite (we will use DB Browser for SQLite). The presentation also presupposes some knowledge of SQL (structured query language), although if you don't know any it may still be of use to you.

After completion you should have an understanding of:

• What a geopackage is and what it does
• How to perform basic queries
• How to perform some basic geographic operations
• How to export your data, either as a data table or in a spatial format.

The presentation will be one hour, followed by an optional 30-minute practice period to reinforce what you learned or consult with the presenters.

Paul Lesack, Data/GIS Analyst, UBC Library
Jeremy Buhler, Data Librarian, UBC Library