Install Python GIS environment using YML configuration file

Installing various GIS packages in Python can be sometimes a bit tricky because there might exist complex dependencies that requires specific versions of different packages and even specific version of Python itself. The easiest way to get the installation working smoothly is to build a dedicated Python environment for GIS using conda and preferably installing packages using mostly the same conda channel. Using dedicated environment has the advantage that you can load the environment when needed. In this way, it won’t break any existing installations that you might have.

There are basically three steps required to install GIS packages and start using them in your operating system:

1. Download suitable environment file (.yml) to your operating system
2. Install packages and create a dedicated conda environment for gis
3. Activate the environment and start using the packages

1. Download environment file for your operating system

A dedicated repository contains a list of .yml environment files created for different operating systems (work in progress). Go to https://github.com/Automating-GIS-processes/install repository.

You should download a version that suites your operating system and then follow the instructions below.

2. Install GIS packages into dedicated environment

Once you have downloaded the yml file that fits your operating system you can install the packages by using following command:

$ conda env create -f gis-win-10.yml

Note

Solving the environment and installing all the packages might take surprisingly long time, so be patient.

3. Activate the GIS environment and start doing GIS

Once the installations have been done, you are ready to start using the GIS packages by activating the environment. It can be done by running following command from the command prompt / terminal:

$ source activate gis