First Steps for a GIS Professional to Learn Python Programming

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) allow developers to access data and functionality from a web service programmatically. You can send HTTP requests to an API using Python's request library, retrieve data in response, and process it as per your requirements. Python can be used to search large amounts of data using an API. Several libraries in Python can be used to parse and manipulate data in different formats, including JSON, XML, and CSV.

Here are the general steps for using Python to search big data using an API:

• Understand the API's documentation and endpoints you want to use for data search.
• Use Python's requests library to send a request to the API's endpoint.
• Passing any necessary parameters in the request URL or body.
• Retrieve the response data in the desired format (e.g., JSON, XML, CSV).
• Parse and manipulate the response data using Python libraries as required.
• Store or display the results as needed.

When working with big data through an API, it's important to remember that its code may need to be optimized for performance and large data sets. However, Python's extensive ecosystem of libraries and tools can be helpful in this regard. Keep a watchful eye on your initial runs because you can quickly create a large database.

Before we begin with a simple example, here are some resources to consider:

"Python for Data Analysis" by Wes McKinney: If you're interested in using Python for data analysis, this book is a great choice. It covers the basics of Python and then teaches you how to use Python libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib to analyze data.

"Learning ArcGIS Geodatabases" by Hussein Nasser: This book focuses on geodatabases in ArcGIS, but it also covers Python scripting for ArcGIS. The book is a great way to learn Python to work with geodatabases and automate geoprocessing tasks.

Extract data using Python.

In this example, I'm using the REST Countries API. It is free and provides information about countries, including their capital, population, and currency. I'll use the requests library to send an HTTP GET request to the REST Countries API with the country code "usa". Then, I extract the relevant information from the JSON data and print it to the console. You can modify the code to retrieve information about a different country by changing the value of the country_code variable.

Here are some other popular APIs that offer free access for practicing with Python and APIs:

OpenWeatherMap API?- provides access to real-time weather information for any location in the world.

Random User API?- generates random user data, including names, addresses, and contact information.

Exchange Rates API?- provides currency exchange rates from various sources.

News API??- offers news articles from various sources.

To become a great computer programmer, one must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a passion for learning. Often, programmers are proficient in multiple programming languages, have experience in software development methodologies, and understand how to design efficient algorithms and data structures. The most incredible journey begins with a first step; in this case, you can start by learning Python and applying programming concepts to real-world problems.

With that said, there are several ways to learn Python, including in-person courses and boot camps, self-paced online training, and instructional books.

Python: For Beginners: A Crash Course Guide To Learn Python in 1 Week by Timothy C. Needham.

Python can be used in ArcGIS, a geographic information system software from Esri. ArcGIS provides a Python API that allows developers to interact with ArcGIS through Python scripts.

Some ways to use Esri’s Python API are to automate processes, make your own tools, and query data. To use Python with ArcGIS, you need to install ArcGIS and the ArcGIS Python API on your computer. You can install the ArcGIS Python API using the Python package manager (pip) or the ArcGIS Pro application. Once the API is installed, you can develop Python scripts that interact with ArcGIS. Talk to your Esri representative about license requirements.

To hone your GIS Python skills, consider developing solutions using Wejo's traffic data. Wejo's API gives users access to a number of traffic-related datasets, such as the volume, speed, and flow of traffic on highways and roads. The API is designed to be flexible and easy to use, with documentation and support provided to help developers integrate Wejo data into their applications. Discuss licensing options with your Wejo representative.

Conclusion

Python is a programming language with many possibilities. You can use it to create web applications, scientific applications, or even simple scripts to automate tasks. It is also relatively easy to learn, which makes it a great choice for beginners.

One of the great things about Python is that it has a very comprehensive standard library. This means that there are already modules available for many common tasks, such as working with databases, networking, and GUI programming. In addition, there are also many third-party libraries that you can use to extend Python's functionality even further.

Another advantage of Python is that it has a very active development community. This means that new features and improvements are constantly being added to the language. In addition, if you run into any problems when using Python, there is a good chance that somebody else has already encountered and solved the same problem.

If you're looking for a good GIS programming language with endless possibilities, then learning Python is definitely worth the effort.

Invest in yourself...

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About the Author:

John Buttery is an Associate VP at Wejo, a world leader in autonomous, electric, and connected vehicle data. He has experience with advanced technologies, including GIS software, Big Data, GNSS, Machine Control, GPS, and LIDAR. Mr. Buttery’s responsibilities include managing strategic alliances while developing dealer networks and establishing sales channels. His background extends to management, project leadership, and collaboration. John is multilingual, with fluency in both English and Spanish, as well as international business experience.

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