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Agro-informatics Platform

How to use shapefiles

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 22 p.

Author Marini, F.;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Synopsis (short abstract) This guide explains how to display and analyse an ESRI shapefile on the FAO Agro-informatics Platform. Shapefiles are widely used in geographic information systems (GIS) to represent boundaries, regions, or other spatial features. By uploading a shapefile, you can bring your own geographic data into the platform and combine it with existing datasets for tailored analysis. Once displayed, your shapefile can be used to explore land cover, agricultural resources, or other thematic datasets available on the platform. This functionality allows you to visualize custom administrative units, project areas, or research zones, and to perform analysis – such as land-cover composition or statistical summaries – directly within your chosen boundaries. Using shapefiles in this way is particularly valuable for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners who need to analyse data for non-standard geographic areas, compare regions not included in default datasets, or integrate local knowledge into larger geospatial studies. It supports more precise, localized insights that can inform decision-making, monitoring, and planning.

Cite this content as:

Marini, F. 2025. Agro-informatics Platform –  How to use shapefiles. Rome.

Language English

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