GeoLayers is a geospatial platform offering in-browser analysis (GeoAnalyst), a suite of GIS data tools, planning utilities (e.g. Town Planning), and curated datasets. It’s built for planners, architects, surveyors, environmental specialists, and property developers in South Africa and beyond.
Add and style layers (GeoJSON, Shapefile ZIP, KML/GPX, CSV, GeoTIFF/COG), measure distance/area, draw & edit features, and run vector analysis (buffer, intersect, clip, union, dissolve, spatial join, simplify). You can export maps to PNG/PDF (with legend/scale bar) and share a link that encodes the project state. Launch: GeoAnalyst.
Vector: GeoJSON, Shapefile (ZIP), KML, GPX, CSV (with coordinate columns). Raster: GeoTIFF/COG for preview and basic terrain derivatives in supported apps. Many conversions and utilities live under GIS Tools (e.g., Shapefile→GeoJSON, Reproject EPSG↔EPSG, KML↔GeoJSON, GPX↔GeoJSON, CRS Finder, BBox/Tile calculator, CSV↔GeoJSON schema mapper, Spatial Join, Simplify/TopoJSON, GeoTIFF→COG).
Most tools process data client-side in your browser for speed and privacy. For large rasters or heavy computations, we use efficient formats (like COG) that stream tiles. Some features (e.g., basemaps/WMS) access remote services but your local files don’t leave the browser unless you choose to upload to a third-party endpoint.
Use Export to download a PNG or PDF (with optional legend, scale bar, and title). Use Share to generate a URL with your current layers and view encoded in the hash—paste it into email or chat for collaborators to open the same project state.
The planning suite includes: Quick Controls Lookup, Parking & Loading Calculator, SDP Checklist (with municipality-specific items and “share link”), Rezoning/Consent Feasibility, Rates & Services Estimator, SG Diagram/Beacon Lookup, and more. Start here: Town Planning.
Use the Datasets page to browse curated links by theme (zoning, environmental, census, biodiversity, hydrology, transport, etc.) and search by region or municipality. Links open in a new tab to the original data source.
Yes. See Reproject EPSG→EPSG, Coordinate Converter, CRS Finder, and format tools like Shapefile→GeoJSON, KML↔GeoJSON, GPX↔GeoJSON.
We provide non-intrusive ad slots (especially on blog pages) and standard placements across the site. If you use an ad blocker the apps continue to work. For sponsorships or custom placements, email info@geolayers.co.za.
Client-side tools run in your browser; local files aren’t uploaded to our servers unless you connect to an external service. Projects you save in-browser are stored in local storage/IndexedDB. See our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer for details.
Browsers have memory limits: very large layers (e.g., millions of vertices or huge rasters) may be slow. Prefer vector tiles or COG rasters via URL for large areas, or simplify vectors before loading. The Simplify / TopoJSON tool helps reduce complexity.
Yes—use Field Data Kit (PWA). It supports offline capture of points/lines/photos/notes, templates for custom fields, tags & colours, QR share, and sync/export to GeoJSON/CSV when back online.
Yes. The Town Planning page lists Spatial Development Frameworks and Town Planning Schemes by province/municipality. You can search by municipality and zoning to view typical development controls and links to the official documents.
Visit Help & Support, check the FAQ sections on each tool page, or email info@geolayers.co.za with steps to reproduce the problem, browser version, and (if possible) a minimal sample dataset.
Yes—see the Map Store for off-the-shelf products. For bespoke apps, datasets or consulting (e.g., web mapping stacks, ETL pipelines, planning analytics), visit Services or email info@geolayers.co.za.
Use the CRS Finder to search EPSG codes by name/area and preview reprojection. Prefer modern transformations where grid shifts apply. The Datum/CRS Pack (ZA) app helps batch-reproject common SA CRS with warnings.
Recent versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. If you experience performance issues with very large files, try Chrome/Edge and close other heavy tabs.