Shape
ESRI Shape file exchange for field boundaries and prescription maps
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Technical Message Type | shp:shape:zip |
| Information Type | Shape |
| Format | ZIP (binary) |
| Protobuf Schema | None (binary zip format) |
Overview
The Shape message type carries ESRI Shapefiles through agrirouter. Shapefiles are a widely-used geospatial vector format for field boundaries, application/prescription maps, and other geographic features relevant to agricultural operations.
The format follows the ESRI Shapefile specification.
Data Format
Shape data is transferred as a zip file containing the shapefile components (.shp, .shx, .dbf, and optionally .prj and other sidecar files). Send the raw zip bytes as the request body with Content-Type: application/octet-stream. Do not Base64-encode the payload yourself; agrirouter applies transport encoding internally for chunked message types.
Chunking
The API handles chunking for you. If a Shape zip file exceeds the internal chunk size, the API splits it on the way out and the recipient gets the reassembled file as a single FILE_RECEIVED event. No manual chunking or reassembly on your side.
Use Cases
- Field boundaries: defining the geographic extent of agricultural fields
- Application maps: variable-rate prescription maps for seeding, fertilizing, or spraying
- Yield zone maps: spatial representations of yield data
- Management zones: soil or performance-based zones within a field
Libraries
Most languages have a shapefile library, so reading and writing is rarely a blocker. Common options: GDAL/OGR, GeoTools (Java), Shapely (Python), NetTopologySuite (.NET).