Last modified: Jun 01, 2025 By Alexander Williams
How to Install Rasterio in Python
Rasterio is a Python library for geospatial raster data. It reads and writes geospatial raster files. This guide shows how to install it easily.
What is Rasterio?
Rasterio simplifies working with geospatial raster data. It works with formats like GeoTIFF. It's built on GDAL and NumPy.
Rasterio is useful for GIS applications. It pairs well with Fiona for vector data.
Prerequisites
Before installing rasterio, ensure you have:
- Python 3.6 or newer
- pip package manager
- Basic Python knowledge
Install Rasterio Using pip
The easiest way to install rasterio is with pip. Run this command in your terminal:
pip install rasterio
This downloads and installs the latest stable version. It includes all required dependencies.
Verify the Installation
After installation, verify it works. Open Python and try importing it:
import rasterio
print(rasterio.__version__)
1.3.8 # Example output
If you see a version number, installation succeeded. No errors should appear.
Alternative Installation Methods
Using conda
For Anaconda users, install with conda:
conda install -c conda-forge rasterio
Conda handles complex dependencies well. This is good for scientific Python stacks.
From Source
Advanced users can install from source. First clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/rasterio/rasterio.git
cd rasterio
pip install .
This method requires build tools. It's useful for development contributions.
Common Installation Issues
Some users encounter problems. Here are solutions to common issues.
GDAL Dependency Errors
Rasterio needs GDAL installed. On Linux, install it first:
sudo apt-get install gdal-bin libgdal-dev
On Windows, use pre-built wheels. Or install GDAL from GIS internals.
Permission Errors
If you get permission errors, try:
pip install --user rasterio
This installs for your user only. No admin rights needed.
Basic Rasterio Example
After installation, try this simple example. It opens a raster file:
import rasterio
# Open a raster file
with rasterio.open('example.tif') as src:
print(f"Width: {src.width}")
print(f"Height: {src.height}")
print(f"Number of bands: {src.count}")
Width: 1024
Height: 1024
Number of bands: 3
This shows basic raster metadata. Replace 'example.tif' with your file.
Working with Raster Data
Rasterio makes raster operations easy. Here's how to read band data:
with rasterio.open('example.tif') as src:
band1 = src.read(1) # Read first band
print(band1.shape)
(1024, 1024) # Output depends on your image
The read
method returns a NumPy array. You can process it with NumPy.
Conclusion
Installing rasterio is straightforward with pip or conda. It's essential for geospatial work in Python.
For shapefile handling, check pyshp. For other geospatial tools, see PyGeoIP.
Now you're ready to work with raster data in Python. Start exploring geospatial analysis today!