GeoTeca
A community platform for sharing, discovering and trading GIS files.
Built by geographers, for geographers.
GeoTeca is an open community platform where GIS professionals, researchers, students and enthusiasts can share and discover geographic data files. Think of it as a library of geography — a place where knowledge is shared freely and contributions are rewarded.
The platform operates on a credit-based economy designed to encourage contribution. Users who share quality files earn credits that they can spend to download files from others. This system ensures that everyone contributes, not just downloads.
Credits are the currency of GeoTeca. Every action that contributes to the community earns credits; every download costs them.
| Event | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sign up | +10 | Welcome bonus to get you started |
| Upload a file | +1 to +N | Based on automatic quality scoring (per layer for bundles) |
| Receive a 1★ (Unreliable) rating | +0 | No credits — data is unreliable |
| Receive a 2★ (Inaccurate) rating | +1 | Per rating received on your files |
| Receive a 3★ (Some accuracy) rating | +2 | Per rating received on your files |
| Receive a 4★ (Mostly accurate) rating | +3 | Per rating received on your files |
| Receive a 5★ (Accurate) rating | +4 | Per rating received on your files |
| Download a file | −N | N = 50% of the quality credits earned on upload |
| Download a free file | 0 | Free files cost no credits |
Uploaders can choose to make their files free at any time — they still earn the quality credits from the upload, but downloaders pay nothing. This is encouraged for widely useful reference datasets.
When you upload a file, GeoTeca automatically analyses its metadata and assigns a quality score. This score determines your initial credit reward (and for bundles, each layer is scored independently) and the file's default download price (50% of total score).
The score is calculated per layer and based on seven checks: whether the layer has a valid coordinate reference system (detected from the .prj file or specified by you during upload), whether it has attribute data, whether the column names are meaningful, whether it has a sufficient number of features, whether the geometry is valid, whether the geographic bounds are sensible, and whether the shapefile bundle is complete.
To maximise your score, always upload shapefiles as a single .zip archive containing all companion files (.shp, .dbf, .shx, and .prj). The .zip may contain one shapefile (single file upload) or multiple shapefiles (bundle upload). Ensure the .prj file is included and add meaningful attribute data with descriptive column names.
You can rate any file's accuracy directly in the catalogue — no download required. This helps other users know how reliable the data is, and rewards uploaders who share accurate files.
All formats must be uploaded as .zip files. Single-geometry GeoJSON and KML files may be uploaded directly or as multi-layer bundles.
Have a question, found a bug, or want to suggest a feature?
Reach us at geoteca@geoteca.xyz
GeoTeca is an independent community project. We read every message.