Shapefile
A shapefile is a widely used vector geospatial data format that stores geometries (points, lines or polygons) and attributes across a set of files, at minimum .shp, .shx and .dbf, with the coordinate system usually described in a .prj file.
Also known as: .shp · SHP
Why does it matter?
Many national cadastres, agricultural programmes and older mapping projects hold plot data as shapefiles. Companies building EUDR evidence often receive plot data in this format from cooperatives, government agencies or consultants.
How does it work?
A shapefile is not one file but a bundle:
.shp: the geometries;.shx: an index of the geometries;.dbf: the attribute table (plot IDs, farmer names, areas);.prj: the coordinate reference system, often present and essential.
Each shapefile holds one geometry type. It has known limits: field names of up to ten characters, attribute text encoding issues and a maximum file size, which is why newer formats such as GeoJSON or GeoPackage are often preferred for exchange.
Common pitfalls
- Receiving only the
.shpfile, without the.dbfattributes or.prjprojection. - Data in a local projected coordinate system converted incorrectly to latitude and longitude.
- Truncated field names and broken accents in farmer or village names.
- Multi-part polygons that merge several plots of different farmers.
Farmer1st ingests shapefiles and other legacy formats, reprojects and validates them as part of its geo and polygons service.
Frequently asked questions
Can a shapefile be uploaded to the EUDR Information System?
The Commission's Information System page refers to the GeoJSON standard format for bulk uploads. Shapefiles are normally converted to GeoJSON first, in WGS 84 coordinates.
Why is the .prj file important?
It declares the coordinate reference system. Without it, software may misinterpret the coordinates, for example treating projected metres as degrees.
Tell us about your supply chain.
Ten minutes with our scoping assistant. We come back with a first sketch of your service.
