Using OGR's ogrinfo Command Line Tool

# To list layers
$ ogrinfo path/to/file.shp

$ ogrinfo path/to/file.shp (layer)

Provides the following information:

  • Layer name
  • Geometry type
  • Feature count
  • Extent
  • Layer SRS WKT
  • PROJCS
  • Name
  • OGRFeature
    • Type
    • Coordinates (WKT)

Using Fiona's fio insp Command Line Tool

Provides the following information:

  • geometry
    • coordinates
    • type
  • id
  • properties
  • type
$ pip install fiona
$ fio insp path/to/file.shp

>>> import pprint as pp
>>> pp.pprint(src.schema)  # vector metadata

Using OGR's Python Bindings

Provides the following information:

  • Driver Type
  • Layer Count
  • Coordinate System
  • Layer Name
  • Layer Extent
  • Feature Keys
  • Geometry Type
  • Geometry Area
#!/usr/bin/env python
import ogr

def insp_vector(filepath):
    datasource = ogr.Open(filepath)
    driver = datasource.GetDriver()
    layer = ds.GetLayerByIndex(0)
    srs = layer.GetSpatialRef()
    feature = layer.GetFeature(0)
    feature_json = feature.ExportToJson()
    geometry = feature.geometry()

    print "Driver Type:", driver.GetName()
    print "Layer Count:", datasource.GetLayerCount()
    print "Coordinate System:", srs.ExportToProj4()
    print "Layer Name:", layer.GetName()
    print "Layer Extent:", layer.GetExtent()
    print "Feature Keys:", feature.keys()
    print "Geometry Type:", geometry.GetGeometryType()
    print "Geometry Area:", geometry.GetArea()

insp_vector('path/to/file.shp')