Buffer
Create distance-based zones around selected or specified features.
EXPLICIT METHODS. INSPECTABLE RESULTS.
Run spatial analysis with AI guidance and GIS control.
Work across vector, raster, terrain, hydrology, network, proximity, and attribute analysis in one cloud workspace. Describe what you need, review the proposed method, run supported GIS operations, and inspect the resulting maps, layers, tables, and datasets.
From a 50-meter buffer to DEM terrain derivatives and multi-step raster/vector workflows - the spatial operation remains visible and reviewable.
THE ANALYTICAL FOUNDATION
What is spatial analysis in GriidAi?
Spatial analysis in GriidAi is the use of explicit GIS operations to answer questions about location, distance, overlap, terrain, raster values, flow, networks, and spatial relationships. The platform connects natural-language intent to supported geospatial tools, prepares an execution plan, lets the user review the method, and then produces spatial outputs that can be inspected on the map or in tables.
The AI layer guides and orchestrates the work, but the analytical result is still grounded in spatial data, coordinate systems, processing operations, parameters, and validation checks rather than a text-only response.
Explore Agentic GeoAI ↗From a spatial question to an inspectable result
- 01
Define
Describe the spatial question, feature selection, analytical operation, or decision outcome.
- 02
Use context
Work from the data, selected features, AOI, visible layers, and session state already in the workspace.
- 03
Plan
GriidAi identifies the supported GIS operations, parameters, and expected outputs.
- 04
Review
Check inputs, CRS/units where relevant, method, validation strategy, and output before proceeding.
- 05
Analyze
Execute the approved vector, raster, terrain, hydrology, network, or proximity operation.
- 06
Inspect
Review the generated layer, map, table, statistics, or intermediate outputs.
- 07
Continue
Chain another operation, refine the method, export the data, or use the result in a larger workflow.
02 / VECTOR ANALYSIS
Analyze spatial relationships between features
GriidAi supports feature-based analysis for questions involving location, distance, overlap, selection, and geometry. Users can work from selected map features or attribute criteria and then apply supported GIS primitives as part of a reviewed analytical sequence.
BUILDING PROXIMITY EXAMPLE
Which buildings are within 50 meters of the selected property?
- Select the building to analyze.
- Buffer the selected feature by 50 meters after reviewing the plan.
- Intersect neighboring buildings with the buffer.
- Inspect the selected buildings and resulting map.
Intersect / overlay
Identify or derive spatial relationships where layers overlap.
Clip / overlay primitives
Use standardized vector processing within supported workflows.
Attribute selection
Select features using attribute conditions and save the selection as a new layer.
Feature selection
Select spatial features directly from the map for analysis.
Field cleanup
Rename supported fields without re-uploading the dataset.
03 / RASTER ANALYSIS
Work with continuous surfaces, imagery, and raster calculations
Raster analysis in GriidAi connects raster datasets with explicit calculations and spatial workflows. Supported operations include raster algebra, zonal statistics, visualization, and raster export. Demonstrated workflows combine elevation-derived analysis with raster and vector processing.
Raster algebra
Use explicit raster calculations as part of a supported analytical sequence.
Zonal statistics
Summarize raster values by zones.
Raster visualization
Inspect raster data in grayscale, multiband, or pseudocolor views where relevant.
Raster and vector together
Use building footprints as zones over a surface raster in the rooftop-solar screening example.
Raster export
Export analytical raster outputs as GeoTIFF.
04 / TERRAIN ANALYSIS01 02 03 04
Turn elevation surfaces into terrain information
GriidAi includes terrain-processing capabilities for working with digital elevation data. In the demonstrated terrain workflow, the platform used an SRTM elevation raster, generated an implementation plan, handled projected units, and produced slope and aspect rasters for inspection.
Slope
Generate slope from elevation data.
Aspect
Generate downslope direction from elevation data.
Hillshade
Visualize terrain relief using the supported terrain toolset.
Depression filling
Prepare an elevation surface for terrain and hydrology processing.
Units and undefined values matter.
The demonstrated slope/aspect workflow used projected, meter-based coordinates. Aspect on flat cells was treated as NoData, preserving an undefined direction rather than inventing one.
05 / HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS
Model flow and drainage from elevation data
GriidAi includes Whitebox-based terrain and hydrology tools for depression filling, flow direction, flow accumulation, stream extraction, watershed delineation, and subbasin generation, with related terrain derivatives available in the same environment.
Explore the hydrology workflow ↓- 01
Prepare the DEM
Fill depressions where appropriate to the analysis.
- 02
Model flow direction
Calculate the direction of modeled surface flow from elevation.
- 03
Accumulate flow
Examine where modeled flow concentrates across the terrain.
- 04
Extract drainage
Derive stream networks and examine watershed or subbasin outputs.
06 / NETWORK & PROXIMITYNetwork Route Nearest Coverage workflows
Answer routing, nearest-location, and coverage questions
GriidAi supports network and proximity analysis for questions involving routes and nearest locations. Network Route and Nearest connect location-based questions to supported GIS operations.
What is the route between these locations?
Determine a route through a supported network.
Which facility is closest to this site?
Identify the nearest feature or location based on spatial distance.
Which areas appear underserved by fire-station coverage?
Combine network/proximity tools with population, facilities, or assets in published workflows.
07 / ATTRIBUTES & TABLES
Inspect the data behind the geometry
Spatial analysis is not only map geometry. GriidAi lets users inspect attribute tables, select records, create new layers from attribute selections, and keep table selections synchronized with the map. Multiple tables can be opened in the table drawer, with selections remaining visible in the map context.
Attribute table
Inspect the values supporting a spatial result.
Attribute selection
Select features using field conditions and save the result as a new layer.
Map-table highlighting
See selected records and features in their shared spatial context.
Field metadata
Inspect field meanings, units, labels, and descriptions where available.
Multiple open tables
Compare datasets within the same session.
08 / MULTI-STEP ANALYSIS
Chain operations into a larger analytical sequence
Many useful spatial questions require more than one GIS operation. GriidAi connects supported GIS primitives into multi-step analysis. Demonstrations show a sequence from inspection to masking, terrain derivation, raster calculation, building-level summarization, and classification within one analysis session.
ROOFTOP SOLAR SCREENING EXAMPLE
- 01
Audit
Inspect building footprints and surface data; check CRS, resolution, and overlap.
- 02
Mask
Use building zones to retain relevant raster cells while preserving the source grid.
- 03
Derive
Calculate terrain/surface derivatives needed by the screening method.
- 04
Model
Calculate incident solar-energy screening values under stated assumptions.
- 05
Summarize
Aggregate raster results to each building and write values to attributes.
- 06
Validate
Run sanity checks and inspect the resulting map/table before interpretation.
09 / ANALYTICAL CONTEXT
Spatial analysis depends on more than choosing the right tool
A correct-looking map can still be analytically wrong if coordinate systems, units, raster alignment, NoData values, or field meanings are mishandled. Keep this context visible as you review the method and interpret the result.
CRS & projection
Check the spatial reference and units used by the method.
Raster resolution
Inspect pixel size and alignment when they affect the analysis.
NoData
Preserve undefined or missing raster values.
Metadata
Inspect structural and spatial context alongside the data.
Area of interest
Constrain search, clipping, and analysis to the relevant area.
10 / HUMAN REVIEW & VALIDATION
Review the method before trusting the result
For supported tasks, GriidAi presents an implementation plan before execution so the user can review the selected inputs, method, validation strategy, and expected output. After processing, the analyst can inspect the resulting map, layer, table, and statistics and decide whether another iteration is needed.
Explore Agentic GeoAI ↗- ✓Check the input layer or selected feature.
- ✓Check units, coordinate systems, resolution, and NoData behavior.
- ✓Check the analytical operation and parameters before execution.
- ✓Inspect final outputs and intermediate layers.
- ✓Use domain expertise to decide whether the output fits the decision.
Keep the output useful beyond the prompt
Spatial-analysis results remain part of the workspace. Users can view generated layers on the interactive map, inspect attributes, organize intermediate files, and export both map products and analytical datasets for further use.
Map outputs
Export the current visualization as PNG, JPEG, or PDF.
Vector data
Export analytical layers as Shapefile, GeoJSON, GeoParquet, FlatGeobuf, KML, or CSV where appropriate.
Raster data
Export raster outputs as GeoTIFF.
Keep temporary analysis outputs separate, promote them when needed, and continue from the current map, layer, and session state.
Explore Data ↗12 / WORKFLOW EXAMPLES
See spatial analysis in real workflows
ExampleVector · Proximity
Building proximity
Create a 50 m buffer and intersect nearby buildings.
Explore example ↗ExampleTerrain · HydrologyDEM Hydrology & Stream Network
Connect elevation data, flow processing, and drainage outputs.
Explore example ↗ExampleNetwork · ProximityFire Station Coverage
Examine service coverage alongside relevant spatial context.
Explore example ↗ExampleRaster · Vector · TerrainRooftop Solar Potential
Connect surface calculations, building-level summaries, and expert interpretation.
Explore example ↗For people who need to inspect
the method as well as the map.
GIS analysts
Use familiar GIS operations with AI-guided planning and review.
Environmental / AEC consultants
Repeat common site, terrain, proximity, and environmental analysis more consistently.
Remote-sensing analysts
Work with raster imagery, elevation data, raster calculations, and map outputs inside the same workspace.
Utilities / infrastructure teams
Apply routing, nearest-location, proximity, terrain, and hydrology capabilities to bounded operational workflows.
Researchers / academics
Explore methods with visible inputs, plans, intermediate data, and outputs.
Adjacent analysts & engineers
Start from a spatial question while keeping analysis bounded by explicit GIS methods and expert review.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Understanding AI-guided spatial analysis
Can AI perform spatial analysis?
GriidAi connects AI guidance to supported GIS operations. The spatial data, method, parameters, and outputs remain part of the review and validation process.
Can I work with both vector and raster data?
Yes. Supported workflows include vector operations such as buffer and intersection, raster calculations and zonal statistics, and analysis combining the two data families.
How do I validate the analysis?
Review the selected inputs, coordinate systems and units, method, parameters, and validation strategy. Inspect intermediate and final outputs before deciding how the result should be used.
Does GriidAi replace GIS experts or every GIS tool?
GriidAi is a guided cloud workspace for supported geospatial analysis. It keeps methodological judgment and interpretation with the expert and does not replace every GIS tool.
YOUR NEXT ANALYSIS
What spatial question do you want to analyze next?
Bring your data or work from supported sources, review the proposed method, run the spatial analysis, and inspect the result in GriidAi.