Application Overview

Core Features

Geo Data Connector ingests geospatial data from external sources into Snowflake tables. It handles the complete ingestion process — from discovering data sources to delivering queryable Snowflake tables — so you don't need to build custom integrations.

• Vector data (from WFS and OGC API Features sources) is stored as GeoJSON in Snowflake tables, with columns matching the source feature attributes. You can query it directly using Snowflake's native geospatial functions.
• Raster/image data (from WMS, WMTS, WCS, and their OGC API equivalents) is stored as per-pixel tables with band values and spatial coordinates, along with a companion metadata table. WMS and WMTS ingestion also produces downloadable georeferenced image files in a Snowflake stage.

Supported Data Sources

Geo Data Connector connects to OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) web services — the industry standard for interoperable geospatial data. Both traditional OGC services and the modern OGC API standards are supported.

Traditional OGC Services

Service	Type	Description
WFS	Vector	Feature data with geometry and attributes
WMS	Raster	Rendered map images
WMTS	Raster	Pre-rendered map tiles
WCS	Raster	Raw raster coverages (elevation, temperature, satellite bands)
CSW	Catalog	Metadata catalogs that index other services for discovery
WPS	Processing	Geospatial processing services (discovery only)

OGC API Services

Service	Type	Description
OGC API Features	Vector	Feature data via the modern REST-based OGC API
OGC API Maps	Raster	Rendered map images via OGC API
OGC API Tiles	Raster	Pre-rendered map tiles via OGC API
OGC API Coverages	Raster	Raw raster coverages via OGC API
OGC API Records	Catalog	Metadata catalogs via OGC API (modern equivalent of CSW)
OGC API Processes	Processing	Geospatial processing services via OGC API (discovery only)

All data service types listed above can be discovered and explored. WFS, WMS, WMTS, WCS, and their OGC API equivalents (OGC API Features, Maps, Tiles, Coverages) support automated ingestion into Snowflake.

Dataset Search

The Connector includes a dataset search that lets you find geospatial datasets by keyword across thousands of indexed data sources. Enter a search term on the home page to find datasets matching your query — the Connector uses full-text, semantic, and spatial search to rank results by relevance. If your query includes a geographic reference (such as a country or region name), spatial context is used to improve results. From the search results, you can navigate directly to any dataset to explore its schema and enable ingestion. See Searching for Datasets for details.

Discovery and Exploration

The Connector provides tools to browse data catalogs, examine service metadata, and preview dataset schemas before committing to ingestion. You can browse paginated dataset lists, inspect column schemas and coordinate reference systems, and navigate catalog hierarchies (CSW and OGC API Records) — all from within the Connector.

Automated Ingestion

Once you select a dataset and enable ingestion, the Connector retrieves and delivers the data on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule. Ingestion tasks run in the background and can be monitored, paused, or deleted from the Tasks view.

Third-Party Data Sources

Geo Data Connector provides access to third-party data sources as a technical facilitator. The data available through the Connector is published and maintained by external organizations. You are responsible for reviewing and complying with any licensing terms, usage restrictions, or conditions that apply to the data you ingest from these sources.

Where available, data source licensing information is displayed on the service information page during discovery (see Exploring Data Sources). However, not all data providers publish licensing metadata through their services. When in doubt, consult the data provider directly.

Cost-Efficient Operation

The Connector can be started, stopped, and automatically suspended as needed, giving you control over compute costs. When stopped, no compute resources are consumed.

Main Modules

The App Launcher is the entry point — a lightweight Snowflake Streamlit interface for starting, stopping, and monitoring the Connector.

The Main Application runs as a Snowflake Native Application. It provides the full set of features through four main views: Explorer, Connections, Tasks, and Settings. See Main Application Overview for details.

User Roles and Permissions

Like any Snowflake Native Application, Geo Data Connector defines its own application roles. To grant access, map your Snowflake account roles to application roles through Snowsight or programmatically via API.

See the Installation chapter for setup instructions.

Application Roles

Role	Description
APP_ADMIN	Can start and stop the Connector, manage its lifecycle, and has full control over the Ingestion Target Database and all its contents (schemas, tables, views, and stages).
APP_USER	Can use all features described in this guide: discovery, ingestion, and task management. Has read access to all schemas, tables, and views in the Ingestion Target Database.

The Connector also provides SQL procedures for managing its lifecycle and checking status from a Snowflake worksheet.

Free Edition

Geo Data Connector is available in two editions on the Snowflake Marketplace:

	Geo Data Connector	Geo Data Connector Free Edition
Dataset search	Unlimited	Unlimited
Discovery and exploration	Unlimited	Unlimited
Ingestion tasks	Unlimited	Up to 10
Saved connections	Unlimited	Up to 10
Authenticated connections	Included	Not available
Rows per ingestion	Unlimited	Up to 10,000
Ingestion frequency	Up to daily	Up to once per day per dataset
SQL Procedures API	Included	Not available
AI assistant integration	Included	Not available
Pricing	Usage-based (pay per ingestion)	Free

The free edition provides the full discovery and exploration experience with limited ingestion capacity. All search, browsing, and data source inspection features work identically in both editions.