# Upload and filter GeoParquet using spatial SQL

Source: https://www.hotdata.dev/use-cases/spatial-parquet
Site index: https://www.hotdata.dev/llms.txt

GeoParquet usually shows up next to everything else you're querying. Load the file into an instant database and run spatial filters in the same engine without a sidecar GIS stack.

## How it works

### Step 1: Load Parquet into an instant database

**Claude**

```
Create an instant database with catalog geo, declare a store_locations table, and load stores.parquet into it. What name do I use when I query it?
```

**CLI**

```bash
hotdata databases create --catalog geo --table store_locations
hotdata databases load --catalog geo --table store_locations --file ./stores.parquet
```

**Python SDK**

```python
import hotdata

db_api = hotdata.DatabasesApi(api_client)
db = db_api.create_database(
    hotdata.CreateDatabaseRequest(
        name="Store locations",
        schemas=[hotdata.DatabaseDefaultSchemaDecl(
            name="public",
            tables=[hotdata.DatabaseDefaultTableDecl(name="store_locations")]
        )]
    )
)
uploads = hotdata.UploadsApi(api_client)
with open("stores.parquet", "rb") as f:
    up = uploads.upload_file(f.read())
conn_api = hotdata.ConnectionsApi(api_client)
conn_api.load_managed_table(
    db.default_connection_id, "public", "store_locations",
    hotdata.LoadManagedTableRequest(mode="replace", upload_id=up.upload_id),
)
# Query as: SELECT * FROM default.public.store_locations
```

### Step 2: Confirm lon/lat (or WKT) columns

**Claude**

```
Show my instant databases and list the tables inside q2.
```

**CLI**

```bash
hotdata databases list
hotdata databases tables list
```

**Python SDK**

```python
import hotdata

db_api = hotdata.DatabasesApi(api_client)
db_api.list_databases()
db_api.get_database("<database_id>")
```

### Step 3: Radius filter from a reference point

**Claude**

```
Using my store locations upload, which stores fall roughly near downtown San Francisco? Give id and name, up to 50.
```

**CLI**

```bash
hotdata query "SELECT id, name FROM geo.public.store_locations WHERE ST_Distance(ST_MakePoint(lon, lat), ST_GeomFromText('POINT(-122.4194 37.7749)')) < 5000 LIMIT 50"
```

**Python SDK**

```python
import hotdata

query_api = hotdata.QueryApi(api_client)
query_api.query(
    hotdata.QueryRequest(
        sql=(
            "SELECT id, name FROM default.public.store_locations WHERE "
            "ST_Distance(ST_MakePoint(lon, lat), "
            "ST_GeomFromText('POINT(-122.4194 37.7749)')) < 5000 LIMIT 50"
        ),
    ),
)
```

See [SQL Reference: Geospatial](/docs/sql#geospatial-functions) for units and other predicates (`ST_Within`, `ST_Intersects`).

## Who uses this

- Field ops blending telemetry files with fixed reference points.
- Growth or marketing scoring leads from uploaded geographic lists.
- Anyone joining warehouse tables to geo extracts without switching dialects.