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freestiler (R/Python) now supports H3-based vector tiling to produce multi-layer…

Brief

freestiler now integrates H3 to generate multi-layer hexagonal vector tiles from point data. It leverages DuckDB to perform dynamic aggregations (built-in summaries or user SQL) and was demonstrated on a 12 million US groundwater wells dataset. Mapbox controls H3 resolution by zoom so hex bins display modal categories at broader zooms and individual well locations appear at zoom 10.

Why it matters

freestiler (R/Python) now supports H3-based vector tiling to produce multi-layer hexagonal tilesets.

Key details

  • The feature uses DuckDB internally to dynamically aggregate points (via summary stats or custom SQL) and was demonstrated on a 12M US groundwater wells dataset.
  • Hexagon styling is by modal category and Mapbox-driven H3 resolution changes by zoom, revealing individual well locations at zoom level 10.
Source evidence

Working on H3 integration into freestiler, my R/Python vector tiling tool.

The new feature uses @duckdb internally to dynamically aggregate points into a multi-layer hexagonal tileset based on some function (summary stats, or your own custom SQL).

Shown here: the 12M US groundwater wells dataset. Hexagons are styled by modal category and H3 resolution changes by zoom level in @Mapbox, giving way to individual locations at zoom 10.

Video