Format comparison
KMZ vs FlatGeobuf: Visualization vs Performance
KMZ is Google's compressed map format for Earth visualization. FlatGeobuf is a modern binary format built for high-performance web delivery and spatial indexing. These formats serve completely different purposes.
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Bottom line
Use KMZ for Google Earth distribution. Use FlatGeobuf for high-performance web GIS data delivery.
KMZ vs FlatGeobuf: feature comparison
| Feature | KMZ | FlatGeobuf |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Google Earth visualization | High-performance GIS data |
| Format type | Compressed KML (ZIP) | Binary |
| Spatial index | No | Yes (Hilbert R-tree) |
| Streaming support | No | Yes (HTTP range requests) |
| Styling | Rich KML styles | None |
| File size | Small (compressed) | Very compact (binary) |
KMZWhen to use KMZ
- Google Earth and Google Maps visualization
- Sharing maps with embedded images
- Non-technical users
FlatGeobufWhen to use FlatGeobuf
- Web map data delivery via CDN
- Large datasets with spatial indexing needs
- Modern cloud-native GIS pipelines
Convert between KMZ and FlatGeobuf
Frequently asked questions
Q.Can I convert KMZ to FlatGeobuf online?
Yes. Maparz converts KMZ to FlatGeobuf — upload your .kmz and download a .fgb file.