At MIS, we want you to make the most of the granular intelligence available to you. We understand that using this data across other platforms can sometimes be challenging.
This guide is designed to help you get the best out of our data. If you encounter any platforms that present particular challenges, we encourage you to reach out to us for support.
Go to Mapshaper
Open https://mapshaper.org/ in your browser.
Upload Your Shapefile
Drag and drop your exported GEO layers into the upload window.
Mapshaper requires at least the .shp and .dbf files when uploading shapefiles, but including all four ensures best results.
View Your Data
Once uploaded, you’ll see your data displayed on the map.
Simplify the Geometry
Click Simplify (top toolbar).
Use the slider to adjust the level of simplification:
Watch the map preview to ensure the shapes still meet your needs.
Moving the slider to the right keeps more detail but results in a larger file.
Moving left reduces detail but creates a smaller file size.
Watch the map preview to ensure the shapes still meet your needs.
Export the Reduced Shapefile
Click Export (top toolbar).
Choose Shapefile as the format.
Download the reduced shapefile to your computer.
Upload to Your Platform
Use the simplified shapefile when importing into your other system.
Tips
Iterate gradually: Start with small simplifications until the file is small enough for your platform.
Balance detail vs size: Too much simplification may distort boundaries, so always check the preview.
Other formats: Mapshaper can also export to GeoJSON or TopoJSON if your system accepts those formats.
👉 If you still have trouble reducing your shapefile size, please contact our Success Team with details of the platform and limits, and we can recommend additional options.