2026-03-04 –, RoboCon Online
Automation in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is vital for reliability and efficiency in spatial data processing and testing. This paper introduces a framework for automating open-source QGIS UI operations using Robot Framework, PyAutoGUI, and PyWinAuto. It enables automated map interactions - creating, editing, and validating spatial features - through reusable, readable test/task keywords. The approach streamlines testing, reduces manual effort, and improves reliability in geospatial workflows. Please check: QGISLibrary (https://pypi.org/project/QGISLibrary/)
Automation in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is increasingly essential for ensuring consistency, reliability, and efficiency in spatial data processing and map-based software testing. This paper presents a comprehensive approach to automating user interface (UI) operations and tests within the very top open-source QGIS (Quantum GIS) using the Robot Framework. The focus is placed on automating map interactions, such as creating, editing, and validating spatial features - including points, lines, and polygons - directly within the QGIS Desktop graphical environment.
The proposed automation framework integrates QGIS locators (Qt5, Qt6) as UI objects, PyWinAuto and PyAutoGUI python libraries to automate UI operations, and Robot Framework for design, execute and report tests. By combining above technologies, it allows to automate workflows that typically require extensive manual effort, such as digitizing vector layers, snapping features, setting symbology, and performing topological validation.
Through the Robot Framework’s structured and modular test design, each QGIS UI action - like drawing geometries (example: drawing river as a line on map canvas) - can be expressed as reusable, human-readable test keywords. These keywords abstract low-level operations, enabling QGIS analysts or Geographers to build complex automated scenarios without deep programming expertise.
Overall, this work contributes to the field of geospatial software engineering by providing a replicable strategy for automating tests of spatial UI workflows, especially for Plugins in open-source GIS platforms. It highlights how the Robot Framework streamlines quality assurance processes, accelerate development cycles, and enhance the reliability of spatial data operations. The result is a powerful, flexible testing solution that empowers GIS professionals and developers to ensure that map creation, editing, and analysis tools function correctly across diverse environments and datasets - without the need for repetitive manual validation.
test, automation, task, qgis, python, robot framework, pywinauto, pyautogui, spatial, geo
Is this suitable for ..?: Beginner RF User, Intermediate RF User, Advanced RF User Describe your intended audience:broad audience
During his career, Michal has been always connected with geospatial data and GIS geoprocessing. He likes to find and overcome challenges in Testing Big Data with geometry attributes. He has experience in preparing the testing strategies for ETL systems that extract, transform and load massive geospatial data. His technology stack is related to Python, Pytest, ArcGIS, QGIS, FME, Robot Framework, HP ALM, QTest, and Geopandas. Additionally he teaches young students Python coding in Minecraft.