Software Requirements
For the course we will require the following packages be installed
- PySAL 1.11.0
- SciPy
- Numpy
- iPython
- ipywidgets
- jupyter
- matplotlib
- pandas
- folium
- cartopy
There are a number of ways to install PySAL and these dependencies. For the course, if you do not yet have the dependencies installed we suggest using one of two scientific Python distributions (below). These have the advantages of including most of the dependencies for PySAL as well as PySAL itself. Moreover, both allow for updating PySAL to the most recent release (1.10 released July 31, 2015) which is more current that what is listed in either distribution. Both of these distributions also allow for installation of additional dependencies.
PySAL via Anaconda Python Distribution
- Install Anaconda Python Distribution
- Open a terminal (Mac or Linux) or Powershell (Windows)
pip install -U pysalpip install -U folium
Creating a Custom Conda Environment
If you already have Anaconda installed and you did not want to modify your default environment, you can create a custom conda environment for this session using the following commands:
On Mac OS X:
conda create -n pysal110 scipy matplotlib jupyter ipython pandas ipywidgetssource activate pysal110pip install -U pysalpip install -U folium
When you are done working in this environment, you can get back to your default environment with:
source deactivate
On Windows:
conda create -n pysal110 scipy matplotlib jupyter ipython pandas ipywidgetsactivate pysal110pip install -U pysalpip install -U folium
When you are done working in this environment, you can get back to your default environment with:
deactivate
PySAL via Enthought Canopy
Note that the Academic version of Canopy comes with PySAL version 1.7. For this course we will be using PySAL 1.10. Upgrading in Canopy can be done as follows:
- Install Canopy
- Run Canopy
- From the menu select
Tools Canopy Terminal pip install -U pysalpip install -U folium
Testing Your Installation
Once you have installed all the dependencies, you can check to confirm everything is ready to go.
For Anaconda:
- Open a terminal (Mac or Linux) or Powershell (Windows)
ipython notebook- In the browser click
New Notebook - In the first cell in the notebook enter
import pysalpysal.versionThen<Shift-Enter>(i.e., hit the Shift then the Enter Key) - In the second cell in the notebook enter
import foliumThen<Shift-Enter> - In the third cell enter on Mac OS X
!which pythonThen<Shift-Enter> - In the third cell enter on Windows
!where pythonThen<Shift-Enter>
Your screen should look something like (Mac OS X):

For Enthought Canopy:
- Run Canopy
- From the menu select
Tools Canopy Terminal ipython notebook- In the browser click
New Notebook - In the first cell in the notebook enter
import pysalpysal.versionThen<Shift-Enter>(i.e., hit the Shift then the Enter Key) - In the second cell in the notebook enter
import foliumThen<Shift-Enter> - In the third cell enter
!which pythonThen<Shift-Enter>
Your screen should look something like:

Issues
If you run into any problems, double check that you have installed both the upgraded version of PySAL and folium (see above). If problems persist, please contact me srey@asu.edu.