GeoPackage

GeoPackage is a universal file format for vector and raster geodata. It’s open, standards-based, application and platform independent, and self-describing. And since its built on top of SQLite, all you need to know is SQL to use GeoPackages on any desktop or mobile OS on the market. GeoPackage is the modern alternative to formats like GeoTIFF and especially Shapefile.

See also other "Geodata Package File Formats" which typically include also symbology and styling:

• ArcGIS Layer Package and ArcGIS Map Package
• QGIS All-in-one Project Plugin
• Spatialite and MBTiles

Introduction

Implementation:

• Specification: http://www.geopackage.org/ and http://www.ogcnetwork.net/geopackage
• GeoPackage is based on concepts from Spatialite (vector) and MBTiles.

Talks:

• "GeoPackage, das Shapefile der Zukunft" ("GeoPackage the Shapefile of the future"), by Pirmin Kalberer at FOSSGIS 2013: [1]

Software Support

• OGR since version 1.11
• QGIS via OGR
• ArcGIS - 10.2.1: via SDK only? [2]