Shapefiles are a common geospatial vector data format (like points, lines, polygons) for GIS software, storing location, shape, and attribute data as multiple related files (e.g., .shp for geometry, .dbf for attributes) and used to represent geographic features on maps in programs like ArcGIS or QGIS, often bundled in a .zip for sharing. They're fundamental for mapping, but have limitations like size limits and managing multiple component files.

My idea is to allow for some way of having applicants submit shape files to define area of their project. In our organization's case, the project area is actual an area (often many 100s of square hectacres). It would be awesome if the system could pre-define regions that applicants could draw their project areas in and then have the results saved as shape files.

The shape files can be used in other tools to display all the projects etc...

A use case: The province of British Columbia has 3 regions within it, that our organization will provide grants for. These 3 regions are a modest subset of the whole province.

An applicant is filling out their application, specifies which of the 3 regions they are applying for, and the system shows a map of that and then allows the application to draw their project area on the map. The system saves the project area as a shape file.