GEE to Python/R: Instantly convert JavaScript to Python (.ipynb) or R (rgee) with GEE AI Assistant

The Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform has transformed geospatial analysis by offering access to planetary-scale satellite imagery and a powerful cloud-based code editor. Yet, for many users, one challenge has remained: seamlessly transitioning JavaScript scripts—Earth Engine’s native language—to Python or R, the languages favored by researchers and practitioners for analytics, visualization, and reporting.

GEE AI Assistant—a browser extension that puts this power at your fingertips.

What Is the GEE AI Assistant?

The GEE AI Assistant is an unofficial, Gemini-powered browser extension that integrates directly with the Earth Engine Code Editor. Designed for users of all skill levels, it enables you to:

• Instantly generate, edit, and fix GEE scripts via a side-panel AI

• Convert Earth Engine JavaScript code to ready-to-run Python Notebooks or R scripts with a single click

• Export analysis results (CSV, SHP, GeoTIFF) for use outside the Code Editor

• Leverage a curated library of real-world GEE projects and community datasets

Of all these features, its code conversion capability stands out for researchers, educators, and professionals aiming to extend their GEE workflows.

Why Convert to Python Notebooks or R Scripts?

• Ecosystem Integration: Python and R are staples in data science, supporting libraries like Pandas, Matplotlib, rasterio (Python), and terra, sf, ggplot2 (R).

• Local Analysis & Plotting: Python and R allow advanced manipulation, visualization, and reporting on exported results—beyond what’s possible in JavaScript.

• Collaboration: Jupyter Notebooks and R Notebooks are standard formats in research and academia, making sharing and documenting analyses easier.

• Offline/Hybrid Workflows: Work with GEE data locally or integrate with other APIs, databases, and ML pipelines.

How the GEE AI Assistant Makes Conversion Effortless

1. One-Click JavaScript to Python Notebook

Just paste your GEE JavaScript code into the Code Editor, open the AI Assistant side panel, and select the "Python" option.

• Automatic Translation: The extension uses the Gemini API to interpret and rewrite your JS code using the Earth Engine Python API—plus native libraries such as geemap, rasterio, matplotlib, and pandas.

• Documentation & Clean Structure: Generated Python notebooks are documented and formatted for Jupyter or Colab, with cells for setup, code execution, and visualization.

• Direct Export: You can export outputs as SHP, GeoTIFF, or CSV—downloadable directly to your local machine, not just Google Drive.

2. One-Click JavaScript to R Notebook

If you work in R, choose the " R " option instead.

• rgee-Based Workflow: The extension translates your GEE JS into an R script leveraging the rgee package, which interfaces smoothly with GEE and Python under the hood.

• Support for Key Packages: Terra, sf, and ggplot2 are built into the output for spatial manipulation and plotting.

• Local Analysis: Like the Python workflow, R users can download outputs and further analyze or visualize them locally in RStudio.

How It Works Behind the Scenes

For Python: The Assistant converts Earth Engine JS calls (such as ee.Image, ee.Geometry, filters, reducers, etc.) to their Python API equivalents and wraps them in Jupyter-friendly cells. Supporting libraries (e.g., geemap) enhance mapping and interactive visualization directly within the notebook.

For R: The conversion targets the rgee package's interface, which acts as a bridge between R and Python, sending GEE requests via Python's API and returning results as native R objects. Data export and plotting use familiar R packages, so users can continue with their usual workflow without missing a beat.

Practical Example

Suppose you’ve developed a GEE script in JavaScript to monitor land cover changes using Landsat imagery. With one click, the GEE AI Assistant transforms this code into a Jupyter Notebook or R script, complete with import statements, authentication steps, and export commands for local maps, charts, and statistics. You can then:

• Run it in Colab or VS Code (for Python), or RStudio (for R)

• Visualize results and generate charts (time series, bar, pie, and more)

• Export results directly to SHP, GeoTIFF, or CSV for any GIS workflow

• Customize and re-run analyses with your favorite libraries

Give the GEE AI Assistant a try and experience seamless JavaScript-to-Python and R conversion—right in your browser, with a click.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Automated code conversion from Google Earth Engine JavaScript to Python or R is highly efficient, but the output may sometimes show minor syntax or compatibility errors. Please review and test the converted code before running your workflow end-to-end.