diff --git a/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_backend_parity_matrix.py b/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_backend_parity_matrix.py
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_backend_parity_matrix.py
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+"""Required backend parity matrix per high-risk fixture (issue #1985).
+
+Single source of truth for "does backend X still match the reference on
+fixture Z." Existing scattered parity files (``test_attrs_parity_1548.py``,
+``test_backend_pixel_parity_matrix_1813.py``, etc.) stay in place as
+named regression markers for their bug numbers; new parity assertions go
+here.
+
+Harness contract
+----------------
+
+Every cell calls a single :func:`assert_parity` helper that checks the
+same set of fields on the same fixture across every wired-up backend:
+
+* pixel array (byte-equal for int, NaN-aware closeness for float)
+* dtype
+* dims and dim order
+* coord values and coord dtype (per axis)
+* transform tuple (rasterio 6-tuple)
+* CRS as EPSG int when present, plus ``crs_wkt`` string
+* declared nodata sentinel
+* masking state (``attrs.get('masked_nodata')`` once issue #1988 lands;
+  until then we accept absence as "unspecified" rather than asserting a
+  value)
+* a small subset of canonical attrs whose round-trip semantics are
+  already settled in the module (``raster_type``, ``transform``,
+  ``crs``, ``crs_wkt``). The "selected canonical attrs" list from issue
+  #1985 will be tightened in a follow-up once issue #1984's PR 4 lands
+  the contract version stamp.
+
+Scope of this PR (matrix scaffold)
+----------------------------------
+
+PR 1 of the issue #1985 plan: harness end-to-end on one fixture (int16
+single-band, no nodata) against one backend (eager numpy). Follow-up
+PRs add fixtures and backends without touching the harness itself.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Callable
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+import xarray as xr
+
+from xrspatial.geotiff import open_geotiff, to_geotiff
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Backend selection
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Each backend entry maps a stable id to the ``open_geotiff`` kwargs that
+# select it. Follow-up PRs add dask+numpy, gpu, dask+gpu, http, and vrt
+# entries. The matrix is parametrized over this list so wiring up a new
+# backend means appending one row, not editing every test.
+_BACKENDS = [
+    pytest.param({}, id="numpy"),
+    pytest.param({"chunks": 16}, id="dask+numpy"),
+]
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Fixture descriptors
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class _FixtureSpec:
+    """Declarative description of one high-risk fixture.
+
+    Attributes
+    ----------
+    fix_id
+        Stable id used in the parametrize call. Appears in test names.
+    dtype
+        Pixel dtype of the underlying array (and the on-disk SampleFormat).
+    expected_dims
+        Tuple of dim names in expected order.
+    expected_crs_epsg
+        EPSG int the read path should emit under ``attrs['crs']``.
+    expected_nodata
+        Declared nodata sentinel that the read path should surface under
+        ``attrs['nodata']``. ``None`` means the fixture has no declared
+        nodata; the harness then asserts ``'nodata' not in attrs``.
+    expected_masked
+        Tri-valued. ``True`` / ``False`` pin ``attrs['masked_nodata']``
+        once issue #1988 has landed and a backend opts in. ``None``
+        means "do not assert" -- used for fixtures without nodata or
+        until the masking-state attr is wired up.
+    builder
+        Callable receiving a directory ``Path`` and the resolved target
+        ``Path`` (cache-key filename). Writes the file at ``target`` and
+        returns the final on-disk path. Most builders just return
+        ``target`` unchanged; sidecar-producing builders (e.g. a
+        ``.vrt`` over auxiliary tiles) may write multiple files and
+        return the entry path.
+    """
+
+    fix_id: str
+    dtype: np.dtype
+    expected_dims: tuple[str, ...]
+    expected_crs_epsg: int | None
+    expected_nodata: object
+    expected_masked: bool | None
+    builder: Callable[[Path, Path], Path]
+
+
+def _wrap_2d(arr: np.ndarray, *, crs: int | None) -> xr.DataArray:
+    """Wrap a 2-D numpy array as a writer-ready DataArray.
+
+    Uses unit-pixel descending-y coords (``y = height-1 .. 0``,
+    ``x = 0 .. width-1``). The read-back transform tuple for a height-H
+    fixture is ``(1.0, 0.0, -0.5, 0.0, -1.0, H - 0.5)`` -- the half-pixel
+    offsets come from the PixelIsArea convention (origin is the pixel
+    edge, coords are pixel centres) that the writer round-trips.
+    """
+    height, width = arr.shape
+    da = xr.DataArray(
+        arr, dims=["y", "x"],
+        coords={
+            "y": np.arange(height - 1, -1, -1, dtype=np.float64),
+            "x": np.arange(width, dtype=np.float64),
+        },
+        attrs={},
+    )
+    if crs is not None:
+        da.attrs["crs"] = crs
+    return da
+
+
+def _build_int16_single_band(dir_path: Path, target: Path) -> Path:
+    """High-risk fixture: int16 single-band stripped TIFF, EPSG:4326, no nodata.
+
+    Integer dtype catches sign-extension and predictor bugs that float
+    fixtures hide. Seeded so the byte-equal pixel assertion is reproducible.
+    """
+    del dir_path  # builder writes directly to the resolved target path
+    rng = np.random.default_rng(seed=19850)
+    arr = rng.integers(-30000, 30000, size=(32, 32), dtype=np.int16)
+    to_geotiff(
+        _wrap_2d(arr, crs=4326), str(target),
+        compression="none", tiled=False,
+    )
+    return target
+
+
+_FIXTURES: list[_FixtureSpec] = [
+    _FixtureSpec(
+        fix_id="int16-single-band",
+        dtype=np.dtype("int16"),
+        expected_dims=("y", "x"),
+        expected_crs_epsg=4326,
+        expected_nodata=None,
+        expected_masked=None,
+        builder=_build_int16_single_band,
+    ),
+]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
+def _parity_matrix_dir(tmp_path_factory):
+    """Session-scoped scratch dir, one write per fixture id.
+
+    Tests reuse files across cells (12 fixtures times 6 backends would
+    otherwise be 72 redundant writes per pytest run).
+    """
+    return tmp_path_factory.mktemp("parity_matrix_1985")
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def parity_fixture(_parity_matrix_dir):
+    """Resolve a :class:`_FixtureSpec` to an on-disk path.
+
+    Files are cached across the session: a fixture already present on
+    disk is returned without rewriting.
+    """
+    dir_path = _parity_matrix_dir
+
+    def _resolve(spec: _FixtureSpec) -> Path:
+        # ``fix_id`` may contain ``/`` once dtype/compression-keyed
+        # fixtures land (cf. ``test_backend_pixel_parity_matrix_1813.py``
+        # ids like ``stripped/int16/none``). Flatten to a single
+        # filename so the resolver never creates subdirectories.
+        safe_id = spec.fix_id.replace("/", "-")
+        path = dir_path / f"parity_1985_{safe_id}.tif"
+        if path.exists():
+            return path
+        return spec.builder(dir_path, path)
+    return _resolve
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Materialisation + comparison helpers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _materialise(da: xr.DataArray) -> np.ndarray:
+    """Return a numpy view of ``da.data`` regardless of backend.
+
+    Handles dask (``.compute``) and cupy (``.get``) without forcing the
+    caller to know which backend produced the DataArray.
+    """
+    raw = da.data
+    if hasattr(raw, "compute"):
+        raw = raw.compute()
+    if hasattr(raw, "get"):
+        raw = raw.get()
+    return np.asarray(raw)
+
+
+def _coord_view(da: xr.DataArray, name: str) -> np.ndarray:
+    return np.asarray(da.coords[name].values)
+
+
+def _assert_pixels_equal(ref: np.ndarray, actual: np.ndarray, *, label: str) -> None:
+    """Pixel equality, dtype-aware.
+
+    Integer arrays must be byte-identical; float arrays compare NaN-aware
+    with ``equal_nan=True``. Diverging dtypes always fail -- a backend
+    that silently upcasts has a bug.
+    """
+    assert ref.dtype == actual.dtype, (
+        f"{label}: dtype differs ref={ref.dtype} actual={actual.dtype}"
+    )
+    assert ref.shape == actual.shape, (
+        f"{label}: shape differs ref={ref.shape} actual={actual.shape}"
+    )
+    if ref.dtype.kind == "f":
+        assert np.array_equal(ref, actual, equal_nan=True), (
+            f"{label}: float pixels differ (NaN-aware)"
+        )
+    else:
+        assert ref.tobytes() == actual.tobytes(), (
+            f"{label}: integer pixel bytes differ"
+        )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# The matrix cell
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def assert_parity(
+    da: xr.DataArray,
+    spec: _FixtureSpec,
+    *,
+    path: Path,
+    label: str,
+) -> None:
+    """Assert every parity field for one (fixture, backend) cell.
+
+    Run against an already-read DataArray rather than re-opening here so
+    the same helper applies to both ``open_geotiff(path, **kwargs)`` and
+    the explicit ``read_geotiff_dask`` / ``read_geotiff_gpu`` /
+    ``read_vrt`` entry points wired up in follow-up PRs. ``path`` is the
+    on-disk fixture, used to build the eager-numpy reference.
+
+    The eager-numpy read of the same file is the reference for the pixel
+    array, coord values, dims, and transform tuple. ``spec.dtype`` and
+    ``spec.expected_crs_epsg`` / ``spec.expected_nodata`` are asserted
+    against the actual independently of the reference, so a bug that
+    silently changes them in *every* backend still fails this cell.
+    """
+    ref = open_geotiff(str(path))
+
+    # Pixel array, dtype, shape.
+    actual_arr = _materialise(da)
+    _assert_pixels_equal(
+        _materialise(ref), actual_arr, label=label,
+    )
+
+    # Dtype against the spec, not just against the reference. Catches a
+    # silent upcast that the reference would also exhibit.
+    assert actual_arr.dtype == spec.dtype, (
+        f"{label}: dtype {actual_arr.dtype} != spec dtype {spec.dtype}"
+    )
+
+    # Dims + order.
+    assert da.dims == spec.expected_dims, (
+        f"{label}: dims {da.dims!r} != expected {spec.expected_dims!r}"
+    )
+
+    # Coord values and coord dtype, per axis.
+    for axis in spec.expected_dims:
+        if axis not in ref.coords:
+            continue
+        ref_c = _coord_view(ref, axis)
+        actual_c = _coord_view(da, axis)
+        assert ref_c.dtype == actual_c.dtype, (
+            f"{label}: coord {axis!r} dtype "
+            f"ref={ref_c.dtype} actual={actual_c.dtype}"
+        )
+        assert ref_c.tobytes() == actual_c.tobytes(), (
+            f"{label}: coord {axis!r} bytes differ"
+        )
+
+    # Transform tuple.
+    ref_t = ref.attrs.get("transform")
+    actual_t = da.attrs.get("transform")
+    assert ref_t == actual_t, (
+        f"{label}: transform tuple differs ref={ref_t!r} actual={actual_t!r}"
+    )
+
+    # CRS: EPSG int + WKT string.
+    if spec.expected_crs_epsg is not None:
+        assert da.attrs.get("crs") == spec.expected_crs_epsg, (
+            f"{label}: attrs['crs'] {da.attrs.get('crs')!r} != "
+            f"expected {spec.expected_crs_epsg!r}"
+        )
+    ref_wkt = ref.attrs.get("crs_wkt")
+    actual_wkt = da.attrs.get("crs_wkt")
+    assert ref_wkt == actual_wkt, (
+        f"{label}: crs_wkt differs ref={ref_wkt!r} actual={actual_wkt!r}"
+    )
+
+    # Nodata sentinel + masking state.
+    if spec.expected_nodata is None:
+        assert "nodata" not in da.attrs, (
+            f"{label}: fixture declares no nodata but attrs['nodata']="
+            f"{da.attrs.get('nodata')!r}"
+        )
+    else:
+        assert da.attrs.get("nodata") == spec.expected_nodata, (
+            f"{label}: attrs['nodata'] {da.attrs.get('nodata')!r} != "
+            f"expected {spec.expected_nodata!r}"
+        )
+
+    # Masking state. ``attrs['masked_nodata']`` is the post-#1988 attr.
+    # Until it ships, ``None`` means "do not assert" and the matrix
+    # tolerates absence. The follow-up PR that wires #1988-aware
+    # fixtures will tighten this.
+    if spec.expected_masked is not None:
+        actual_masked = da.attrs.get("masked_nodata")
+        assert actual_masked == spec.expected_masked, (
+            f"{label}: attrs['masked_nodata'] {actual_masked!r} != "
+            f"expected {spec.expected_masked!r}"
+        )
+
+    # Selected canonical attrs: the reference and the actual agree on
+    # presence and value. The list is intentionally narrow until issue
+    # #1984's PR 4 (contract version stamp) lands and we can extend it.
+    canonical_keys = ("raster_type", "transform", "crs", "crs_wkt")
+    for key in canonical_keys:
+        ref_v = ref.attrs.get(key)
+        actual_v = da.attrs.get(key)
+        assert ref_v == actual_v, (
+            f"{label}: canonical attr {key!r} differs "
+            f"ref={ref_v!r} actual={actual_v!r}"
+        )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# The single matrix test entry point
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("spec", _FIXTURES, ids=lambda s: s.fix_id)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("backend_kwargs", _BACKENDS)
+def test_backend_parity_matrix(parity_fixture, spec, backend_kwargs):
+    """One cell per (fixture, backend). Asserts every parity field.
+
+    A new backend or fixture lights up automatically on the next pytest
+    run -- no per-cell test function needed.
+    """
+    path = parity_fixture(spec)
+    da = open_geotiff(str(path), **backend_kwargs)
+    label = f"fixture={spec.fix_id} backend={backend_kwargs}"
+    assert_parity(da, spec, path=path, label=label)