I love open source GIS software. I love the tools that are available that aren’t available in the commercial softwares, I love the ease of use, I love the ability to quickly customize, and I love the price – FREE. Open source GIS has become more accepted in the industry as the software and analysis has become more robust and easy to use. Unless Esri starts to give ArcMap licenses away for free I only see the use of open source GIS to grow
The following list of software provides a general overview of what is available. If you know of something that I don’t have on the list let me know and I’ll update the page
| Link | Description |
| Quantum GIS | A great open source GIS. I use Quantum all the time! |
| GRASS | World leading open source GIS, GRASS, was developed by the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories back in the 1980s and is used by a ton of organizations |
| uDig | An up-and-coming Open Source GIS programming that is gaining popularity |
| gvSIG | gvSIG Desktop is a powerful geographic information system (GIS) designed to offer a free solution to all needs related to geographic information management. |
| GeoDa | Developed by the GeoDa Center for Geospatial Analysis and Computation at Arizona State University, GeoDa is a great piece of software for spatial analysis. |
| SpatialLite | Spatial DBMS that is accessible in many open source GIS programs. |
| PostGIS | The king of open source GIS databases that is always improving and is accessible in several commercial and open source GIS programs. |
| TileMill | Need to generate some great maps quickly? TileMill may be your solution. From DevelomentSeed, TileMill provides an open source platform to construct maps, using their distinct style of CSS for cartography, Carto. |
Great job, Sir!
Just one question; which one of the open source GIS programs do you recommend to use in terms of ease and completeness? I have difficulty to choose because you and other sources say each one are good. Would you please say me something on this for I should take those SW options seriously.
Thank you,
Dejen
I use Quantum GIS more than any other combined. I believe it is easy to use, there is plenty of documentation, and it’s free. I use it for my personal GIS work everyday.
MapWindow (http://www.mapwindow.org/) also known as DotSpatial (http://dotspatial.codeplex.com/) is another open source GIS Project.
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I want GIS programmes and courses on offer in universities, colleges, etc.
We also use QGIS for most of our projects. its great tool to visualize and edit GIS data.
I am hoping for some advice….
I work in the country of Kiribati in the central Pacific. I am looking for a simple, free GIS-type program that I can use to show change in water quality data for different wells over time.
Many thanks!!!
Check out GRASS. Also, QGIS has a number of extensions that may be able to help you out!
which open source of GIS that doesnt use googlemap or bingmap?
thanks for advance
How do you mean?
which open GIS is best for Health..thanks
I would go with Quantum GIS.