Top 10 open source GIS software for 3D maps
Source: monde-geospatial.com
In GIS field, the 3D component plays a huge role in interpreting and visualizing results, the key is adding another factor of visualization to the available parameters, which is the parameter Z commonly, called by the Elevation. During the entire projects we often work with only two dimensions (X,Y), so the interpretation is a bit hard, but 3D maps make it a lot easier.
That is why in this article we are going to show the top 10 GIS software to manipulate 3D data in order to enhance the quality of your work.
1. QGIS
QGIS works as geographic information system (GIS), it allows users to manipulate and edit spatial data, in addition to forming and trading graphical maps. QGIS supports both raster and vector layers; vector information is put away as either point, line, or polygon. This very popular software allows working with external files such as non-georeferenced data like images and make it worth there, it can also handle 3D mapping by manipulation DEM’s through a famous plugin that is QGIS2threejs. You can access their official website from here >>
2. Blender
Another open source software allows creating 3D objects and it goes well with the ArcScene software. Some of the 3D GIS processing can be achieved using Blender such as building Terrain model, 3D airphoto and more. You can also create shaded relief map on Blender. There are many sources out there, it should make your task easier when it comes to 3D modeling.
You can access their official website from here >>
3. Grass GIS:
A free Geographic Information System software that is used for spatial analysis problems and it’s very useful because it got a lot of features that’s considered paid in other similar software and it supports 3D modeling which is a big deal. It had approximately 350 modules ready to use making in favor huge capabilities to render the maps. The most famous 3D module is NVIZ, which has the capability of displaying 3D maps.
You can access their official website from here >>
4. MICRODEM
An open source microcomputer-mapping program written by Professor Peter. It requires a 64-bit version of Windows; an older version, which is not being updated, runs on 32-bit operating systems. You may freely use MICRODEM with no restrictions. It supports and displays: DEMs, Satellite imagery, vector maps and GIS databases. You can access their official website from here >>
5. Tatuk GIS
The Tatuk GIS Editor is a professional desktop GIS mapping and data editing application with built-in scripting environment and rich API to enable customizations, feature extensions, and development of sophisticated end-user applications. It allows users to render 3D vector, DTM model presentation, raster and vector layer draping over DTM, flood simulation, light and shadow control, camera/scene control, volumetric line and points rendering, Z & M value settings, 3D objects texturing and lot more.
You can access their official website from here >>
6. SAGA Software
SAGA Software or System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses is a geographic information system, used to edit spatial data. It is free and open-source software, developed originally by a small team at the University of Göttingen , and is now being maintained and extended by an international developer community.
SAGA GIS is intended to give scientists an effective but easily learnable platform for implementing geoscientific methods. This is achieved by the application-programming interface (API). SAGA has a large community and it is growing its libraries each day, it also supports the 3D modeling
You can access their official website from here >>
7. gvSIG
Is a geographic information system software, designed for capturing, storing, handling, analyzing and deploying any kind of referenced geographic information in order to solve complex management and planning problems. It supports 3D modeling thanks to its gvSIG 3D extensions.
You can access their official website from here >>
8. Whitebox GAT
an open-source desktop GIS and remote sensing software package for general applications of geospatial analysis and data visualization. Whitebox GAT is supposed to provide a platform for superior geospatial statistics evaluation with applications in both environmental research and the geomatics enterprise more widely.
You can access their website from here >>
9. ILWIS
It is a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing software for both vector and raster processing. Its features include digitizing, editing, analysis and display of data, and production of quality maps. For the 3D task, in the past ILWIS had limited 3D capabilities. One could make a GeoRef3D which generated a 3D image (with a DTM) but it was cumbersome to use and quite slow. One of the goals of the 3.8 was upgrading these capabilities to something useful. Now they added a 3D mode that allows considering the Z factor in calculus for the display.
You can access their website from here >>
10. OrbisGIS
An open-source Geographic Information System software created by research and for research. It is licensed under GPLv3. OrbisGIS proposes new methods and techniques to model, represent, process and share spatial data, making it easy to monitor geographical territories and manage their evolution. It supports 3D modeling thanks to its capabilities of generating TINs from DEMs …
You can access their official website from here >>