FREE GIS Software
Source: monde-geospatial
Geographic information System (GIS) is a revolutionary Innovation which foundation was laid in the 20th century. It has transformed the way we perceive the concept of Map reading and spatial analysis. To put simply, GIS has revolutionized every facet of geography. It has taken map analysis done on an A4 to the level of 2D and 3D analysis and adds excellent visualization.
In the clearest and concise manner, GIS is a tool or system designed to create, model, remodel, capture, analyze, store and capture information relating to map creation, representation of information on the map and various human activities. It also focuses on spatial analysis. Though GIS was designed for domains such as cartography and geography, its use has surpassed these domains. It has become a vital tool in the fields such as telecommunication and network services, urban planning, transportation planning, agricultural application and navigation.
To achieve all this, GIS software is utilized. GIS software is devised to plan, create, store, display, manage and scrutinize various forms of geographic data and spatial information. Sadly, professionals and students face difficulty getting most times due to licensing fee. However, this write-up hopes to end this conundrum for GIS software users. The following are fifteen free GIS software (open source application)
1. QGIS
QGIS is one of the foremost free GIS software. It was developed by the QGIS development team in 2002. It has become renowned for its unique tools for cartography design. The software is leading figure when it comes to map design, modeling and creation. The maps are made up of several layers of raster and vector layers.
It also has a straightforward user interface. It has a unique drop – down menu bar which contain features like Project, Raster, vector, Plugins and so on.
One amazing feature of QGIS is the GIS analysis tools. It has over 500 hundred GIS analysis tools. Some of them are the Raster tools, Vector tools, Domain specific tools and Image tools. The software is plugin enabled. It most powerful plugin tool is the Semi- Automatic Classification Plugin.
It runs on very popular operating system such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Android.
To download QGIS visit this link >>
2. GRASS GIS
Grass GIS is free open source application GIS software. It is used for map design, analysis, and image and graphics design. It also used for geospatial analysis and data management. It is equipped with tools to handle raster imaging, vector, topological imaging and temporal tools. It can handle all data relating raster and vector. It also has hi- tech network and satellite tools.
GRASS GIS is an efficient and capable tool for geographical and spatial analysis. This is the strength of the software. It is one of the most powerful GIS software. It possesses more than 300 vector and raster management tools. The raster, images, temporal tools and spatial data are presented in 3D imaging. Some of the satellite tools it possesses include vegetation indices and atmospheric correction.
It is also a powerful tool for modeling and remodeling of maps. Some modeling tools features are landscape patch analysis and hydrology.
One major downside of this software is that it is not the best for map creation and design. Its cartography features are limited and rigid.
A GRASS GIS runs on most popular operating system out there. It runs on Windows, OS X and Linux.
To download GRASS GIS visit this link >>
3. WHITEBOX GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS TOOLS
Whitebox GAT is free open source software for GIS analysis. It was released in October 2009. It was developed by the University of Guelph center for Hdyrogematics. It was originally designed for educational and research purposes for use at the center of Hydrogematics. However, the versatility and user-friendly graphics interface have made it a worldwide choice for GIS analysis.
Whitebox GAT is furnished with the latest geospatial tools and vector analysis tools. The graphic user interface (GUI) is top notch. With over four hundred analytical tools in the domains of vector analysis, map design and raster data management.
It has certain tools that make it unique such as: GIS tools for cost- distance analysis, multi-criteria evaluation and clumping. Its imaging processing tools are NDVI, contrast enhancement and numerous spatial filters. Its hydrology tools are: max flux analysis, watershed extraction and DEM preprocessing tools.
The latest version of the software was released 27 January, 2017. It is equipped with raster and vector data analysis technology. It supports multiple scripting languages such as Python and JavaScript.
To download WHITEBOX GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS TOOLS visit this link >>
4. TERRA VIEW
TerraView is a free GIS software application built under the platform TerraLib GIS Library. TerraView allows for vector data and raster data (grids and images). Vector data and raster data are stored in relational or geo-relational database. TerraView allows vector operations including intersection and buffer maps. All information is stored in MySQL and ACCESS.
Terra view has quality visualization interface. The interface gives room for several views on databases and producing thematic maps.
Terraview also has statistical functions such as semivariograms and regionalization.
5. SAGA GIS
SAGA (System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses) GIS was developed specifically for geoscientific purposes initially. It was developed by a pack of brilliant researchers from the University of Gottingen. They focused the uses mainly geoscientific standpoint. However, it has evolved into multipurpose GIS software.
The best feature of this software is the top notch geoscientific analysis tool. It is the perfect tool for terrain analysis such as hillshading, watershed extraction and visibility analysis. One amazing feature of the software is the 3D imaging enablement. The color setup of the software also makes viewing credible. What makes the 3D imaging even better is the presence of an Anaglyph tool. It makes images look real life situation.
Another arsenal of SAGA GIS is the geostatistics tools. It has a large of geostatistics tools for complex statistical work. It is perfect for statisticians. It delivers analysis in regression technique, semi-variogram technique. Meridional and longitudinal grid statistics are also very useful tools in the software.
Morphotery tools are also available. It can be used to measure the wetness index of place. One weakness of the software is Lack of excellent cartography tools for modeling and remodeling. It is not the best for map design and editing.
To download SAGA GIS visit this link >>
6. gvSiG
This GIS Software came into the spotlight in 2004. It originated from Spain. Ever since then, it has been growing in leaps and bounds. GVSIG commands the best 3D imaging software for GIS. Combining NASA’s world wind SDK, the 3D output is breathtaking.
Another powerful feature is sophistication of the mobile version. The mobile version of this software allows user to collect real time data such as the amount of rainfall in a place. It also has maps to navigate anywhere in the world.
As CAD and GIS are starting to synch together, gvSIG as state of the art tools such as tools to trace geometry, edit vertices, and polygons.
It is also imbued with remote sensing. It has a tool dedicated to vegetation (Agriculture). It has tools powerful enough to monitor chlorophyll in plants.
To download gvSIG visit this link >>
7. ILWIS
ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information System) was developed by ITC Ecschede in Netherlands. It is mostly used by researchers in the field of biology, geospatial analysis and water planning management.
ILWIS is useful in Geostatistical analysis backed with kriging for improved interpolation. It is imbued with state of the art raster and vector design.
It is able to handle advanced modeling and spatial data analysis. Its image processing is detailed and encompassing. It is not just encompassing, it is backed with 3D visualization and powerful zooming features.
It manages data very well. It runs only on Windows.
To download ILWIS visit this link >>
8. KALYPSO
Kalypso is a GIS tool developed by Bjorsen consulting Engineers (BCE) and department for rivers and costal engineering at Hamburg University.
As an open Source software, it was developed specifically for numerically projections and calculation in water management.
It also has tools for hydrodynamic models. It handles data on flood depth determination, flood risk determination. It also has a very user- friendly interface.
To download Kalypso visit this link >>
9. UDIG
uDig (User Friendly Desktop Internet GIS) was developed by Refraction Research, a Canadian based company.
It has an outstanding user- friendly interface. Its drag and drop UI is one of the unique features.
It offers quality web mapping technologies such as KML, GEORSS, WMS and WFS.
From the standpoint of editing tools, the software offers salient or basic editing tools of GIS software. uDig can also handle some complex vector operation. The spatial toolbox can be activated manually with the aid of GRASS.
It has been used as a platform for creating various GIS applications including DIVA GIS.
It is written in JAVA language. It runs on various operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
To download uDig visit this link >>
10. MAPWINDOW GIS
Mapwindow GIS is GIS software developed by Mapwindow open source item. Mapwindow GIS supports data analysis, maneuvering of geospatial analysis. It also has a unique mapping and GIS modeling System.
The user interface is easy to navigate. The layouts are simple and straightforward. The zooming capability is top notch.
It also supports various file formats. It allows for easy importation and exportation of files. You can import file format such as ASC, BIL, IMG, FLT, DHM, JPG and PNG. Created maps can be saved in series of formats such as GIF, EMF and JPG.
The shapefile editor allows user to view the features of shapes in the target layer, defining shapes as well as create and edit shapes files
It has a geoprocessing facility for helping to activate several raster operations. It runs only on Microsoft Windows.
To download Mapwindow GIS visit this link >>
11. GEODA
Geoda is open source GIS software. It is a powerful tool for spatial data analysis and geovisualization. It is a useful tool in geostatistics. It employs tools such as histogram, scatter plots to conduct exploratory analysis of the data in geostatistics.
It has a world class tools to perform global and local spatial regression. It can also handle basic linear regression.
To download Geoda visit this link >>
12. Jump GIS
Jump GIS is active open source software written in JAVA language. It supports vector and raster GIS framework. The software reads various file formats. Some of them are: ESRI Shapefile, GML, and DXF. It also reads various file formats in raster such as TIFF, JPEG, PNG and BMP.
It has plugins for editing, printing, spatial analysis, GPS and databases. It is now known as Open Jump GIS.
To download Jump GIS visit this link >>
13. DIVA-GIS
DIVA-GIS is a free and open source geographic information system (GIS) to make maps of species distribution data and analyze these data. DIVA-GIS was specifically developed at CIP for use with genebank data such as available through national or international genebank documentation systems and SINGER.
It consists many useful tools such as Grid Calculator (multiplying, adding rasters), Neighbourhood ( changing raster resolution) and Georeference Image. DIVA-GIS also has an Ecological Niche Modeling tool which can be used to predictive modeling ( it uses Bioclim and Domain algorithms).
From DIVA-GIS desktop one can directly connect to DIVA-GIS Free GIS Data site and download climate grids, DEM, sattelite images or country level data.
To download DIVA-GIS visit this link >>