GIS software Free software Open source Windows Mac OS X Linux BSD Unix Web Other ArcGIS: Viewer(s) No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Google Earth Plugin, KML, WMS: Autodesk. HydroDesktop is a free and open source GIS enabled desktop application that helps you search for, download, visualize, and analyze hydrologic and climate data registered with the CUAHSI Hydrologic Information System. DotSpatial is a geographic information system library written for.NET 4.
Nowadays, there is a wide variety of free and open source mapping software platforms (widely known as GEO or GIS tools).
They are not only for map making and drawing but allows you to capture, store, map, share, manage, and analyze large quantities of geographical and spatial data within a single database for free. Open Source GIS (Geographic Information Systems) softwares, makers, and apps come with a wide variety of features and types such as 3D GIS mapping, mobile or Android GIS, map routing, and etc.
On this page, we collected a list of 10 best open source map making software tools.
1. QGIS
This leading free and open source Geographic Information System has it all to create, edit, visualize and effectively analyze geospatial information on Windows, Mac, and Linux. In addition, Android QGIS is coming soon.
QGIS is a very powerful but easy-to-use mapping tool and a has a massive support base. Its solid support from the global community is legendary.
You can extend its functionalities with python scripting and a variety of community plugins. It is suitable for beginner and advanced users.
Continuously growing capabilities provided by functions and plugins.
View and overlay vector and raster data in many different formats.
Compose maps and interactively explore spatial data.
Create, manage and export vector and raster layers in a variety of formats.
Perform spatial data analysis on spatial databases or other OGR- supported formats.
Publish maps on the Internet.
External Python plugins.
Website: www.qgis.org
2. GeoDa
If you are searching for free and open source GIS software that focuses on spatial data analysis and allows you to discover valuable insights by exploring and modeling spatial patterns, GeoDa can be your answer.
Its key functionality is geostatistics. It is a pretty powerful platform with an intuitive interface that allows you to add multiple formats such as shapefile, table format (CSV, XLS), GeoJSON, and etc.
GeoDa is a mapping software of choice for many lab users at universities such as Harvard, Cornell, and MIT.
It runs on Windows, MacOSX, and Linux (Ubuntu).
Key features and benefits:
Supports a larger variety of vector data in different formats such as shapefiles, geodatabases, GeoJSON and more.
You can load data from CartoDB tables.
Exploring the results of statistical models (such as linear regression models) through different types of graphs and maps.
You can easily explore statistical patterns across space and time.
You are able to add a base map to any map view, including cluster maps.
Averages Chart that compares values.
A scatter plot matrix that allows you to study multiple bivariate data examples and correlations at once.
Maps patterns of several classic non-spatial cluster techniques and many other features.
Website: http://geodacenter.github.io/
3. uDig
If you need basic mapping, you can consider uDig. It is a simple open source mapping software (EPL and BSD) and desktop application framework that is built with Eclipse Rich Client (RCP) technology.
uDig provides a Java solution for desktop GIS data access, editing, and viewing. The uDig acronym stands for: User-friendly, Desktop located, Internet-oriented and GIS-ready.
It’s an open source GIS software for basic mapping. This application runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS.
Key features and benefits:
Can be used as a stand-alone application.
Can be extended with RCP “plug-ins”.
Provides a familiar graphical environment for GIS users.
Internet-oriented – consuming standard (WMS, WFS, WPS) and de facto (GeoRSS, KML, tiles) geospatial web services.
User-friendly.
Has a catalog of webmap tiles.
Website: http://udig.refractions.net/
4. GRASS GIS
When it comes to best open source mapping software, GRASS GIS is for sure one of the stars here.
GRASS GIS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System) is a free and open source GIS software tool for geospatial data management and analysis, graphics and maps making, image processing, and spatial modeling.
It also is some kind of open source data visualization software. GRASS GIS offers a great functionality including 3D vector support.
The program runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX.
Key features and benefits:
Includes over 350 modules to render maps and images on monitor and paper.
Able to manipulate raster, vector data, and vector networks.
Works with multispectral image data.
Manages and stores spatial data.
Intuitive graphical user interface.
Interfaces with printers, plotters, databases, and digitizers.
Raster analysis and 3D-Raster (voxel) analysis.
Point data analysis.
Visualization: 3D surfaces with 3D query (NVIZ), Histogram presentation, Map overlay, Raster maps, Vector maps and etc.
Geostatistics: Interface to “R”.
Website: https://grass.osgeo.org
5. gvSIG
gvSIG is known for its huge variety of features. It has also remote sensing capabilities. For example, you can perform supervised classification, image profiles, band algebra, decision tree examples, mosaics, scatter plot and etc.
gvSIG is a desktop, 3D, and mobile GIS. It is a very powerful but user-friendly free and open source mapping software (GIS) used by thousands of users in the World. gvSIG comes with 3 types: Desktop, Online, and Mobile. gvSIG Mobile is a great solution for data collection on Android devices.
Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OSX.
Key features and benefits:
A powerful, user-friendly, interoperable GIS.
Works easily in a variety of formats, vector and raster files, databases and remote services.
gvSIG Desktop is designed to be an easily extensible.
gvSIG Online is the integral platform for the SDI.
Fast and powerful solutions to manage the spatial data of an organization efficiently.
Successfully used in many private businesses and supranational organizations.
gvSIG Online allows you to share geographic information in the cloud, easily generate maps and 2D and 3D applications.
gvSIG Mobile has a comprehensive set of tools for applications and tasks.
Website: www.gvsig.com
6. OpenJUMP
OpenJUMP is a relatively popular open source mapping software and GIS tool written in the Java. Group of volunteers around the world, maintain the system.
It is a simple application that can read and write shapefiles simple GML files and several other vector formats via plugins.
OpenJUMP is not a comprehensive program with many features, but if you are looking for a simple and easy-to-use solution, it might be your answer. Its key power is the editing of geometry and attribute data.
Open Source Gis Software Windows
Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX.
Key features and benefits:
Can read and write vector formats via plugins.
Can read from different spatial databases and write to postgis.
Has a good support for images and for WFS and WMS web-services.
Editing of geometry and attribute data.
Vector analysis tools for topologic analysis and overlay operations.
Website: www.openjump.org/
7. SAGA GIS
The software was initially designed for (geo-)scientists and has grown to become one of the best free and open source GIS software for a variety of users worldwide.
SAGA provides a comprehensive and constantly growing suit of geoscientific methods. It is also great for remote sensing because of its rich library grid and terrain processing capabilities.
Runs under Windows and Linux. SAGA is in the object-oriented C++.
Key features and benefits:
You can lay out many types of data analysis (with the help of maps, scatter plots, histograms, etc).
Excellent range of capabilities for geodata processing and analysis.
An easily approachable user interface with many visualization options.
Framework independent function development.
GUI for intuitive data management.
Portable.
Vector tools.
Image analysis, terrain analysis, and geostatistics.
Website: www.saga-gis.org/
8. MapWindow
Another best open source mapping software tool. The software lets you perform GIS application the standard functions GIS users want to see – map viewer, identify features, print layout and etc.
MapWindow GIS comes with a pretty good user interface and holds numerous compelling advantages for businesses worldwide. The MapWindow GIS goes with an extensible plugin architecture, a GIS ActiveX control, and C# GIS programmer library called DotSpatial.
Runs under Windows.
Key features and benefits:
One of the most user-friendly GIS desktop applications.
It is easy to modify.
Uses various design patterns and best practices like dependency injection, MVC, MVP, MEF.
Multi-threading and multi-tasking.
SOLID principles аре applied throughout the code.
The plugins are complex and do multiple tasks.
Website: www.mapwindow.org
9. ILWIS
ILWIS short from Integrated Land and Water Information System is a GIS and remote sensing open source mapping software.
It integrates image, vector, and thematic data in one simple but powerful package. You will see an extensive range of features such as import/export, editing, analysis and production of quality maps.
ILWIS is known for its functionality, user-friendliness and a highly interactive desktop application.
Runs on Windows only.
Best home design software for macbook pro. Key features and benefits:
Visualization and manipulation of raster, vector and tabular data.
3D analysis of spatial temporal events.
Multitask operations.
Educational platform for teaching GIS and RS.
Python for automation of repetitive procedures.
Remote sensing tools.
Visualization in 3D and animation.
Basic and advanced analysis.
Next Generation Roadmap.
Website: https://52north.org
10. OrbisGIS
For those who are searching for a cross-platform open source mapping software created by research and for research, Diva GIS has what to show.
OrbisGIS provides new techniques to model, process, and share spatial data. It is very easy to monitor geographical territories and manages their evolution. OrbisGIS is developed by a team of researchers and engineers who specialized in geography, geoinformatics, and statistic.
Runs on Linux, Windows and Mac OS.
Key features and benefits:
100% Java
Lightweight (less than 40mo).
Standalone – no installation or admin rule needed.
Data formats: SHP, GeoJson, OSM, KML, and others.
GIS techniques to share spatial data.
Seamlessly integrated with spatial databases.
Mavis beacon teaches typing mac app. Website: http://orbisgis.org/
GIS software encompasses a broad range of applications which involve the use of a combination of digital maps and georeferenced data. GIS software can be sorted into different categories.[1]
Open source software[edit]
The development of open source GIS software has—in terms of software history—a long tradition[2] with the appearance of a first system in 1978. Numerous systems are available which cover all sectors of geospatial data handling.
Desktop GIS[edit]
Capaware rc1 0.1
GRASS GIS 6.4
gvSIG 1.0
IDRISI Taiga 16.05
SAGA-GIS v. 2.0.3
The following open-source desktop GIS projects are reviewed in Steiniger and Bocher (2008/9):[3]
GRASS GIS – Geospatial data management, vector and raster manipulation - developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
gvSIG – Mapping and geoprocessing with a 3D rendering plugin
ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information System) – Integrates image, vector and thematic data.
JUMP GIS / OpenJUMP ((Open) Java Unified Mapping Platform) – The desktop GISs OpenJUMP, SkyJUMP, deeJUMP and Kosmo all emerged from JUMP.[3]
MapWindow GIS – Free desktop application with plugins and a programmer library [4]
QGIS (previously known as Quantum GIS) – Powerful cartographic and geospatial data processing tools with extensive plug-in support
SAGA GIS (System for Automated Geoscientific Analysis) –- Tools for environmental modeling, terrain analysis, and 3D mapping
uDig – API and source code (Java) available.
Besides these, there are other open source GIS tools:
Capaware – A C++ 3D GIS Framework with a multiple plugin architecture for geographic graphical analysis and visualization.
Generic Mapping Tools – A collection of command-line tools for manipulating geographic and Cartesian data sets and producing PostScript illustrations.
FalconView – A mapping system created by the Georgia Tech Research Institute for the Windows family of operating systems. A free, open source version is available.
Kalypso – Uses Java and GML3. Focuses mainly on numerical simulations in water management.
TerraView – Handles vector and raster data stored in a relational or geo-relational database, i.e. a frontend for TerraLib.
Whitebox GAT – Cross-platform, free and open-source GIS software.
Other geospatial tools[edit]
Apart from desktop GIS, many other types of GIS software exist.
Web map servers[edit]
GeoServer – Written in Java and relies on GeoTools. Allows users to share and edit geospatial data.
MapGuide Open Source – Runs on Linux or Windows, supports Apache and IIS web servers, and has APIs (PHP, .NET, Java, and JavaScript) for application development.
Mapnik – C++/Python library for rendering - used by OpenStreetMap.
MapServer – Written in C. Developed by the University of Minnesota.
Spatial database management systems[edit]
PostGIS – Spatial extensions for the open source PostgreSQL database, allowing geospatial queries.
ArangoDB – Builtin features available for Spatial data management, allowing geospatial queries.
SpatiaLite – Spatial extensions for the open source SQLite database, allowing geospatial queries.
TerraLib – Provides advanced functions for GIS analysis.
OrientDB – Builtin features available for Spatial data management, allowing geospatial queries.
Software development frameworks and libraries (for web applications)[edit]
GeoBase (Telogis GIS software) – Geospatial mapping software available as a software development kit, which performs various functions including address lookup, mapping, routing, reverse geocoding, and navigation. Suited for high transaction enterprise environments.
OpenLayers – Open source AJAX library for accessing geographic data layers of all kinds, originally developed and sponsored by MetaCarta.
Leafletjs – Open source JavaScript Library for Mobile-Friendly Interactive Maps
Cesium – An open-source JavaScript library for world-class 3D globes and maps
Software development frameworks and libraries (non-web)[edit]
GeoTools – Open source GIS toolkit written in Java, using Open Geospatial Consortium specifications.
GDAL / OGR
Cataloging application for spatially referenced resources[edit]
Open Source Gis Software For Mac
GeoNetwork opensource – A catalog application to manage spatially referenced resources
pycsw – pycsw is an OGC CSW server implementation written in Python
Other tools[edit]
Chameleon – Environments for building applications with MapServer.
Notable commercial or proprietary GIS software[edit]
Desktop GIS[edit]
Note: Almost all of the companies below offer Desktop GIS and WebMap Server products. Some such as Manifold Systems and ESRI offer Spatial DBMS products as well.
Companies with high market share[edit]
Autodesk – Products that interface with its flagship AutoCAD software package include Map 3D, Topobase, and MapGuide.
Bentley Systems – Products that interface with its flagship MicroStation software package include Bentley Map and Bentley Map View.
ENVI – Utilized for image analysis, exploitation, and hyperspectral analysis.
ERDAS IMAGINE by ERDAS Inc – Products include Leica Photogrammetry Suite, ERDAS ER Mapper, ERDAS ECW/JP2 SDK (ECW (file format)) are used throughout the entire mapping community (GIS, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, and image compression) and ERDAS APOLLO.
Esri – Products include ArcMap, ArcGIS, ArcSDE, ArcIMS, ArcWeb services and ArcGIS Server.
Intergraph – Products include G/Technology, GeoMedia, GeoMedia Professional, GeoMedia WebMap, and add-on products for industry sectors, as well as photogrammetry.
MapInfo by Pitney Bowes Software – Powerful desktop GIS MapInfo Professional is enhanced with many plug-ins including MapInfo Drivetime for route analysis, MapInfo Engage 3D for 3D and statistical analysis, MapInfo MapMarker for Geocoding.
Smallworld – developed in Cambridge, England (Smallworld, Inc.) and purchased by General Electric. Used primarily by large utilities and communications companies.
Companies with minor but notable market share[edit]
Grass Gis Software
Cadcorp – Products include Cadcorp SIS, GeognoSIS, mSIS and developer kits.
Caliper – Products include Maptitude, TransModeler and TransCAD.
Conform by GameSim – Software for fusing and visualizing elevation, imagery, vectors, and LiDAR. The fused environment can be exported into 3D formats for gaming, simulation, and urban planning.[5]
Dragon/ips – Remote sensing software with GIS capabilities.
Geosoft – GIS and data processing software used in natural resourceexploration.
GeoTime – software for 3D visual analysis and reporting of location data over time; an ArcGIS extension is also available.
Global Mapper – GIS software package currently developed by Blue Marble Geographics; originally based on USGS dlgv32 source code.
Golden Software – GIS and scientific software for a wide variety of professional geological applications. Products include Surfer for gridding and contouring, MapViewer for thematic mapping and spatial analysis, Strater for well or borehole logging and cross sections, Voxler for true 3D well and component mapping, Didger for digitizing and coordinate conversion, and Grapher for 2D and 3D graphing.
Kongsberg Gallium Ltd. – Products include InterMAPhics and InterView. High performance GIS visualization and analytics toolkits supporting multiple platforms, including flavors of Unix, Windows and Android. Primarily intended for mission critical visualizations
MapDotNet – Framework written in C#/.NET for building WPF, Silverlight, and HTML5 applications.
Manifold System – GIS software package.
CitySurf Globe – Server based 3D GIS software, developed by PiriReis.
RegioGraph by GfK GeoMarketing – GIS software for business planning and analyses; company also provides compatible maps and market data.
RemoteView by Overwatch – RemoteView is one of the most widely used imagery analysis tools within the US government to collect geospatial intelligence.
SuperMap Inc. – a professional GIS software provider that offers Desktop, Component, Web, and Mobile GIS for global markets.
TerrSet (formerly IDRISI) – GIS and Image Processing product developed by Clark Labs at Clark University. Especially effective for raster GIS analysis and image processing. Affordable and robust, it is used for both operations and education.
TNTmips by MicroImages – a professional system integrating desktop GIS, advanced image processing, 2D-3D-stereo visualization, desktop cartography, geospatial database management, and webmap publishing.
Quantum Gis
Free Gis Software
GIS as a service[edit]
Free Open Source Gis Software
Many suppliers are now starting to offer Internet based services as well as or instead of downloadable software and/or data. These can be free, funded by advertising or paid for on subscription; they split into three areas:
SaaS – Software as a Service: Software available as a service on the Internet
ArcGIS Online – ESRI's cloud based version of ArcGIS[6]
CartoDB – Online mapping platform that offers an open source, cloud based SaaS model[7]
Mapbox – Provider of custom online maps for websites [8]
PaaS – Platform as a Service: geocoding or analysis/processing services
ArcGIS Online[9]
Google MapsJavaScript API version 3[10]
Here MapsJavaScript API version [11]
MicrosoftBing Geocode Dataflow API[12]
US Census Geocoder[13]
DaaS – Data as a Service: data or content services
ArcGIS Online[14]
Apple Maps[15]
Google Maps[16]
Here Maps[17]
OpenStreetMap[18]
Microsoft Bing Maps[19]
Gis Software Download
Spatial DBMS[edit]
Boeing's Spatial Query Server – Spatially enables Sybase ASE.
DB2 – Allows spatial querying and storing of most spatial data types.
Informix – Allows spatial querying and storing of most spatial data types.
MySQL – Allows spatial querying and storing of most spatial data types.
Microsoft SQL Server (2008 and later) – The latest player in the market of storing and querying spatial data. GIS products such as MapInfo and Cadcorp SIS can read and edit this data while ESRI and others are expected to be able to read and edit this data at some point in the future.
Oracle Spatial – Product allows users to perform complex geographic operations and store common spatial data types in a native Oracle environment. Most commercial GIS packages can read and edit spatial data stored in this way.
SAP HANA - Allows users to store common spatial data types, load spatial data files with well-known text (WKT) and well-known binary (WKB) formats and perform spatial processing using SQL. Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) certification allows third party GIS software providers to store and process spatial data. GIS products such as ArcGIS from ESRI works with HANA.[20]
Teradata – Teradata geospatial allows storage and spatial analysis on location-based data which is stored using native geospatial, S. Steiniger and R. Weibel
^'Open Source GIS History - OSGeo Wiki Editors'. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
^ ab'An Overview on Current Free and Open Source Desktop GIS Developments - Steiniger and Bocher'. Archived from the original on 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2011-08-05.