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The Big List Of Free GIS Programs – I Through M



A continuation of this list from the first post.

Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS)

Type: Freeware (formerly commercial), open-source

Platform: Windows

Last update: 2006?

Personal experience: Minimal

I plan to look at this one in greater detail in the future – looks like it has some really useful capabilities. Here’s a list of chapter titles from the Applications Guide to give you a feeling for what it can do:

  • Hazard, vulnerability and risk analysis
  • Flood hazard analysis using multi-temporal SPOT-XS imagery
  • Modelling cyclone hazard in Bangladesh
  • Modelling erosion from pyroclastic flow deposits on Mount Pinatubo
  • Statistical landslide hazard analysis
  • Deterministic landslide hazard zonation
  • Seismic landslide hazard zonation
  • Creating an engineering geological data base
  • Irrigation water requirement
  • Data analysis for irrigation
  • Determination of peak runoff
  • Morgan approach for erosion modelling
  • Assessing aquifer vulnerability to pollution in Piana Campana
  • Remote Sensing and GIS techniques applied to geological survey
  • Geological data integration
  • Modelling with neighborhood operators
  • Extracting topographic and terrain variables for distributed models
  • Tools for map analysis applied to the selection of a waste disposal site
  • Updating a land use map with oblique air photos
  • Analysis of urban change and spatial pattern
  • Analysis of suitability for urban expansion
  • Cibodas: analyzing the fuelwood demand
  • Cibodas: the erosion issue
  • Soil erosion modelling
  • Layer tinting and shading
  • Creating a mosaic using small aerial photographs
  • Creating a mosaic using a DTM and small aerial photographs

The JUMP Family:

OpenJump, SkyJump, OpenJump Pirol Edition, Kosmo, JUMP

Type: Freeware, open-source

Platform: Windows

Last update: 2008

Personal experience: Minimal

All descendants of the original JumpGIS (as is gvSIG as well), originally funded by Canadian government entities. (as is gvSIG as well). Great vector editing capabilities. The best ones to check out are OpenJump, which tries to incorporate improvements from the other versions, and Kosmo, still open-source but being developed and expanded by a commercial company.

Key Indicator Data System (KIDS)

Type: Freeware

Platform: Windows

Last update: 2007

Personal experience: None

“The Key Indicator Data System (KIDS) has been developed by the World Agriculture Information Centre (WAICENT) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. KIDS is a software framework that provides the ability to implement thematic information systems that collect, reference, visualize, exchange and disseminate statistical, survey and indicator data. Visualization is possible through tables, mapping, raster images and graphs. Basic GIS overlay and legend editing functions are available for non-GIS users.”

LandSerf

Type: Freeware

Platform: Windows, Linux and Macintosh

Last update: 2007 (final release of version 2.3 due any day now)

Personal experience: Minimal

Played around with this a few years ago, and keep meaning to try out the latest version, which adds a lot more features.

“LandSerf is a freely available Geographical Information System (GIS) for the visualization and analysis of surfaces. Applications include visualization of landscapes; geomorphological analysis; gaming development; GIS file conversion; map output; archaeological mapping and analysis; surface modelling and many others. It runs on any platform that supports the Java Runtime Environment (Windows, MacOSX, Unix, Linux etc.) . Features:

  • Handles multiple surface models – raster digital elevation models (DEMs), vector Triangulated Irregular Networks (TINs), contours and metric surface networks (MSNs).
  • Interactive 3D viewing and ‘flythrough’ of surfaces on platforms that support OpenGL.
  • A range of powerful and interactive visualization techniques including lighting/shade models, multiple image blending and dynamic graphical query.
  • Raster and vector transformation including image rectification and map projection.
  • Multi-scale surface processing based on quadratic regression.
  • Fractal and polynomial surface generation for modelling and simulation.
  • Multi-scale parameter and feature extraction (slope, aspect, curvature etc.).
  • Import and export of common raster and vector formats.
  • Integration with Garmin GPS receivers. “

MapMaker

Type: Free limited version; full-feature version installs as 30-day demo, reverts to free version at end of evaluation

Platform: Windows

Last update: 2008

Personal experience: Medium

A great mapmaking program, though the interface takes some getting used to. Also has vector editing and analysis functions, but after the 30-day demo has expired, can only be saved in a proprietary format in the free version; export into standard vector formats (SHP, MIF, DXF) requires the full version. But licenses for the paid version, Map Maker Pro, are available for free to not-for-profit organizations, educational establishments, and students in Africa.

MapWindow

Type: Freeware, open-source

Platform: Windows

Last update: 2008

Personal experience: Extensive

A great GIS program from Idaho State University, with excellent vector-editing capabilities, plus a host of useful utilities; do a search for MapWindow on this blog for examples.

MicroDEM

Type: Freeware

Platform: Windows (runs in Linux under WINE)

Last update: 2008

Personal experience: Extensive

A terrific GIS program for terrain visualization and analysis, but lots of other useful features as well; do a search for MicroDEM on this blog. Has vector editing, analysis, and display functions, but these aren’t as strong as the raster capabilities (but are currently in the process of being improved). New features being added continuously, so check the website for updates to the program and helpfile.

Management Information System (MIST)

Type: Freeware

Platform: Windows

Last update: 2006?

Personal experience: None

MIST is a unified database management system designed to service protected area and park management needs.”

  • GIS mapping interface with data entry and data analysis for ground patrols, air patrols, park visitors, local resource use, SRF, researcher, and occasional observations.
  • Data entry forms with GPS downloading of waypoint data directly into the database.
  • Visual report and query generator with user selectable options that can be added or changed to suit your needs.
  • Annual operations planning database for accounting and management of local projects and operations.
  • Partner projects database to track and manage donor and externally funded projects.
  • Library database for accessing physical and virtual library materials reports and documents.
  • Contact and address database.

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1 Response to “The Big List Of Free GIS Programs – I Through M”


  1. 1 TonyB

    Fantastic review! Please keep it up. You are providing an important service to the GIS community.

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