Software Options for Operational GIS in Professional Environment Free

1
Software Options for Operational GIS in
Professional Environment Free Open
Source Software (FOSS) Applications
Technologies
2
Summary

• Major Software Platforms
• Elements of individual Platforms
• Fully Integrative Software Platforms
• Predominantly Image Analysis Software
• Platforms
• Issues to be considered

3
Major Platforms (not exhaustive)

• Image Analysis
• ERDAS Imagine (Leica)
• Geomatica (PCI Geomatics)
• ENVI (ITT visuals)
• Definiens Professional
• Google Earth

• Raster/Vector Integration
• ESRI ArcGIS
• Geomedia (Intergraph)
• MapInfo (Pitney Bowes)
• IDRISI
• Maptitude
• GRASS
• AutoCAD
• Microstation

4
ESRI

• Market Leader
• Extensive Format Support
• Flexible Functionality for different users
• Extensive Analysis Toolset
• Database Management of various data types
• Extensive Support, Training, and Knowledge Base
• Annual User Conference

5
GeoMedia

• Supports many data types
• Extensive Analysis Toolset
• Direct access to major geospatial/CAD Data
  Formats
• Incorporates industry-standard relational
  databases
• Regularly updated with full support
• Training

6
MapInfo (Pitney Bowes Software)

• Mapping Functionality
• Limited GIS Functionality
• Traditionally Visual Basic
• Flexible Applications
• Global base
• Strong Dissemination Tool

7
IDRISI

• Open Code
• Single Packaged Product
• Sophisticated Raster based analysis
• Raster analysis toolset
• Extensive Vector-based data input and output
  through CartaLinx

8
Geographic Resources Analysis Support System
(GRASS)
GRASS 6.2

• Raster/Vector capabilities
• New topological 2D/3D vector engine and support
  for vector network analysis
• First UNIX GIS
• UNIX Functionality
• Open Code
• Global User Base

9
Maptitude

• Cad GIS
• Import/Export options
• Address Matching Feature
• Suited for Readily Available Datasets

10
AutoCAD Map

• Sophisticated GIS/CAD integration
• Grid, Projection, Topology Support
• Extensive Database options
• Vector/Raster display and Analysis
• Menu-based
• Costly

11
Microstation

• Largely US and European Use
• Cad-Based Mapping
• Limited Analysis Features
• Limited Data Format Integration Georeferencing
• Simple Google Earth/Google SketchUp Interface

12
Image Analysis Software

• Major platforms -ERDAS Imagine (Leica), ENVI (ITT
  Solutions) Geomatica (PCI Geomatics) Definiens
• Google -for broad based applications
• Raster-based analysis becoming commonplace in
  census mapping operations
• Many Image analysis software can integrate vector
  data for refined image analysis
• Imagery becoming cheaper and faster to process
  and integrate with existing vector datasets

13
ERDAS IMAGINE 9.1

• Raster-based software designed to extract
  information from images.
• Handles extensive collections of geospatial data
• Provides client-side interaction with spatially
  aware databases
• Extends to topological editing of spatial
  databases
• Vector layer support

14
Geomatica (PCI Geomatics)

• Handles extensive collections of geospatial data
  formats
• Provides client-side interaction with spatially
  aware databases
• Full map production capabilities
• Attribute management tools for viewing, editing,
  querying and analysis of attributes
• Extensive image processing capabilities

15
ENVI 4.3 (ITT Solutions)

• Integrates raster imagery with geographic
  information systems
• Vector layers can be overlaid onto image data, to
  easily compare raster and vector information.
• Relatively extensive support knowledge base
• Reads vector formats (ArcView shp, ARC/INFO
  interchange, DXF, Microstation/Intergraph DGN
  files, USGS DLG files and more)
• Linear feature extractor automatically digitizes
  everything between the seed points, faithfully
  following curves, jumping gaps, and snapping
  vectors if desired

16
ENVI 4.3
Feature extraction tool can be used on any linear
feature, from roads to coastlines, and saves
large amounts of time over traditional
point-by-point digitizing.
17
Definiens

• Highly sophisticated automated user defined
  feature extraction
• Extract geo-information from any kind of remote
  sensing imagery
• Data Management Connectivity to ArcGIS Server
• Load and save vector data to and from databases
• Simultaneously update different locations of one
  large dataset
• Update portions of large vector datasets
• Extension for ArcGIS
• Allows ArcCatalog to define a collection of maps
  as a Definiens workspace
• enables users to review and edit Definiens
  workspace entries

18
Definiens Enterprise Image Intelligence Suite
19
Google Earth

• Free Imagery! However (Cost associated feature
  upgrades)
• Global Coverage
• Democratizing Access
• User Friendly
• Large Knowledge Base
• Useful for Quick Display of Raster Vector Data

20
Google Earth

• Several External tools and methods for image
  integration into various GIS platforms exist
• Google Maps Image Downloader
• Georeference to Graticule
• Local Knowledge Control Points

21
Summary

• Many commercial suppliers exists
• Evaluate your goals within the census and adopt
  technologies accordingly
• Evaluate the interoperability of software to best
  suit both current and future needs
• Collaborate with different agencies and staff on
  the preferred software platform
• An informed choice is the best choice!

22
Issues to be considered in system selection

• Cost
• Upgrades
• LAN configuration
• Training needs/Workforce
• Ease of installation
• Maintenance
• Documentation and manuals
• Help-line and vendor support
• Means of making patches for support
• Complex and Confusing Process Savvy GIS consumer
  should research, select, test, and question
  systems before a purchase is made.

23
FOSS Applications Technologies

• Interoperability and Data Conversion
• The Geodatabase
• Desktop Mapping
• Geographical Analysis
• Web mapping
• GPS
• Conclusion

24
Free Open Source (FOSS)

• Applications of which you can access the source
  code
• Similar functionality as commercial software
  applications
• Becoming less IT oriented and more GUI friendly
• Provides useful information to users about the
  construction of applications
• Provide the ability to learn how to construct
  tailored applications for specific uses
• Allows for a more informed decision on what is
  needed outside the free and open source
  environment

25
Interoperability

• Defined by the The Global Spatial Data
  Infrastructure Association as
• The capability to communicate, execute programs,
  or transfer data among various functional units
  in a manner that requires the user to have little
  or no knowledge of the unique characteristics of
  those units.
• ISO 19118

26
Interoperability Data Conversion

• GDAL - Geospatial Data Abstraction Library
  (www.gdal.org)
• a translator library for raster geospatial data
  formats that is released under an Open Source
  license by the Open Source Geospatial Foundation.
  It comes with a variety of useful command-line
  utilities for data translation and processing of
  both raster and vector data
• Cartographic Projections library
  (remotesensing.org/proj)
• Reprojection of rasters and vectors among
  different coordinate systems and datum are
  managed by the PROJ library. The precision is the
  same as for major commercial software, and may be
  increased with slight adaptations of the existing
  code. It includes several related resources as
  well

27
GDAL - Geospatial Data Abstraction Library
28
Cartographic Projections Library
29
Interoperability Data Conversion

• Current Grids and Datums
• (asprs.org/resources/GRIDS)
• Since September 1998, the Grids and Datums column
  from each issue of PERS has been made available
  on the web site.

30
Grids and Datums (American Society for
Photogrammetry Remote Sensing)
31
Geodatabase

• PostGIS (postgis.refractions.net)
• Allows the storage and management of geographical
  vector data directly from within the database
  (thus using standard SQL and its Open Geospatial
  Consortium extensions distance, area, buffer,
  overlay etc much like ESRI's SDE or Oracle's
  Spatial extension)
• Every record is associated to a specific
  projection, thus in the same database data in
  different projections can coexist, and they'll be
  correctly overlayed

32
PostGIS
33
Geodatabase

• The data model is non-topological, and fully
  compliant to Simple Feature specifications of OGC
  (SFS 1.1, SFS TF 1.1).
• Importing and exporting ESRI shapefile data is
  straightforward. Raster geodatabase are not
  available.
• Users in Australia, British Columbia, Colorado,
  Portugal, Virginia, Georgia, Switzerland,
  Florida, Chile, Switzerland, Brazil, Sweden,
  Italy, Norway, New Zealand, Germany, Sri Lanka
• WFP and FAO

34
Desktop Mapping

• Historically had a significant gap compared to
  commercial applications, because most GFOSS users
  were IT persons, more inclined toward problem
  solving than to graphical appearance
• In the last few years, thanks also to a larger
  user base, the situation has vastly improved
• QuantumGIS (http//qgis.org)
• most advanced raster vector image and data
  display and manipulation
• Thuban (http//thuban.intevation.org)
• Vector-based strong limitations in the handling
  of rasters
• OpenEV (http//openev.sourceforge.net)
• powerful in image analysis -not easy for the
  unexperienced user

35
Quantum GIS or QGIS
36
QGIS Interface
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)
39
(No Transcript)
40
GRASS

• Short for Geographic Resources Analysis Support
  System
• Historically known as a raster GIS, difficult to
  use, mainly command-line oriented. Since 2002 it
  has known a heavy development the 2D and 3D
  vector section, as well as the database
  integration, have been completely rewritten, and
  it is now available as a new (6.0) stable
  version.
• Very complete, with all functions required for a
  professional use, from management and analysis of
  geospatial data to image analysis, from chart and
  maps production to spatial modelling and 2D,
  2,5D, and full 3D visualization a complete list
  of the gt350 modules (many of which with several
  options, giving a total of more than 600 commands
• Can Be Accompanied with R statistical package
  (http//www.r-project.org) and a flow through
  with QGIS

41
(No Transcript)
42
(No Transcript)
43
(No Transcript)
44
GRASSInterface
45
Map Server Applications

• Definition Web Map Server-A service that can
  produce maps drawn into a standard image format
  (PNG, GIF, JPEG, etc). (GSDI Association ) based
  on a standard set of input parameters
• The first Mapserver (also called UMN Mapserver
  http//ms.gis.umn.edu) has been developed
  originally by the University of Minnesota. It is
  OGC compliant (WMS 1.1.0, WMS 1.0.0, WMC 1.0, WFS
  1.0.0, SLD 1.0, GML 2.0, Filter 1.0.0, WMS 1.1.1)
  
• Examples include pmapper (http//pmapper.sourcefor
  ge.net), Chameleon (http//chameleon.maptools.org)
  and Cartoweb (http//www.cartoweb.org)
• With these tools, customized map server
  applications can be built in a very
  cost-effective way

46
http//ms.gis.umn.edu
47
http//ms.gis.umn.edu
48
p.mapper
49
http//webgrs.wur.nl/cgi/Miscellaneous/EthioAtlas
p.mapper
Mapserver
50
(No Transcript)
51
GPS (Free Open Source)

• Global Positioning System receivers are very
  useful and widespread
• Many free programs are available for interacting
  with GPS hardware, from single-purpose
  command-line downloading programs (e.g. gpstrans
  http//gpstrans.sourceforge.net) to the more
  sophisticated ones, with graphical interface and
  conversion tools (e.g. gpsbabel
  http//gpsbabel.sourceforge.net)
• Some have real-time navigation application (e.g.
  gpsdrive http//www.gpsdrive.cc) or differential
  correction (dgpsiphttp//www.wsrcc.com/wolfgang/g
  ps/dgps-ip.html).

52
GPS data integration

• Easy integration among different tools,
  characteristic of open source programs, allows
  larger programs like GRASS and QGIS to and
  upload points and tracks straight from/to the
  devices.
• In the case of GRASS, data are reprojected
  automatically in the working projection and
  converted to the GRASS vector format.

53
GPStrans
GPStrans allows waypoint data to be transferred
to and from a Garmin GPS)
54
GPSBabel
55
(No Transcript)
56
Differential GPS Correction
57
FOSS Online Resources

• Open Source Geospatial Foundation
  http//www.osgeo.org
• Geonetwork Opensource Community
  http//geonetwork-opensource.org
• The FreeGIS Project http//www.freegis.org
• Map Tools Utilities http//maptools.org
• Open Source GIS http//opensourcegis.org
• Remote Sensing Open Source Support
  http//remotesensing.org
• Open Source Geospatial Consortium
  http//www.opengeospatial.org/

58
OOpen Source Geospatial Foundation
http//www.osgeo.org
59
(No Transcript)
60
(No Transcript)
61
TThe FreeGIS Project http//www.freegis.org
62
Map Tools Utilities http//maptools.org
63
OOpen Source GIS http//opensourcegis.org
64
RRemote Sensing Open Source Support
http//remotesensing.org
65
OOpen GGeospatial CConsortium
http//www.opengeospatial .org/
66
Concluding Remarks

• Several products are mature and ready for
  professional use, whereas others, while usable,
  need further development to be really competitive
  (setting aside the cost of acquisition)
• UMN Mapserver is fully functional it does not
  have significant limitations, and in several
  respects it is superior to its commercial
  counterparts
• PostgreSQLPostGIS as a relational geodatabase is
  a very reliable and powerful solution, and has
  already replaced commercial top-end solutions

67
Cont.

• For geographic analyses, GRASS is fully
  functional, stable and very powerful. In many
  situations (where money is an issue underfunded
  universities and public administrations, small or
  heavily competing companies, etc.) it is the best
  alternative to the (unfortunately very common)
  illegal use of (cracked or stolen) proprietary
  software. Its inherent qualities, however, allow
  its use also in large and more complex settings
• Desktop mapping (and in particular QGIS) is
  usable, but still young some more months of
  development will be necessary to make it more
  stable and powerful

68
Open Source Contributions?
69
Cont.

• What are the costs for Upgrades of hardware
  or/and existing software?
• Is a LAN configuration needed?
• What are the staff training needs/ Is the
  existing workforce adequate?
• What is the ease and difficulty as far as
  installation of hardware/software as well as
  maintenance?
• What infrastructure documentation, manuals,
  Help-line, and vendor support (patches etc.)?