Kurt Menke, GISP FOSS for Geospatial Unit Two

What’s Out There? A whole lot!!! Over 350 project entries on This will be a selection of some of the leading packages Paul Ramsey Refractions Research Inc. The State of Open Source GIS

Different Realms Desktop Desktop Geoprocessing/Analysis Geoprocessing/Analysis Spatial Databases Spatial Databases Web Mapping Servers Web Mapping Servers Web Mapping Clients Web Mapping Clients Today we’ll just cover some of the leading Desktop packages Today we’ll just cover some of the leading Desktop packages

Can be divided into different language tribes The programming language the source code is written in C/C++ Java Java.Net.Net

Some Foundations GDAL/OGR : Frank Warmerdam (FWTools) Tools for reading, writing, and processing GDAL - Geospatial Data Abstraction Library GDAL - Geospatial Data Abstraction Library  Raster OGR - OpenGIS Simple Features Reference OGR - OpenGIS Simple Features Reference  Vector Proj4 Tools for working with projections

OGR Tools for manipulating vector data Over 40 vector data formats supported Commandline Utilities ogrinfo - Lists information about an OGR supported data source ogr2ogr - Converts simple features data between file formats ogrtindex - Creates a tileindex OGR Vector Formats Format NameCodeCreation Arc/Info.E00 (ASCII) Coverage AVCE00No AutoCAD DXF DXFYes Comma Separated Value (.csv) CSVYes ESRI Personal GeoDatabase PGeoNo ESRI ArcSDE SDENo ESRI Shapefile Yes GeoRSS Yes GML Yes GPX Yes GRASS No KML Yes Mapinfo File MapInfo FileYes Microstation DGN DGNYes MySQL No Oracle Spatial OCIYes EPIInfo.REC RECNo SDTS No U.S. Census TIGER/Line TIGERNo

GDAL Tools for manipulating raster data Over 100 raster data formats supported Here's a sample --> GDAL Raster Formats Long Format NameCodeCreationGeoreferencing Arc/Info ASCII GridAAIGridYes Microsoft Windows Device Independent Bitmap (.bmp)BMPYes ERMapper Compressed Wavelets (.ecw)ECWYes Erdas Imagine RawEIRNoYes ENVI.hdr Labelled RasterENVIYes Graphics Interchange Format (.gif)GIFYesNo GRASS RastersGRASSNoYes Erdas Imagine (.img)HFAYes JPEG JFIF (.jpg)JPEGYes JPEG2000 (.jp2,.j2k)JPEG2000Yes JPEG2000 (.jp2,.j2k)JP2MrSIDYes Portable Network Graphics (.png)PNGYesNo ArcSDE RasterSDENoYes USGS ASCII DEM (.dem)USGSDEMYes GDAL Virtual (.vrt)VRTYes OGC Web Coverage ServerWCSNoYes WKTRaster NoYes OGC Web Map ServerWMSNoYes

GDAL Command line utilities gdalinfo - report information about a file. gdal_translate - Copy a raster file, with control of output format. gdaladdo - Add overviews to a file…pyramids gdalwarp - Warp an image into a new coordinate system. gdal_contour - Contours from DEM. gdaldem - Tools to analyze and visualize DEMs. rgb2pct.py - Convert a 24bit RGB image to 8bit paletted. pct2rgb.py - Convert an 8bit paletted image to 24bit RGB.

GDAL Command line Utilities cont… gdal_merge.py - Build a quick mosaic from a set of images. gdal_rasterize - Rasterize vectors into raster file. gdaltransform - Transform coordinates. nearblack - Convert nearly black/white borders to exact value. gdal_grid - Create raster from the scattered data. gdal_polygonize.py - Generate polygons from raster. gdal_sieve.py - Raster Sieve filter. gdal_fillnodata.py - Interpolate in nodata regions. gdal-config - Get options required to build software using GDAL.

PROJ4 Engine for re-projecting and transforming geospatial datasets from one SRS to another Engine for re-projecting and transforming geospatial datasets from one SRS to another Integrated into many FOSS and proprietary packages Integrated into many FOSS and proprietary packages QGIS QGIS GRASS GIS GRASS GIS MapServer MapServer gvSIG gvSIG PostGIS PostGIS Google Earth Google Earth

PROJ4 Uses Well-known text (WKT) – a text markup language for representing spatial reference systems...among other things Uses Well-known text (WKT) – a text markup language for representing spatial reference systems...among other things SRS's are often referenced by EPSG codes SRS's are often referenced by EPSG codes A unique code for every SRS A unique code for every SRS This is the same format ESRI uses in the *.prj file for a shapefile spatial reference This is the same format ESRI uses in the *.prj file for a shapefile spatial reference

Desktop Packages  GRASS GIS (C)  Quantum GIS (aka QGIS) (C)  MapWindow (.Net)  uDig (Java)  GvSig (Java)

GRASS GIS Geographic Resources Analysis Support System Oldest active GIS package, has been under continuous development since 1982! Oldest active GIS package, has been under continuous development since 1982! Development History Development History  U.S. Army - Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USA- CERL) originally directed its development  – revived by Baylor University  2001 – current – ITC a research center in Italy

GRASS GIS Geographic Resources Analysis Support System Has a different vocabulary and workflow which takes getting used to Has a different vocabulary and workflow which takes getting used to Originally raster based but now includes vector Originally raster based but now includes vector Extremely powerful Extremely powerful Historically had no GUI and was Linux based. Historically had no GUI and was Linux based. Recently true windows versions are available with a nice GUI Recently true windows versions are available with a nice GUI

Cartography

3D Visualization

Image Processing

Vector Analysis…GRASS isn’t just for rasters anymore Networks Chart symbolization Buffers

Quantum GIS Part of the C tribe Part of the C tribe Available for Windows, Linux & Mac Available for Windows, Linux & Mac Active Development community Active Development community User Plugins User Plugins Active listserv Active listserv Lots of new functionality Lots of new functionality Easy intuitive interface Easy intuitive interface Can be used as a front end to GRASS GIS Can be used as a front end to GRASS GIS

Integrating Tools The QGIS Application Stack QGIS – desktop GIS PROJ4 – projection engine PROJ4 – projection engine GDAL/OGR – raster/vector manipulation GDAL/OGR – raster/vector manipulation GRASS – raster analysis GRASS – raster analysis PowerfulPackage

23 MapWindow GIS Similar to QGIS in many ways but part of the.net family Similar to QGIS in many ways but part of the.net family Only available for Windows Only available for Windows Developed by Daniel Armes at Univ Utah Developed by Daniel Armes at Univ Utah Active Development community Active Development community Not too hard to guess how ArcGIS features are implemented Not too hard to guess how ArcGIS features are implemented

MapWindow GIS

Plugins similar to QGIS Plugins similar to QGIS Built-in access to Google geocoder Built-in access to Google geocoder Watershed tools Watershed tools Built-in GPS functions Built-in GPS functions Basic Raster tools Basic Vector tools

uDIG User-Friendly Desktop Internet GIS Part of the Java tribe Part of the Java tribe Mostly a viewer…but can be much more Mostly a viewer…but can be much more Available on Windows/Mac/Linux Available on Windows/Mac/Linux Internet oriented – designed to consume geospatial services: OGC standards (WMS, WFS, WCS) and GeoRSS & KML Internet oriented – designed to consume geospatial services: OGC standards (WMS, WFS, WCS) and GeoRSS & KML Can be used as a front end to JGRASS (Java GRASS) Can be used as a front end to JGRASS (Java GRASS) Developed by Refractions Research Developed by Refractions Research

gvSIGhttp:// Part of the Java tribe Part of the Java tribe Available for Windows, Linux, Mac Available for Windows, Linux, Mac Multi-lingual…very popular in Europe Multi-lingual…very popular in Europe Spanish, Valencian, English, Basque, Gallego, Czech, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese- Brazilian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Swahili and Turkish Spanish, Valencian, English, Basque, Gallego, Czech, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese- Brazilian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Swahili and Turkish Not all dialogs/tools are completely in English Not all dialogs/tools are completely in English Not a wide English speaking user base Not a wide English speaking user base Unique workflow Unique workflow

GvSIG Oxford Edition The better version for english speakers The better version for english speakers Multi-lingual: more than 20 languages already included, easy to add more Multi-lingual: more than 20 languages already included, easy to add more Flexible, multi-document workspace with side-by-side data views, map layouts etc. Flexible, multi-document workspace with side-by-side data views, map layouts etc. Rich vector data functionality, including thematic maps, symbology and CAD-like editing capabilities Rich vector data functionality, including thematic maps, symbology and CAD-like editing capabilities Topological and network data analysis Topological and network data analysis Rich raster data tools, including remote sensing, georeferencing and transformations Rich raster data tools, including remote sensing, georeferencing and transformations Map layout and PDF/PS production facilities Map layout and PDF/PS production facilities Easy-to-use and flexible geoprocessing tools for typical raster and vector processing tasks Easy-to-use and flexible geoprocessing tools for typical raster and vector processing tasks More than 500 additional geoprocessing tools via the SEXTANTE extension and GRASS GIS interface More than 500 additional geoprocessing tools via the SEXTANTE extension and GRASS GIS interface GRASS 6.4 included in the installation package; all you need, on all supported operating systems GRASS 6.4 included in the installation package; all you need, on all supported operating systems

Very similar to ArcView 3.x in form but with dockable windows

The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo)  Non-profit formed in 2006  Goal of supporting and building the best open source geospatial tools possible including data  Provides financial, organizational and legal support to the broader Free and Open Source geospatial community Freepen Source Freepen Source  Serves as an independent legal entity to which community members can contribute code, funding and other resources, secure in the knowledge that their contributions will be maintained for public benefit.  Provides a common forum and shared infrastructure for improving cross-project collaboration

Desktop Applications GRASS GIS Quantum GIS gvSIG Geospatial Libraries FDOGDAL/OGRGeoToolsGEOSMetaCRSOSSIMPostGIS Projects under the OSGeo umbrella Web Mapping Server MapServer deegree Geomajas GeoServer Client Mapbender MapFish MapGuide Open Source OpenLayers Metadata Catalog GeoNetwork opensource

FOSS4G Free and Open Source Software GeoSpatial Annual Conference Hosted by OSGeo 2004 OSG Ottawa, Canada 200 att 2005 OSG – St. Paul, MN 350 att st Mapserver Users Meeting, St Paul, MN 125 att

FOSS4G Free and Open Source Software GeoSpatial Annual Conference Hosted by OSGeo 2006 Lausanne, Switzerland Victoria, Canada Cape Town, S. Africa Sydney, Australia Barcelona, Spain 822

FOSS4G 2011 FOSS4G - Denver!

1st MapServer Meeting: St. Paul, MN 2003

Conclusion(s) You can most GIT needs with FOSS GIS You can most GIT needs with FOSS GIS It is fun and a rising force It is fun and a rising force GIS ready to do real work GIS ready to do real work Weaknesses are probably cartography & having to learn different software and workflows Weaknesses are probably cartography & having to learn different software and workflows Strengths: ability to read/write different formats, open standards strictly followed, allows for interoperability Strengths: ability to read/write different formats, open standards strictly followed, allows for interoperability There is an economic gain by not having to pay huge license fees There is an economic gain by not having to pay huge license fees You can reduce your dependence on proprietary vendors & become involved in a collaborative GIS community You can reduce your dependence on proprietary vendors & become involved in a collaborative GIS community

QGIS Demo Can Start on Lab 2 – Intro to QGIS