GIS Software

Information about GIS software and applications including both commercial and open source GIS applications. This category covers desktop GIS (Esri’s ArcGIS suite, MapInfo, QGIS, and GRASS) as well as web mapping, GIS apps, mobile GIS, and component GIS.

GIS Software

Where is Open Source GIS Going?

July 31, 2017By Mark AltaweelGIS Software

Mark Altaweel discusses the growth and direction of open source GIS tools and software in this opinion piece.

Dress Up Your QGIS Install With this Whimsical Plugin

July 7, 2017By Caitlin DempseyGIS Software

The QGIS hats plugin is a bit of fun that accomplishes no other purpose than to add a hat to the QGIS icon.

How to Make a Map in Excel Using the 3D Map Add-in

July 6, 2017By GIS ContributorGIS Software

This tutorial by Nick Williams provides an overview of how to create a map in Excel using 3D Map for Excel 2016 (or Power Map for Excel 2013).

Insights for ArcGIS 2.0 Released

July 3, 2017By Olivia HarneGIS Software

Insights now has new ways to visualize data with new charts: box plots, data clocks, chord diagrams and heat charts are all now available.

ArcGIS Runtime 100.1 Now Available

June 30, 2017By Olivia HarneGIS Software

ArcGIS Runtime 100.1, dubbed “Update 1” per ArcGIS’ announcement, is now available for use.

Connecting Government with Residents With ArcGIS Hub

June 29, 2017By Olivia HarneGIS Software

A new update to ArcGIS Open Data has brought in a new feature for those who wish to engage their communities by providing more data to contextualize their respective communities.

Installing QGIS on the Mac

June 27, 2017By Caitlin DempseyGIS Software

QGIS is an open source GIS software package that can be freely downloaded. Find step-by-step instructions on how to install QGIS on a Mac.

Avenza's Geographic Imager for Photoshop.

Review: Avenza MAPublisher 9.9.1 and Geographic Imager 5.2

June 26, 2017By Olivia HarneGIS Software

Olivia Harne discusses her impressions of Avenza MAPublisher 9.9.1 and Geographic Imager 5.2.

Drone2Map Version 1.2 Released

June 26, 2017By Olivia HarneGIS Software

ArcGIS’ Drone2Map, version 1.2, is now available to download.

Using Free and Open Source GIS to Support Natural Resource Management in the Developing World

June 25, 2017By GIS ContributorGIS Software

Rohan Fisher discusses the GIS capacity building work he has undertaken to enable decentralised evidence-based natural resource management in the developing world.

QGIS to Host 3rd User Conference

June 21, 2017By Olivia HarneGIS Software

The annual conference for QGIS is coming up this August in Denmark.

How LiDAR is Being Used to Help With Natural Disaster Mapping and Management

Michael Shillenn, vice president and program manager with Quantum Spatial outlines three projects where LiDAR data from the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) has been used to assist in planning, disaster response and recovery, and emergency preparedness.

New ArcGIS Pro Spatial Analysis Workbook

Esri Press has released Making Spatial Decisions Using ArcGIS Pro: A Workbook.

Elements of a Map

Maps are the primary tools by which spatial relationships are visualized. Maps therefore become important documents. There are several key elements that should be included each time a map is created in order to aid the viewer in understanding the communications of that map and to document the source of […]

Learn GIS for Free

There are a few online options to learn GIS for free. Take advantage of resources that provide you access to free courses from some of the world’s best universities and institutions. Learn GIS on your own or supplement your existing geospatial education with these free resources.