Mark Altaweel discusses the growth and direction of open source GIS tools and software in this opinion piece.
GRASS
GIS Software
Open Source GIS and Freeware GIS Applications
An open source application by definition is software that you can freely access and modify the source code for. Open source projects typically are worked on by a community of volunteer programmers. Open source GIS programs are based on different base programming languages. Three main groups of open source GIS […]
GIS Software
GIS on the Mac
There are a few software packages and configuration options for those Macintosh users that are interested in running GIS software on their computers. One of the most popular options for running GIS softly directly on within the Macintosh OS environment is QGIS, known formally as Quantum GIS, a free and […]
GIS Software
GRASS How To: Sample Files
Example Linux versions of some critical GRASS files This appendix is the home of Linux-specific examples of selected GRASS configuration files. Currently, only several examples of a single file are offered. However, this is the most important file for configuration! Later, examples of database configuration files (e.g. DEFAULT_WIND) and other […]
GIS Software
GRASS How To: Enhancing GRASS
If you plant to enhance any part of GRASS, read this first! GRASS has been developed for over a decade as completely unrestricted public domain source code and executables. Though there was initial resistance to the existence of such robust software in the public domain, many competitors learned to take […]
GIS Software
GRASS How To: GRASS 4.2 Quick Start
Installation Instructions Warning These instructions pertain to the 4.2 release of GRASS. Users are urged to consult the complete installation guide for more detailed instructions. $GIS/src – This directory contains scripts and files used to compile GRASS. By running scripts and changing lists of programs you generate GRASS binaries for […]
GIS Software
GRASS How To: Acquisition/Compilation of GRASS Source Code
The GRASS binaries for Linux tend to work. Why would anyone want to mess with the source code? Let’s try to answer this with another question: “Why can’t I get the source code to my GIS, so I can see how it works, and maybe fix some things to work […]
GIS Software
GRASS How To: References
For general reference material on GIS, try a very good technical bookstore (in many cases these are campus bookstores at schools with good GIS programs or top-notch technical or general bookstores – you know that ones are near you..), or the following URL for the CyberInstitute Short Course on Geographic […]
GIS Software
Acquisition/Installation of GRASS Binaries
This appendix describes how to acquire and install Linux binaries for GRASS4.13 (the 3rd update to the last full release of GRASS, version 4.1). How to get these files: ftp moon.cecer.army.mil login: anonymous password: your email address cd pub/grass/grass4.1/release/binaries/linux image mget grassa* bye Installation instructions: ******************************************************************** * GRASS 4.1 Update […]
GIS Software
GRASS How To: Copyright Notice, and Notice on Support of this Document
9.1. Copyright notice This document was prepared by a Federal civil servant in support of his work (but mostly on his own time). It is NOT SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT. 9.2. Notice on support of this document I believe that the contents of this document are accurate. However, if you use […]
GIS Software
GRASS How To: The Future of GRASS?
Excellent question! Several possible answers have been thrown out: USA/CERL’s announced intention is to use GRASS and COTS (commercial off-the-shelf software) for internal uses, to leave the GRASS public web- and ftp-site on its system indefinitely, and to sign cooperative research and development agreements with three companies: (1) the Environmental […]
GIS Software
GRASS How To: Web-based Support for GRASS (and for GIS Matters in General)
Support for a public domain program? No way, they say! Actually, as a user of Linux, you probably know better. GRASS started by having a GRASS Information Office at USA/CERL. There were also very active users outside USA/CERL, who provided valuable user support. GRASS had annual users’ meetings, listservers for […]