Free GIS

an intro to open-source spatial

software
Paul Bartsch Joe Larson
UCSB Cal Fire

paul.bartsch@dcs.ucsb.edu gisfireguy@gmail.com – until I get

an official Cal Fire email

Be sure to examine the links and notes with these slides…there may be some
not so obvious gems*
FREE* GIS

*seriously
FOSS4G:
Free and Open
Source
Software for
Geospatial

OSGEO:
The Open
Source
Geospatial
Foundation

All of the products we'll talk about today are both free and open-source
 Why Use Open Source GIS?
1. Marketable skills
In this ever-changing job market it is a huge benefit to be able to
bring a total GIS package to the table
2. Supported by huge development & support community
Community is very passionate about helping each other but and
continually improving software
3. Low start-up costs
It is now possible to install a complete GIS stack without paying a
cent - LEGALLY
4. Security
Arguably more secure than proprietary software
Backed by large development community
Bugs are found and fixed quickly
 Why Use Open Source GIS? (cont’d)
5. Works on all major platforms (Mac, Linux, Windows)
6. Complimentary business model vs linear (see next two slides)
7. There's nothing missing
Desktop GIS, Spatial Database Storage, Server...
Tons of analysis tools (No licensing worries)
Community developed add-ons
8. Works with existing GIS data
Import .shp files, most major formats
Export to most major formats
ArcSDE now connects to PostGIS (OS Database)
9. No file format lock-in
10. Did we mention FREE?
Potentially save enough money on software to save jobs
 Closed Source Software Dev
$$$
Organization 1
Softwa
re
$$$
Organization 2
Softwa
re $$$$$$$
$$$ $$$$
Organization 3 0110 0110
Softwa
re

Credit: http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Library Holmes_2006a

 Open Source Dev. Model
Org. 2: Org. 1:
$$$ Org. 3:
New Code in
Documentation
feature
in, code out
funders

0001
1011

0110

110
1
DOCUMENTATIO

0
10 10

11 10
01 1
N
01
0

00
Org. 4:
OS Community
Community-
01 0 $$$$$$$
funded 01111 0110
Developers 1000 0110 0110 1100
0110
Org. 5: 0110 110 0110
Customer Org. 6:
of Consultant 1
1
/
$$$
contributor 010 010

$$$
Contributor 0110
Org.6
1100 S

0110
11000100
EA
$$
Org. 7:
$
I D
Ideas and Org. 8:
money in, 0110 Code and money
code out in,
code and money
Credit: http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Library Holmes_2006a out
 Who uses Open Source GIS?
A few examples…

• ArcGIS 9.2 uses GDAL

• United Nations

• UCSB Marine Map http://www.marinemap.org/marinemap/

Many case studies here: http://postgis.refractions.net/documentation/casestudies/

More case studies: http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Case_Studies

Big projects like Linux, Apache, Mozilla Firefox and OpenOffice are supported by Fortune
500 companies like IBM and Sun. OSGeo is supported by Autodesk.
 Why Teach Open Source GIS?
1. Teach fundamentals of spatial data
management and analysis rather than button
memorization
2. Becoming an increasingly necessary job skill
Companies with existing GIS are using this
software
Makes GIS marketable to smaller firms and non-
profits
3. Drives innovation
Through sharing of knowledge & source code
4. Code is open and human-readable
 The Stack
Free Alternatives For Your GIS Needs
PostgreSQL/ PostGIS - Spatial Database
http://www.postgresql.org/
http://postgis.refractions.net/
GeoServer - Server for Online Publishing/ Data Sharing
http://geoserver.org/display/GEOS/Welcome
OpenLayers - Web Application Programming Interface (API)
http://openlayers.org/
GRASS - (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System)
http://grass.osgeo.org/
OSSIM - Advanced remote sensing & image processing
http://www.ossim.org/OSSIM/OSSIMHome.html
Quantum GIS - Desktop GIS
http://www.qgis.org/
GDAL, OGR - Translator library for geospatial data formats
http://www.gdal.org/

There are many more options, but these are our favorites so far.
 The Stack

..in another form..

Credit: http://opengeo.org/publications/opengeo-architecture/
 PostgreSQL + PostGIS

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational

database system
A true spatial database
Conforms to Open Geospatial Consortium standards*
ArcSDE can connect to it
New to ArcGIS Server 9.3
Secure storage for both spatial and non spatial data
Column level permissions granularity
PostGIS "spatially enables" the PostgreSQL server,
allowing it to be used as a backend spatial database for
(GIS), much like ESRI's SDE
*The Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.® (OGC) is a non-profit, international, voluntary consensus standards organization that is
leading the development of standards for geospatial and location based services.
GeoServer
Outputs: WMS, WFS, KML, GeoJSON, GeoRSS, more..
Share and edit geospatial data
Open standards allow publishing from any major spatial data
source including: shapefiles, SQL Server, PostGIS, DB2,
Oracle, WFS, TIFF Images, MySQL
Integrates with existing API's (Google, yahoo, etc.)
Connects to ArcGIS Server
WMS can be easily added into existing ArcMap .mxd's

http://geoserver.org/display/GEOS/Welcome
GeoServer is an open source software server written in Java that allows users to share and
edit geospatial data. Designed for interoperability, it publishes data from any major spatial data
source using open standards…GeoServer is the reference implementation of the Open
Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Feature Service (WFS) and Web Coverage Service
(WCS) standards, as well as a high performance certified compliant Web Map Service (WMS).
GeoServer forms a core component of the Geospatial Web.
 GeoServer

Credit: http://opengeo.org/publications/opengeo-architecture/
OpenLayers
JavaScript Library, including API
Similar to Google Maps API
Makes building dynamic mapping webpages VERY easy
Provides the tools needed to easily add a map to a webpage
Allows overlaying your own data
Can display map tiles and markers loaded from any source

http://openlayers.org/
OpenLayers: http://www.openlayers.org/ OpenLayers makes it easy to put a dynamic map in
any web page. It can display map tiles and markers loaded from any source…OpenLayers is a
pure JavaScript library for displaying map data in most modern web browsers, with no server-
side dependencies. OpenLayers implements a (still-developing) JavaScript API for building
rich web-based geographic applications, similar to the Google Maps and MSN Virtual Earth
APIs, with one important difference -- OpenLayers is Free Software, developed for and by the
Open Source software community.
GRASS
Geographic Resources Analysis Support System
Geospatial data management
Analysis
Image processing
Graphics/maps production
Spatial modeling
Visualization
Tons of tools + functions = Very complex analysis
Now there's a simple user interface through QGIS
Commonly referred to as GRASS, this is a Geographic Information System (GIS) used for
geospatial data management and analysis, image processing, graphics/maps production,
spatial modeling, and visualization. GRASS is currently used in academic and commercial
settings around the world, as well as by many governmental agencies and environmental
consulting companies. GRASS is an official project of the Open Source Geospatial
Foundation.
http://grass.osgeo.org/
OSSIM
Open Source Software Image Map

C++ software library that provides advanced remote sensing,

image processing, and geo-spatial
functionality
Includes orthorectification, precision terrain correction, rigorous
sensor models, very large mosaics, and cross sensor fusions, a
wide range of map projections and datums, and a large range of
commercial and government data formats
OSSIM Planet - an accurate 3D global geo-spatial viewer that is
built on top of OSSIM
Quantum GIS (QGIS)
Desktop application – very user friendly
Can work directly with .shp file, WMS, too many to list
Any Platform – Windows, Mac, Linux
FREE
Plugins available (Similar to Firefox add-ons)
Allow spatial analysis, 3-D analysis, statistical analysis...
User interface for GRASS tools.
OGR interface allows use of TONS of formats
PostGIS interface
MapServer export

www.qgis.org
 GDAL, OGR
GDAL is a translator library
for raster geospatial data
formats...It also comes with a
variety of useful commandline
utilities for data translation
and processing.
The OGR Simple Features
Library is a C++ open source
library (and commandline
tools) providing read (and
sometimes write) access to a
variety of vector file formats
including ESRI Shapefiles, S-
57, SDTS, PostGIS, Oracle
Spatial, and Mapinfo mid/mif
and TAB formats.
With GDAL tools you can: Possible OGR Sources in QGIS:
AVCBin, BNA, CSV, DGN, ESRI
Report information about a file. Shapefile, GML, GMT, GPX, GRASS,
GeoJSON, Interlis, KML, MapInfo FIle,
Copy a raster file, with control of output format.
Memory, MySQL, ODBC, OGDI,
Warp an image into a new coordinate system.
PGeo, PostgreSQL, REC, S57, SDTS,
SQLite, TIGER, UK.NTF, VRT
Build a MapServer raster tileindex.

Convert nearly black/white borders to exact value.

Contours from DEM.

Create a TMS tile structure, KML and simple web

viewer.

Tools to analyze and visualize DEMs.

Build a quick mosaic from a set of images.

Possible OGR Targets in QGIS: BNA,
Rasterize vectors into raster file.
CSV, DGN, ESRI Shapefile, GML,
GMT, GPX, GeoJSON, Interlis 1,
Transform coordinates. Interlis 2, KML, MapInfo FIle, Memory,
MySQL, ODBC, PostgreSQL, S57,
And much more… SQLite, TIGER
 Looks Cool, Now What?
Quantum GIS is a great place to start…
If you've ever used a GIS, you'll feel right at home!
http://qgis.org/

Windows users start with OSGeo4W http://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo4w/

Windows XP, Vista, etc.
Includes GDAL/OGR, GRASS, MapServer, QGIS as well as many
other packages (about 70 as of summer 2008)

Mac Users: http://www.kyngchaos.com/software:unixport

Linux Ubuntu Users: contact Paul or Joe

 Tutorials / User Guides
QGIS: http://qgis.org/en/documentation/manuals.html
PostGIS, OpenLayers, and more:
http://www.bostongis.com/

PostGIS:
http://postgis.refractions.net/documentation/manual-1.3/
GeoServer: http://docs.geoserver.org/1.7.x/user/
GRASS: http://grass.osgeo.org/wiki/GRASS_Help
 Tutorials / User Guides
**OpenGeo Workshops**
Quite recent, http://blog.opengeo.org/2009/05/22/opengeo-where/ Looks
really interesting ! ! !

• OpenLayers intro http://workshops.opengeo.org/openlayers/intro/

• PostGIS workshop
http://workshops.opengeo.org/postgis/contents.html

• OpenGeo Workshop: Installing GeoServer, Geoserver Basics,

Working With PostGIS, Creating a Base Map, Working with
OpenLayers, Google Earth http://workshops.opengeo.org/stack/
 Want to get involved with Open
Source GIS?

• Join the local California Chapter of OSGeo

http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/California
• For general help on getting started with
OSGeo see
http://www.osgeo.org/content/faq/getting_start

• Contact Paul or Joe

 Acknowledgements
http://www.gdal.org/gdal_utilities.html
http://www.gdal.org/ogr/ogr_formats.html
http://freegeographytools.com/2009/gis-related-software-for-the-

http://opengeo.org/publications/opensource-as-vertical/
http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/1937-ArcGIS-9.2-uses-GD

http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Library Ticheler_2005.ppt
http://www.redhat.com/about/whyopensource/

Defense Dept. committee has open-source leaning

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10037544-16.html
 Final Thoughts
• In the spirit of Open Source – this presentation should really be viewed in OpenOffice.org
Impress http://www.openoffice.org/

• More about PostGIS http://opengeo.org/community/postgis/ . There’s also a book coming out

http://www.manning.com/obe/
• More about QGIS http://www.qgis.org/en/about-qgis/features.html
• More about GeoServer http://opengeo.org/community/geoserver/ , http://
geoserver.org/display/GEOS/What+is+GeoServer
• More about OpenLayers http://opengeo.org/community/openlayers/

• Interesting discussion on PostgreSQL/PostGIS and ArcGIS Server 9.3:

http://www.nabble.com/PostgreSQL-PostGIS-and-ArcGIS-Server-9.3-td17419730.html

• Very important white papers:

– ‘The OpenGeo Architecture’ http://opengeo.org/publications/opengeo-architecture/
– ‘open source as a disruptive technology’ WARNING: 25MB
http://s3.cleverelephant.ca/2008-kansas-keynote.pdf
 Final Thoughts (cont’d)
zigGIS: http://pub.obtusesoft.com/ zigGIS is an ArcGIS Desktop extension that allows you to
connect directly to spatial data stored in PostGIS. It is a lightweight option allowing you to
centralize your spatial data into the leading open source spatially-enabled relational database.

Using zigGIS, you are able to take advantage of the advanced analysis and cartographic tools of
ArcMap while leveraging the superior spatial data storage and management capabilities of
PostGIS. zigGIS enables you to view, analyze and edit your PostGIS spatial data from within
ArcMap.

The most exciting new feature of zigGIS is the introduction of multi-user editing of PostGIS data from
within ArcMap. zigGIS now includes tools enabling you to check out your data and make edits
with the native ArcMap tools.

Best of all, zigGIS enables all of this capability for users of ArcView on up without the need for
additional middleware.

http://www.spatiallyadjusted.com/2008/01/07/ziggis-20-view-edit-postgis-and-sql-server-2008-from-arcgis-des
 An after-thought..
An after thought I had: Portable GIS was a really good introduction for myself (Joe), to one version of
an Open Source GIS stack. Jo Cook will be releasing a new version of Portable GIS very soon in
fact! I encourage you to look at it here:
http://www.archaeogeek.com/blog/portable-gis/

The philosophy behind this idea was to provide beginners with a ready-installed and configured stack
of open source GIS tools that would run in windows without the need for emulation or a live cd.
By taking out the often difficult installation and configuration, I hope to make it easier for
beginners to get started with open source GIS, so they are not put off before it gets interesting
and fun. Not only that, but having a fully self-contained GIS system may prove useful in a number
of real-life situations.

The current set of software includes:

* Desktop GIS packages GRASS (windows native version 6.3: does not need cygwin), QGIS
(version 0.10 with GRASS plugin) and gvSIG (version 1.1),
* FWTools (GDAL and OGR toolkit, version 2.10)
* XAMPPlite (Apache2/MySQL5/Php5),
* PostgreSQL (version 8.2)/Postgis (version 1.1),
* Mapserver, OpenLayers, Tilecache, Featureserver, and Geoserver web applications.

If you don’t know about portable apps, well, they’re really cool. They run from a USB drive or
folder without effecting or leaving behind any files/information into your computer
registry/system. Explore them further at http://portableapps.com/