ArcGIS is excellent for such maps, the quality of graphics output is unrivaled, also allows georeferencing. But it is not free software

Yes! There are some opensource software packages which can be used for map making and analysis. A few of them are available to download from the following links:

1.http://grass.osgeo.org/download/software/

2.https://www.qgis.org/en/site/forusers/download.html

Well, you can try DIVA GIS also. It has some good map generation and spatial analysis capabilities. Also they also have free spatial data available at their website. You can download it at:

http://www.diva-gis.org/

Thank you for your support Dra. Grumelli, Dr. Roy and Dr. Hammad.

Best regards

ERDAS Software, GIS software, ENVI software

QGIS, contains also GRASS and runs also with Linux!

for Windows and simple problems: MapWindows, ILWIS

I like QGIS!

Check this link for details about QGIS

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QGIS

ILwis open is good for such, and come to think of it, it is free, fast and has good quality images. 

Maybe this one: http://www.gvsig.com/en/home

I also recommend you gvSIG (http://www.gvsig.com/en/home), it's a good free software alternative to ArcGIS. I used it for publications with good results.

I recommend QuantumGis, very capable and free!

There is also SPRING, a GIS and remote sensing image processing system (http://www.dpi.inpe.br/spring/english/).

Is very easy editing a map in Tilemill https://www.mapbox.com/tilemill/

Also, this link help me too:  https://www.mapbox.com/tilemill/docs/guides/terrain-data/

Dear William,

You can also use SAGA GIS (http://www.saga-gis.org/en/index.html)

Best regards and good luck!!

Try qgis (http://www.qgis.org/en/site/). Not too much heavy as arcgis. Please check the attached links for its tutorials. Tutorials are explained in a clear and understandable manner.

http://www.qgistutorials.com/en/

ILWIS, SAGA, QGIS

I sincere recommend you mapgis