How many and which are the main modules that discriminate and define the establishment of a complete desktop GIS program/package, proprietary, or open sourced based software/system from a just stand alone GIS tool (for example, applying only spatial overlaying of layers)? Considering the fact that the latest advancements of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) are providing Remote Sensing analytics in GIS packages and Web-based GIS applications (..and more), how can we recognize that a new set of modules is a complete GIS platform?
Dear Sir
Mapping, Layout, Processing, Catalouge, 3D visualization, Info, Analysis etc modules may make a worthy desktop GIS application.
Regards,
Jahangir
Thank you very much Jahangir. These categories that you mention are correct for the establishment of a GIS package and I agree with you (I just don't understand the "Info" part...do you mean "Info for Metadata" or something different?). However, what I want to define is the "etc." issue at the minimum level. As Image Analytics are continuously developing (see evolution of QGIS software with exploitation of the Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin (SCP) ), shouldn't we also consider this category as basic in a GIS platform?
There is nothing like a complete GIS remember GIS is dynamic and location base so it application varies..Hence before an Open source GIS can be themed completed it most have all the 5 components of GIS,its process built on the 3 subsystems of GIS and relates to where, how, when of the user...
Yes, there is no "complete GIS system". It always depends on your needs, but it must definitely be a module for: viewing data, editing data, analyzing (it is the bigest part, because of many different tools) and presenting (creating ready final maps). Just start from installing basic version i.e. QGIS or ArcGIS, or something else (SAGA GIS....) and start working with GIS :-) All the best!
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Geoscience
- Geoinformatics
- Geographic Information System