Free GIS Sites and Software Alex Robertson Saint Ignatius College, Athelstone alex.robertson@ignatius.sa.edu.au Web Manager Geography Teachers Association of South Australia AGTA GIS Conference, Launceston, Tasmania January 2006
Session Details Software definitions (freeware, shareware, licences: computer and networks) GIS: Stand Alone Software Freeware GIS Basics Web Applications GPS GIS data: relevant sites Advanced tools VRML Play
Software Definitions EULA: End User Licence Agreements Licences: various stand alone, networked computer and networks etc. Open Source yours to use adapt and share Shareware - cost involved Freeware yours to use; not distribute Caveat emptor* Web-based Programs no such problem with these licences as data is free to use NB: Screen dumps & analytical exercises
GIS Software The Known: ESRI - Arcview & MapInfo Data sources as a problem Local data Other Alternatives: Fieldwork (GIS & GPS to create own databases) Sites to download data (Aust Government topographic ) Freeware: - University-based/commercial products: Gifted & Talented students for future use Other programs are ready to use simple stand alone set-ups - Some programs can be used now without the need for training/assistance Online Alternatives Constructivist outlook for education: individual programmes Data developed by someone else (C21st textbook learning) Classroom/examination material
GRASS GRASS is GIS Software similar to Arcview It is an Open Licence software program Like commercial products, it needs some server installation as well as client side installation File types: *.grs file Modules can be downloaded on an as need basis, gratis User manuals can also be obtained Can import/export data from other formats Disadvantages: no helpdesk style support (email/web forums are available) Specialisations have been developed by software engineers for end user purposes: school-friendly ones as well as high end purposes. Website: http://grass.itc.it/ ; Also information at Sourceforge: http://grass.sourceforge.net
Genesis II Genesis II generates photo-realistic images of landscapes. Images can be generated in a few mouse clicks using a landscape grid and the program defaults. Tutorial1-dtm_model.htm Tutorial2 bitmap_draping.htm Commercial and Freeware Versions Website: http://geomantics.org/ (associated with a Scots University)
Map Filter MapFilter is a simple image processing application designed for use with Genesis II software. It provides a quick and simple way to extract contour information from a scanned map (bitmap) image for use by these programs. The scanned contour information allows for contour draping once contours are defined (with different colours/values. It is time consuming to colour contours but worth the effort to show a draped location in Genesis II Website: http://www.geomantics.com/
Geomatica FreeView Geomatica FreeView 9 is a flexible data viewing tool supporting over 100 raster and vector formats for loading, viewing, selection, and enhancement. FreeView is useful for any geospatial data viewing application, and is freely distributable. But: Data cannot be edited or saved. Data in the interface is marked as read only. The viewer does not offer any capabilities for analytical work. Good for satellite image interpretation/rgb layer composition; real vs. false colour imagery: histograms to display colour distribution Website http://www.pcigeomatics.com Canadian Product with other add on features (at cost).
OpenEV Application for viewing and analysing raster and vector geospatial data in 2D and 3D Website: http://openev.sourceforge.net/ Python Language authored Similar to Geomatica Freeview in viewing of imagery but has MapInfo facility Flowmap Spatial analysis tool focusing in on linear relationships Website: http://flowmap.geog.uu.nl Good for small areas but larger areas need more computing power than average stand alone machines (mainframes)
Web Basics WWW Sites Three Generations of Sites Pre 2000 to 2002 RGB (colour bitmap) mapping Limited pan-zoom; no hotlinks; limited features Dr Snow s mapping achievements Waldo Tobler: National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis: Geography Dept University of California, Santa Barbara, 1994 2002 onwards: multi-spectrum colour; isoline: choropleth/colour mapping Hot links; different map imaged for different scales; java scripting & specialisation of languages; Third Generation/Type: Information Database with GIS component: eg: Atlas of South Australia; OzEstuaries
Charles Sturt University, Australia Basic Mapping Output
University of Canterbury Access Antarctica
Bureau of Rural Sciences
Bushfire Risk Duffy, ACT
GIS and Databases Satellite Image Interpretation Ozesturaries Site: http://www.ozestuaries.org Not only mapping imagery; Satellite information available Low resolution material; Imagery usually only a section of the screen rather than a sizeable portion. Supplementary material about relevant sites/data within the site/external links. St Kilda - Port Gawler Site, North of Adelaide
NOAA Click and Zoom Forecasting
GIS Web-based Interfaces A sample of sites Australian Toilet Map: http://www.toiletmap.gov.au Estuaries http://www.ozestuaries.org Australian Natural Resources Atlas Online: http://audit.deh.gov.au/anra/atlas_home.cfm Geoscience Australia Earthquake database http://www.ga.gov.au/oracle/quake/quake_online.jsp Bureau of Rural Sciences http://adl.brs.gov.au/mapserv/biomass/index.phtml Planning SA Maps Online: http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/maps_online/index.html Atlas of South Australia: http://www.atlas.sa.gov.au/ http://www.asris.csiro.au Google Maps: http://maps.google.com Multimap: http://www.multimap.com New South Wales Natural Resources Atlas: http://www.is.dwc.gov.au
GPS Programs Purpose of the data: correct GPS Usage with hardware; coordinate systems; initialisation and waypoint usage Correct Datum for your area: local knowledge and beware for updates of this datum type Freeware & Evaluation Versions in a student context user friendly and immediately accessible Creating a fun environment: harnessing their interest at school/from home Fieldwork for this type of exercise: mapping to a context GPS & GIS conversions
EasyGPS Easy GPS Website: http://www.topographix.com; http://www.easygps.com Abilities to send and receive (upload/download) waypoints with symbols to plot precise locations; insertion of own symbols/waypoints etc for data
GPS Utility Shareware: Freeware (evaluation version) and/or full licence version Website: http://www.gpsu.co.uk Data entry the most convenient feature for manipulating information for uploading.
GPS Track Maker South American (Brazilian) Software: Freeware and Fully Licensed versions GPS Track Maker is a GPS data transfer program, which has drawing capabilities, a map underlay feature, trail logs insertions and other features in the one program. Website: http://www.gpstm.com Layer available to underlay a map image to relevant tracks
Visual GPS WYSIWYG GPS for laptop operation (nb: data ports) Reports signal strength; satellite position (astronomical: azimuth and elevation) waypoint and tracklog positions One tool for encouraging e-learning; vehicular basis: camps & small scale fieldwork: constructivist approach Website: http://www.visualgps.net/
Visual GPS
Google Earth Commercial Product with freeware component Keyhole Community (use of infrastructure: eg: message boards) Three levels: Standard, Plus & Pro Satellite Imagery (various resolutions) plus pan, tilt, & overlays Educational community: Educational Pro: Version 2 Licences gratis until 31/6/2006
Krakatau, Indonesia
Urban View aerial photograph
Urban View - oblique angle
Satellite Mosaic
Google Earth Movie link Google Earth
GIS Data Resources Office of Spatial Data Management: http://www.osdm.gov.au Geoscience Australia: http://www.ga.gov.au/ (includes licence agreements for use of data; email address & download bandwidth essential) http://www.geocomm.com/ ABS Census At Schools Project 2006 Also see A4 sheet:
What is VRML? VRML allows for 3D objects to be shown and manipulated in a web browser They require installation files to view their file objects: these include Cortona (Parallel Graphics) Contact (blaxxun) CosmoPlayer More information can be found with the following sources: X3D Working Group: http://web3d.org/x3d.html FAQ: http://web3d.org/taskgroups/x3d/faq/index.html
Hangzhou Project Harvard University 2000
VRML GeoVRML: http://www.geovrml.org/tools/ Seamless3D VRML: http://www4.tpg.com.au/users/gperrett/seamless3d/ Netscape s 3D VRML Guide: http://wp.netscape.com/eng/live3d/howto/vrml_primer_index.html **Virtual Terrain Project: http://vterrain.org/** Google Earth Major USA Cities View layers section