Functionality

Desktop GIS

GRASS (Geographic
QGIS*Resources
(Quantum Analysis
GIS)
GeoDa Support System) gvSIG (Generalitat
Idrisi
Valenciana,
16 Sistema
SAGAd'Informació
(System forGeogràfica)
Automated GeoScientific Analysis) ILWIS KOSMO MapWindow GISESRI ArcGIS ERDAS Imagine
PCI Geomatica
ENVI
uDig* JUMP Family
Taiga Edition (Integrated Land and Water Information System)

(user-friendly Desktop GIS)

JUMP OpenJUMPSkyJUMP Pirol JUMPDeeJUMP
uDig JGrass DivaGIS
Raster Providing core
GUI, interactive Analysis GIS and GUI
exploratory spatial based on functions,
data analysis and Viewing GRASS Complete Image Editing & Editing & ArcView developing Full
basic spatial (OGC + 3D Analyze and and raster Analysis, Data Editing & Editing & OGC substitute for Decision Full remote- Full remote- remote-
Full GUI based Viewing, regression standard visualizat document potato replacing processing modelling, conflatio Vector Vector standard (Raster) advanced Support Full GUI-based sensing sensing sensing
FOCUS GIS Editing modeling s) ion genotypes ArcView package visualisation n Analysis Editing Analysis s Analysis users Systems GIS system system system
Introduction to
spatial analysis for Applicati
Spatial analysis GRASS- area (polygon) on Extensive data
and scientific Graphical data; supplements Framew (focus on entries creation, editing
visualization User Interface GIS or raster) incomplete and analysis
Supported Windows, Windows Windows Windows Windows Windows Windows Windows Windows,
Operating Windows, Linux, Windows, Linux, , Linux, , Linux, Windows, Windows, , Linux, , Linux, , Linux, , Linux, , Linux, Linux, Windows
Systems Linux, MacOSX MacOSX MacOSX MacOSX MacOSX Windows only Linux, MacOSX Windows only Linux, MacOSX MacOSX MacOSX MacOSX MacOSX MacOSX Windows only MacOSX Windows only Windows only only Windows only Windows & Mac
Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free
License Free software Free software Free software software software Free software Free software Proprietary Free software software software software software software Free software software Free software Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary
Data Reading - All GDAL supported
All GDAL
formats,
supported
alsoESRI
voxel
formats
shapefile,
support Yes Yes Yes (Through ECW, MrSID, Tiff, GDal All GDAL supported
jpg,formats
tif, jpg,
andtif,
more jpg, jpg, tif, jpg, tif, uses GDAL ECW, All GDAL supported
ECW,formats
MrSID,
+ BGD, and others.
Import/Export Raster/Images ASCII (1.1.0 is (through Geotools) JPEG,jpg, jp2, supported,ECW, geoTIFF, geoTIFF, MrSID geoTIFF, geoTIFF, MrSID, JPEG,jpg, jp2,
limited to GRASS TIF, geoTIFF, IMG, Grass, png, ecw png, ecw png, ecw png, ecw geoTIFF, TIF, geoTIFF,
memory) and PNG, GIF, img, ERMapper, Envi, (p) (p), (p), (p), JPEG, jpg, PNG, GIF, img,
Geotools bmp, jpeg2000 MrSID(p) MrSID(p) MrSID(p) jpg2, TIF, bmp, cib,ers,
) png, gif, img, img,raw,Grid,
bmp, RST,MrSID,
jpeg2000 Others

Reading - Vector Yes (through OGR)

Yes (through OGR)
Yes Yes Yes Yes Shp, DXF, Shp SHP and more Shp, Shp, Shp, Shp, Shp, At least: SHP, Shp, DXF, At least: SHP, SHP,DXF,
DGN, DWG, FME FME FME FME FME DXF DGN, DWG, DXF(P). CSV DGNmultiple
GML GML, GML, GML, GML, GML, CSV (P) geodatabases,
JML, JML, JML, JML, JML, others
WKT, WKT, WKT, WKT, WKT,
DXF(P), DXF(P), DXF(P), DXF(P), DXF(P),
MIF(P) MIF(P) MIF(P) MIF(P) MIF(P),
deegree
GML3,
deegree
shp
Reading tabular Yes (CSV + Yes Yes No CSV, DBF, DBF, TXT, No CSV No CSV CSV ??? CSV, DBF, DBF, CSV(P),
data many more) ODBC, CSV, ODBC MDB MDB(P)
HSQLDB,
MySQL,
PostgreSQ,
Oracle

Reading - PostGIS, PostGIS No PostGIS, PostGIS, PostGIS, Oracle, PostGIS, Intended PostGIS, PostGIS, PostGIS, PostGIS, PostGIS, no PostGIS, PostGIS(p) ArcSDE(p),
Databases PostgreSQL, Oracle, Oracle, DB2, ArcSDE HSQLDB, Oracle Oracle Oracle Oracle Oracle Oracle PostGIS,
ODBC, MySQL, DB2, DB2, MySQL, Oracle (p), (p), (p), (p), (p) Spatial/ Oracle(p) ,
SQLite, Oracle ArcSDE ArcSDE Spatial ArcSDE ArcSDE ArcSDE ArcSDE ArcSDE Locator others
(p) (p) (p) (p) MYSQL

Writing - All GDAL- no No yes yes yes GeoTIFF, ecw, Raster formats All GDAL supported
jpg,formats
png jpg,
andpng
more jpg, png jpg, png, jpg, png uses GDAL jpg, png, tif, All GDAL supported formats and more
Raster/Images formats jpeg, jpeg2000 (Please specify) tif(p) gif, bmp

Writing – Vector All OGR- All OGR- Yes (.shp) Yes Yes Yes (Shape) Shp, dxf, GML Shp, SHP and more Shp, Shp, Shp, Shp, Shp, At least: SHP, Shp, Dxf, At least: SHP SHP,DXF,
formats formats (Shape) (Shape) FME FME FME FME FME DXF DGNmultiple
GML, GML, GML, GML, GML, geodatabases,
JML, JML, JML, JML, JML, others
WKT, WKT, WKT, WKT, WKT,
MIF(p), MIF(p), MIF(p), MIF(p), MIF(p),
DXF(p) DXF(p) DXF(p) DXF(p) DXF(p),
SVG SVG deegree
(without (without GML3,
attributes attributes deegree
) ) Shp,
SVG
(without
attributes
)

Writing tabular CSV no edited .dbf as part no no no DBF, TXT, CSV copy to copy to copy to copy to copy to ??? Excel copy to Excel DBF
data of .shp file Excel Excel Excel Excel Excel table possible
table table table table table
possible possible possible possible possible
Writing - PostGIS (p, PostGIS no PostGIS, PostGIS, Oracle, PostGIS, Postgis, Oracle Intended PostGIS PostGIS PostGIS PostGIS PostGIS no MySQL, PostGIS(p), PostGIS(p),
Databases limited) Oracle, DB2, ArcSDE Oracle, Spatial (p; (p; (p; (p; (p; Oracle, MDB(p) MDB(p)
DB2, DB2, limited) limited) limited) limited) limited) Postgres
ArcSDE ArcSDE

Vector Data Drawing and yes, also 3D yes Limited, e.g. yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Creation and Editing tools vector support Thiessen polygon.
Editing (Points, Lines,
Polygons)
Geocoding no yes
usingStreet
dataset

Geocoding by no yes
direct address
match

Selection/ Selection by yes yes yes

Subsetting attribute
(temporary
subset)
Selection by yes yes yes
location
Selection by yes yes yes
graphic

Interactive yes yes yes

selection

Attribute yes, via SQL No yes no no no yes yes No Yes No Yes Yes ??? yes yes yes
Calculator (limited) (limited) (limited)
Q/A: Quality yes No no yes yes yes Yes (lines) no yes yes yes yes yes ??? yes no yes
Assurance Tools
Join tables yes yes (ftools yes no no no yes yes No yes No yes No ??? yes no yes
plugin)

Others Vector network re-computation of Various TIN creation, --- Constrai Constrai Constrai --- ??? Topology Vector analysis Extensive
analysis; Linear bivariate vector and contour lines ned ned ned rules, (clip, buffer, toolsets, some
referencing scatterplot and raster from raster and drawing drawing drawing constrained etc.) and raster requiring add-
System (LRS); Moran scatterplot analysis more tools tools tools drawing tools analysis ons
LiDAR data slopes for subsets tools through plug-
analysis of data ins.

Printing yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Yes Yes(p) Yes(p) Yes(p) Yes(p) Yes(p) Yes Yes Yes yes
Queries yes Yes yes limited yes no attribute Intended Attribute Attribute Attribute Attribute Attribute ??? Attribute Attribute Attribute
queries, spatial queries, queries, queries, queries, queries, queries, queries queries, spatial
queries spatial spatial spatial spatial spatial spatial queries
queries queries queries queries queries queries
Database yes yes no no no no Intended no No no no no no no no yes
Queries (SQL)
(except
SIGLE)
Styling / Mapping Point styles color, size, color, size, color Full SLD Full SLD Full SLD Color, size, Color, size, Color, Color, Color, Color, Color, ??? Full SLD Color, size, Extensive
shape, fill shape, fill complian compliance complianc shape, image shape, outline, size, size, size, size, size, compliance shape, image library plus
pattern pattern ce e fill style, image shape shape shape shape shape symbol creation
(p) (p) (p) (p) (p) tools
Line styles color, width color, width, N/A Full SLD Full SLD Full SLD Color, width, Color, size, line Color, Color, Color, Color, Color, ??? Full SLD Color, size, line Extensive
pattern complian compliance complianc transparency style width width width width compliance style library plus
ce e symbol creation
tools
width
Polygon styles color, outline, color, outline, color Full SLD Full SLD Full SLD Color, outline, transparency Color, outline, color, color, color, color, color, ??? Full SLD Color, outline, color, outline,
fill fill, pattern complian compliance complianc fill patterns, fill style outline, outline, outline, outline, outline, compliance fill patterns. fill patterns,
ce e transparency fill fill fill fill fill transparency
patterns patterns patterns patterns, patterns
transpar
ency

Text labeling Yes (simple Yes (simple no Full SLD Full SLD Full SLD Yes (rotation, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (simple) Full SLD Yes (simple)
labeling) labeling) complian compliance complianc color, font, (simple (simple (simple (simple (simple compliance
ce e height) labeling) labeling) labeling) labeling) labeling)
Thematic Charts Bar, Pie charts, Bar, Pie histogram, no no no no Bar and pie Bar, pie Bar, pie Bar, pie Bar, pie, Bar, pie Bar, pie charts, no no Bar, Pie charts,
mapping Graduated charts boxplot, bivariate charts charts charts charts line charts point density Graduated
Symbol, (developed scatterplot, (p) (p) (p) charts (p) Symbol,
Ranges but not parallel coordinate (p) Ranges
included yet) plot
Classification equal range, equal range quantile, equal Quantile, Quantile, equal no equal range, Graduated Equal Equal Equal Equal Equal ??? Equal range Equal range, natural breaks
interval, and quantiles range, percentile, equal interval, custom natural breaks, color/ symbol, range range range range range continuous (Jenks) equal
std_deviation, box map, unique interval, quantiles lookup table ramps, custom- range, interval,
quartiles, value, natural custom defined std_deviation,
custom_breaks break quantiles,
custom_breaks
(SIGLE:
quantile)
Vector based Interpolation IDW, Splines GRASS no no GRASS functions no yes (gvSIG + Triangulation, no No no IDW, no Kriging and co- Point Some available Kriging and co-
Spatial Analysis (2D and 3D functions via Sextante) IDW, Shepard, Krieging kriging interpolation through plug- kriging via add-
Tools RST, B- GRASS Spline, Kriging (p) ins on
Splines) Plugin
Spatial Statistics Link to R-stats yes (R plugin) Spatial lag and no GRASS functions no Sum, mean, Geostatistical no no no Mean, no Geo-statistical no Basic raster Geostatistical
error model variance... analyses Variance analyses statistics(p) analyses
(Maximum ,...
Likelihood),
Lagrange
Multiplier tests for
spatial
dependence,
spatial lag
creation.
Buffer yes GRASS no Yes with GRASS functions no yes no yes yes yes Yes yes ??? yes yes (p) yes, single and
functions via Axios and Axios plugin multi-ring,
GRASS plugin merging
Plugin
Join geometries yes no no no no no yes no no yes ??? yes yes ??? yes yes (p) yes
by attributes
aggregate /join yes GRASS no no GRASS functions no yes no no yes ??? yes yes ??? yes yes (p) yes
attributes spatially functions via
GRASS
Plugin
Clip / Create new yes no yes
dataset using a
polygon for extent

Append/add yes yes yes

datasets to
existing dataset

Spatial Correlation yes (via R no Local Indicators of no no no yes (gvSIG + Variogram no no no Variogra no ??? no no yes, multiple
Analysis interface) Spatial Sextante) modeling mm, methods
Association (LISA)
and global
Moran's I.

Other union (= spatial weights Union, Union, split, no difference, intersection, union (= union (= union (= Grid union (= ??? Merge, Union, merge, Merge,
dissolve), matrix creation split, intersect, reproject intersect, union, merging, dissolve) dissolve) dissolve) tools, dissolve) dissolve, centroid, dissolve,
centroid intersect, convex hull, centroids and , centroid , centroid , centroid , centroid intersection, intersection, intersection,
calculation reproject union more calculati calculati calculati calculati difference, differences (p) difference,
(dissolve), on, on, on, on, convex hull, convex hull,
merge, xy shift, convex convex spatial join spatial join
reproject hull hull
thiessen union (= thiessen
polygons dissolve) polygons
(limited), , centroid (limited),
convex calculati convex
hull on, hull
convex
hull

Multi-language Yes/no yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes no yes no yes yes ??? yes yes yes
support
Languages AR , CS, DE, 26 EN, FR, EN, FR, IT, DE, ES EN, DE, EN, ES, VA, EN, DE --- EN, Fi, --- EN, DE EN, Fi, ??? EN, ES, PT CS, DE, EL, EN, ES, DE,
EL, ES, FR, IT, IT, DE, FR GL, CZ, DE, DE, FR, DE, FR, EN, ES, FA, FR, ,JA, Others
JA, PL, PT, ES EU, FR, IT, PT, ES, P, IT ES, P, IT FR. IT, JP, NL,
PT_BR, RU, CN, PL, RO PT, TH, ZH-
SL, TH, TR, VI, CHS/ZH-CN
ZH
Supported OGC WMS, WFS, WMS, WFS no WFS(p), WMS, WMC,
standards WPS (pyWPS) SLD, WFS,
WCS, Z39.50,
CS-W,
OpenLS, GML,

SLD,
Support of yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes(p) yes(p) UTM – yes (p, yes(p) yes yes yes yes
different geo yes limited)
Projections/ (p)
Coord.
Reference
Systems

Data Exploration Histograms yes yes histogram, no no yes yes No No No No yes (p) No ?yes? no No yes
Tools boxplot, parallel
coordinate plot,
conditional maps,
3D scatterplot,
cartogram, map
movies
classification yes GRASS no no GRASS functions yes yes (gvSIG + Yes No No No k-means No ??? no no yes
functions via Sextante)
GRASS
Plugin
Topology yes GRASS no no no no Yes (lines) TIN Yes: line Yes: Yes: line Yes: Yes: No Quality TIN creation yes
creation functions via noder, Planar noder, Planar Planar controls, and viewing
GRASS polygoni graph, polygoni graph, graph, topology ability
Plugin zer line zer line line rules
noder, noder, noder,
polygoni polygoni polygoni
zer zer zer
(lines and
polygons
intended)

On the fly yes under no no no no no No No No No no No No no no yes

topology editing development
Triangulation yes no no no no no no Yes Yes(p) Yes(p) Yes(p) yes Yes(p) No no no yes
(planar)
Generalization Line simplification Yes, Douglas- GRASS no In GRASS functions no yes (gvSIG + Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ??? Yes Yes (Douglas Yes (Douglas
tools Peucker Alg., functions via available Sextante) (Douglas (Douglas (Douglas (Douglas (Douglas (Douglas Peucker), via Peucker)
Lang Alg., GRASS plugins Peucker) Peucker) Peucker) Peucker) Peucker) Peucker) plug-in (p)
Close Vertex Plugin
Elimination,
Reuman-
Witkam Alg.,
Boyle’s
Forward-
Looking
Algorithm.

others smoothing no --- --- Snakes --- Snakes Snakes ??? Some others yes, multiple
algroithms: line line line via plug-ins algorithms
McMaster smoothin smoothin smoothin
Distance- g and g and g and
Weighting Alg., displace displace displace
Chaiken’s Alg., ment (p), ment (p), ment (p),
Interpol. by building building building
Cubic Hermite generaliz generaliz generaliz
splines; Snakes ation ation ation
for smoothing, tools (p), tools (p), tools (p),
network gen. &
displacement

3D-Views yes GRASS 3D scatterplot no Yes, In no no yes no no no 2.5D no yes Under yes yes
functions via development model development
GRASS (p)
Plugin
DEM-Tools Terrain creation yes GRASS no no GRASS functions yes (gvSIG + yes no no no Delaune no ?No? Under TIN for API; requires add-on
(TIN) functions via Sextante) y development TIN viewer/
GRASS triangulat creator (p)
Plugin ion (p)
Terrain analysis yes GRASS no no GRASS functions yes (gvSIG + yes no no no under no ?Yes? Under Yes (p) requires add-on
(slope, aspect,..) functions via Sextante) develop development
GRASS ment
Plugin
Viewsheds yes GRASS no no GRASS functions yes (gvSIG + yes no no no no no ?Yes? no requires add-on
functions via Sextante)
GRASS
Plugin
 other Curvatures, no Numerous --- --- --- Contour --- ??? contour and
hydrology tools, morphometric lines flowline
hydrologic and hydrologic generation,
models, terrain hillshade,
topographic parameters,
index, etc. pre-processing,
profiles,
insolation and
more

watershed
analysis
Histogramming yes GRASS no no GRASS functions yes yes no no no no no yes ImageJ no yes
functions via integration
GRASS Plugin under
development
Image Analysis Geo-Referencing yes Geocoding of no no GRASS functions yes yes yes no no no no no yes under yes yes
Tools scanned maps development
Ortho-rectification yes no no no GRASS functions no yes yes no no no no no yes under Under no
development development
Filter operations yes GRASS no no GRASS functions yes yes yes no no no no no ?yes? under Under yes
functions via development development
GRASS
Plugin
other Orthophoto no Cluster --- --- --- --- --- ??? ??? requires add-on
creation, analysis,
segmentation, supervised
pattern classification,
analysis, time segmentation,
series pattern
analysis,
vegetation
indices, time
series and
more

Scripting Bash, Python, Python no Groovy BeanShell Jython Python, BeanShell BeanShell BeanShell BeanShell BeanShell ILWIS Scripting no C#, VB.Net Python,
Functionality Perl command shell, Language VBScript,Perl,
(other Javascript
languages
intended)

GRASS 6.4 QGIS 1.3 OpenGeoDa Version Version 1.1 Version 16 SAGA 2.0.2 Version Version Release Version 3.4 Version 1.1 Version 4.5 Release 9.3.1
Version 0.9.8.13 1.1- (September 1.2 1.2D 89 (July 2007) (June 2007) RC2 (April
RC12 2007) since then open 2008)
sourcing,
before
shareware