QGIS is a cross-platform (Linux, Windows, Mac) opensource application with many common GIS features and functions. The major features include:
- view and overlay vector and raster data in different formats and projections without conversion to an internal or common format. Supported formats include:
-
spatially-enabled PostgreSQL tables using
PostGIS,
-
most* vector formats supported by the
OGR library,
including
ESRI shapefiles, MapInfo, SDTS and
GML.
-
all raster formats supported by the
GDAL
library, such as digital elevation models,
aerial photography or landsat imagery,
-
GRASS mapsets,
-
online spatial data served as
OGC-compliant
WMS or
WFS;
- create maps and interactively explore spatial data with a friendly graphical user interface. The many helpful tools available in the GUI include:
- on the fly projection,
- map composer,
- overview panel,
- spatial bookmarks,
- identify/select features,
- edit/view/search attributes,
- feature labeling,
- change vector and raster symbology,
- add a graticule layer,
- decorate your map with a north arrow, scale bar and copyright label,
- save and restore projects;
- create, edit and export spatial data using:
- digitizing tools for GRASS and shapefile formats,
- the georeferencer plugin,
- GPS tools to import and export
GPX
format, convert other GPS formats to GPX,
or down/upload directly to a GPS unit;
- perform spatial analysis using the buffer tool (PostGIS only) or the integrated GRASS tools, including:
- map algebra,
- terrain analysis,
- hydrologic modeling,
- network analysis,
- and many others;
- publish your map on the internet using the export to Mapfile capability
(requires a webserver with
UMN MapServer installed);
- adapt Quantum GIS to your special needs through the extensible plugin architecture.
*OGR-supported database formats are not yet supported in QGIS. |
