- Quantum GIS (often abbreviated to QGIS) is a free software desktop Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application that provides data viewing, editing, and analysis capabilities. Details on courses and distance learning are available here for both English and French speaking people.
- KOSMO is one of the most popular open source desktop GIS (Java-based), providing a nice Graphic User Interface (GUI), GIS data editing tools, and spatial analysis functions.
- gvSIG was developed by the European GIS community offering multiple language user interfaces. More than ten different languages (including Spanish, French and Chinese) can be selected to display the menus and tools. This feature is extremely useful to teach GIS in a non-6 English-spoken community. gvSIG has nice vector data editing functions. Users can easily digitize lines by snapping vertices to existing nodes and generate correct topology. With an easy-to-configure locator map, gvSIG immediately reveals where you are in your dataset.
- uDig is also a popular Java-based desktop GIS software. The name, uDig, stands for “User-friendly Desktop Internet GIS”. Therefore, uDig offers strong capabilities to integrate Web mapping technologies, such as WMS, WFS, remote ArcSDE, WCS, GeoRSS and KML. The uDig website includes great tutorials and walkthrough documents for first-time users. uDig is built upon IBM’s Eclipse platform with a “clean” user interface. uDig provides several good GIS functions, including the Styled Layer Descriptor (SLD) support, Web Catalog Server support, and thematic mapping with advanced symbology. uDig is also a great choice for Desktop GIS software.
- MapCruncher – a prototype technology from Microsoft Research makes it easy for users to create their own, personalized mash-ups – may. The system revolutionizes the way people use online maps. MapCruncher makes it easy to publish maps overlaid on Virtual Earth. Once you get familiar with the tool, it will take you about ten minutes to make a new map.
- Map Maker is simple to use yet powerful map making and GIS software for Windows. It is available as the free program “Map Maker Gratis” and the more advanced “Map Maker Pro”. Map Maker Pro is a low-cost system now in use in over 100 countries. It is used in a wide range of environmental work including forestry and fisheries. It supports, raster, vector, and DTM data and can import and export a wide range of formats including ArcView shape files and MapInfo mif/mid files. Map Maker Pro includes 3D features including perspective views, contouring, cross-sections etc.
- DIVA-GIS is free geographic information system (GIS) software. DIVA-GIS was specifically developed for use with biological distribution data such as available from natural history museums and genebanks. With DIVA-GIS you can: (i) map the locations of sites where populations of plant or animal species were observed, and of different characters that may have been recorded for these populations. (ii) make grid maps of the distribution of biological diversity, and identify “hotspots” and areas that have complementary levels of diversity; and (iii) extract climate data for localities points, and predict the presence of species based on climate.
- GRASS GIS Commonly referred to as GRASS, this is a Geographic Information System (GIS) used for geospatial data management and analysis, image processing, graphics/maps production, spatial modeling, and visualization. GRASS is currently used in academic and commercial settings around the world, as well as by many governmental agencies and environmental consulting companies.
- SPRING, an object-oriented GIS freely available on the Internet. Description: SPRING is a state-of-the-art GIS and remote sensing image processing system with an object-oriented data model which provides for the integration of raster and vector data representations in a single environment.
- MapCruzin is dedicated to providing the data, tools, knowledge, and expertise that will help tribes, governments, community groups, and businesses communicate the various facets of environmental, health and social problems, solutions, and achievements in such a way that they educate, raise community awareness, and facilitate networking. Free downloads.
- OpensourceGIS offers a Global index of Open Source / Free GIS related software.