The Power of Open Source

Geospatial Tools
Earth Observation | Geographical Information Systems
October 13th, 2023 12 minute read

In today's era, a company needs to be in continuous pursuit of progress and innovation. It should
have a good understanding of the tools offered by current technology and utilize them to the best
of its ability. This is where the use of open source geospatial tools comes into play. GIS is not
only used in fields related to engineering or image and photo processing. The opportunity it
provides to users to create and manipulate maps, combined with the easy input, processing, and
visualization of spatial data, paves the way for businesses to use it according to their specific
needs and purposes.

The fields in which GIS tools can be used are quite numerous. Whether it's in the healthcare
sector with the creation of maps showing disease hotspots for better monitoring, marketing
where visualizations are generated from collected data for a better understanding of the market
for a product and the ideal way to promote it, or in topographic processes related to either
classical topography or remote sensing. In these tasks, open source geospatial tools like QGIS
(Quantum GIS), for example, provide great services. For instance, engineers can process a group
of images that may be used for studying an area, classifying fields with specific mathematical
operations, and more.

Although there are GIS software and platforms in the market that require payment for their use,
such as ArcGIS Online, Carto, Mapbox, or the Google Maps Platform, a significant portion of
the market uses open source geospatial tools like QGIS, as mentioned earlier. Besides the
economic factor that makes them very appealing to businesses since they are free to use, their
constant updating and bug fixing by their support team makes them an excellent choice in many
sectors.

Understanding Geospatial Tools

Geospatial tools encompass various platforms and applications used for acquiring, storing, and
representing spatial data. GIS platforms allow for the optimal utilization of data across a wide
range of applications. The first GIS tool was invented by Roger Tomlinson in Canada during the
1960s, and since then, it has provided businesses in various sectors with the opportunity to
acquire and combine a vast array of geographic data. This includes satellite imagery, vector data,
statistical information, weather phenomena, and much more. The goal is to analyze this data and
represent it in the best possible way for specific uses and problem-solving.
A classic GIS tool, such as QGIS and ArcGIS, is used, for example, in map creation. It
empowers users to create and manipulate multiple layers on a map. The capability of visualizing
information alone is crucial, as it is far more intuitive to work with data that is presented visually
rather than as numbers in tables. However, what truly sets GIS apart is the ability to leverage this
data and present it in various ways on multiple thematic layers. Users can apply statistical
algorithms and more. All these features make GIS a vital and integral tool in today's business
market. Some of the areas where GIS tools are highly valuable include:

 Marketing: By using data and demographic information, maps are created for better
promotion and sales of products, services, etc
 Urban Planning: Construction companies benefit greatly from GIS for optimal urban
planning. From identifying the ideal location for a hospital, a school, or a park, to planning
the efficient transportation of materials and equipment for these projects
 Healthcare: Epidemiologists use GIS in situations where diseases are spreading, such as
with COVID-19, to create risk zones and prevent further virus transmission
 Environment: GIS is used for monitoring large areas for fires, floods, illegal mining,
deforestation, and more. Additionally, creating maps for disasters enables faster and more
effective responses to such events

In each case, companies increasingly rely on GIS and data analysis by experienced scientists.
Whether a company in commerce is planning the optimal route for transporting goods or farmers
are using maps to study the progress of their crops, all of this is made possible through the
processing and visualization of data using GIS tools.

Benefits of Open-Source Geospatial

Tools
There are many different GIS platforms available in the market. As expected, there is the option
to pay for the GIS service in order to use it, either with a subscription-based method or a one-
time purchase. For example, Carto provides subscription-based services and Global
Mapper requires a one-time purchase. Both of these software options are used for processing and
visualizing spatial data and are available for both individual and corporate use. However, despite
being open for use, their source code is only available to the company that provides them,
making them closed-source.

There are also GIS platforms that are open-source. The term "open source" means that the code
of the application is open to the public. This means that users can view, edit, and distribute the
code of the respective application. Many well-known GIS platforms, such as QGIS, GRASS
GIS, and others (which will be discussed further in the next chapter), are open source.

For many companies, the need for flexibility and adaptability for the code to meet their specific
requirements is significant enough to prefer an open-source tool. This allows the company to, for
example, employ specialists to create plugins, like those available for QGIS, to fulfill specific
purposes. Avoiding excessive expenses is a crucial reason why some companies may opt for the
use of a free open-source GIS. For instance, ArcGIS may cost $100 per year for personal use, but
the price can go up to more than $3,000 for the professional package.

Another significant advantage of open-source tools is that they heavily rely on user
collaboration. This may not seem like a big advantage at first sight, but if you give it some
thought it means that a well-known and functional GIS program with open-source code is
typically followed by a very active and helpful community. This community discusses potential
bugs that may arise, shares new ideas, and in general, finds ways to improve the program, often
through various blogs and forums. Additionally, new users can receive substantial assistance
from more experienced users of the particular program.

The fact that the code is open brings a sense of transparency to users and fosters greater trust, as
users can inspect and enhance the code themselves, whether the reason is for functionality or
security purposes. This aspect is crucial not only for individual use but also for corporate
purposes, especially when dealing with sensitive data and files that must be safeguarded within a
company.

When it comes to data, it's common for open-source software to have the capability to process
large volumes of data simultaneously, as much as it is allowed by the system it operates on.
Furthermore, they are designed to handle a wide variety of file types and are not restricted to a
single format. This also means that a company can use many different GIS software and tools
since many of them support various file formats. This could potentially be challenging in a pay-
to-use service because many providers of such services "lock" their files into specific formats,
limiting data compatibility between different programs. This makes it difficult for users to switch
platforms if the need ever arises.

It should be noted, however, that although most open-source GIS software is entirely free for
public use and editing, there are also open-source software programs that operate on
a freemium model. In other words, they provide a completely free package with the basic
functions of a GIS, but they also offer the option to purchase additional packages (e.g. Mapbox).

Popular Open Source Geospatial Tools

Previously, some open-source GIS applications were mentioned, such as QGIS and GRASS GIS.
Specifically, here are some of the most well-known ones:

1. QGIS (Quantum GIS): QGIS was released in July 2002 and is written in C++, Python, and
Qt. It's one of the most famous open-source GIS applications in the market and has one of the
most active communities. Because of this, it offers significant help to new users and a wide
variety of plugins for various purposes. Its use is evident in a wide range of applications,
including remote sensing for image processing, cartography, data visualization, and analysis. It
can be downloaded completely free from its website, where users can also choose from different
versions of the application.
2. GRASS GIS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System): Having been in the market
for approximately four decades, GRASS GIS is one of the oldest GIS systems with a focus on
geospatial analysis through statistical spatial tools and modeling. It is widely popular among
academics and is primarily used for research, remote sensing, and landscaping. One can
download it from its official website for all OS (Linux, Windows, macOS).

3. MapServer: As an open-source development environment, MapServer is used for creating

custom web mapping applications. It provides the necessary tools to build dynamic and
interactive maps for web-based systems. MapServer is an excellent choice for developing web-
based GIS applications, including location-based services, interactive maps, and unique
geospatial web portals. You can download it from here.

4. SAGA GIS (System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses): Operating since 2004, SAGA
GIS is best suited for analyzing and processing geoscientific data and spatial modeling. It offers
a wide range of tools for working with statistical data, spatial information, and visualizations.
The SAGA GIS website indicates that it is primarily used for tasks related to landform analysis,
hydrology, and geostatistical analysis for geological and environmental purposes. To download
the application, one can visit the SourceForge website, and for further information, one can refer
to the SAGA GIS website.

5. MapWindow GIS: The MapWindow GIS project encompasses a free and open-source
desktop Geographic Information System (GIS), a GIS ActiveX control, and a C# GIS
programmer library called DotSpatial. It provides a basic set of GIS tools that can be expanded
with plugins and is best used for fundamental GIS tasks such as data visualization and basic
analysis. It is ideal for novice GIS tool users.

6. GDAL and PostGIS: Although they originate from entirely different creators, the roles of
these two tools are complementary in GIS programs, and they are not entirely standalone tools.
Specifically, GDAL is an open-source library specialized in understanding geospatial data and
offers numerous tools for well-known GIS platforms like QGIS, as previously
mentioned. PostGIS, on the other hand, is a plugin for PostgreSQL. Its role is to allow the user,
once activated, to store and manipulate geographic data and spatial information. It provides
spatial indexing, geometry functions, and geographic data analysis capabilities, making it an
essential tool for managing and analyzing geospatial data within a relational database. It's widely
used in GIS applications that require robust data storage and advanced spatial querying.

There are many more open-source GIS options for a company to choose from for its specific
purposes. Other well-known GIS software include Leaflet, OpenLayers, and Whitebox
Geospatial, all suitable for analyzing and visualizing spatial data and many other applications.

Accessing Free Satellite Imagery

Sources
Part of GIS usage is satellite imagery. They find many uses in a wide range of applications,
ranging from agriculture, urban planning, mining, environmental disaster monitoring, and more.
In combination with statistical and spatial data for the depicted areas, the information that can be
derived from these images is significant. For instance, a construction company can use satellite
images, along with traffic data, to optimize material transportation for a project under
construction. There are platforms where a company can acquire satellite images, either through
payment or for free. Obtaining free satellite images is possible from many platforms, depending
on the satellite used for capturing the said imagery, and it has become a necessary service.
Besides reducing the acquisition cost, the information contained in these images is crucial for
many applications.

Some of the most well-known satellites and their products include:

 Landsat: Landsat missions are currently comprised of eight Earth-observing operational

satellites that carry remote sensors to collect data and image our planet. Landsat 8 data can
be acquired by using the USGS Earth Explorer service and it provides data from 11
different Bands, varying from the visible to thermal infrared spectrum.
 Sentinel Missions: Optical and radar imagery can be acquired in the Copernicus Open
Access Hub for free. Its archive of the Sentinel satellites is open to users and businesses
alike and can be used for a large number of applications.
 NASA Worldview: NASA's Worldview platform allows users to interactively browse
global, full-resolution satellite imagery and then download the data from a variety of
Earth-observing missions, including MODIS, VIIRS, and more.
 MODIS Land Science Team Data: NASA's MODIS Land Science Team provides access
to MODIS data, which includes land surface observations. MODIS provides optical, NIR,
SWIR, and thermal images .
 Google Earth Engine: While not a traditional source for downloading imagery, Google
Earth Engine allows users to analyze and visualize an extensive collection of satellite data
like Sentinel 2 images, Landsat 4,5,7,8 imagery, data from the ASTER satellites that
provides high-resolution thermal infrared and near-infrared imagery along with visible
images.

Conclusion
Summarizing the above, it is evident that the use of GIS, whether they are open source or closed
source, is essential for a plethora of applications and services in various fields, ranging from
healthcare to the construction industry. For decades, the use of open source GIS has facilitated
the work of many companies by offering them not only reduced costs in these tasks but also a
wide variety of GIS tool choices, support from active communities that develop around these,
such as QGIS, GDAL, and SAGA GIS. All of these contribute to a safer, easier, and more
efficient use of these programs for proper spatial data processing and visualization. Speaking of
spatial data, the ability to obtain free satellite imagery, as mentioned, is very important in many
tasks and it's crucial for someone to know where to turn to obtain satellite data