Interested in Open Source GIS mapping software but don't know how to get started? Desktop GIS provides answers to these and other questions for both the novice and experienced GIS user. Filled with examples and illustrations, this book can help you break into the world of Open Source GIS mapping on your desktop. Advances in this area are taking place rapidly and there are more choices than ever for assembling a toolkit that meets your mapping needs.

Desktop GIS explores the world of Open Source GIS software and provides a guide to navigate the many options available. People all over the world are successfully using OSGIS for their daily needs. You too can join the ranks and Desktop GIS will guide you along the way. Discover what kind of GIS user you are and lay the foundation to evaluate the options and decide what software is best for you.

Worried about using Open Source software? Desktop GIS addresses this concern and others by examining the challenges associated with assembling and using an OSGIS toolkit. Strategies for choosing a platform, selecting the right tools, integration, managing change, and getting support are presented.

The survey of OSGIS desktop applications provides you with a quick introduction to the many packages available. Both GUI (Graphical User Interface) and command line are introduced with examples to give you a feel for what is available.

Once you have a grasp of the OSGIS landscape, the book delves into a detailed look at the major desktop applications, including GRASS, Quantum GIS, uDig, spatial databases, GMT, and other command line tools. Finally the book exposes you to scripting in the OSGIS world, using Python, shell, and other languages to perform GIS operations and create output.