Top 10 GIS Software Tools And Solutions

GRASS GIS is a robust GIS software solution offering an impressive suite of over 350 geoprocessing tools. It excels in LiDAR, network analysis and sophisticated satellite imagery processing tasks.

The software integrates seamlessly with QGIS, enhancing its functionality. As a free and open-source option with extensive documentation and tutorials, GRASS GIS is accessible to dedicated users. Its capabilities include 3D raster rendering and customisation, along with well-documented raster, vector, imagery, and temporal tools.

However, GRASS GIS has its drawbacks. The user interface is often criticised for being clunky and having confusing toolbar locations. The requirement to define projections at start-up can be cumbersome, and the steep learning curve may deter beginners.

Additionally, it runs a command-line window in the background and is less suitable for cartography and mapping. Handling coordinate systems in separate locations adds complexity.

Cadcorp is a leading GIS software solution that seamlessly integrates GIS and CAD into a single application, offering rich functionality for mapping and styling. Its intuitive ribbon interface enhances user experience, while its interoperability and developer tools add significant value.

Cadcorp excels when combined with server and cloud tools, enabling users to build web maps, host and serve data on the cloud and deploy web applications via its server. Cadcorp SIS Express is also available as a read-only, free-to-use option, providing extra flexibility.

Cadcorp is a powerful and versatile choice for professionals seeking a comprehensive GIS solution that bridges the gap between GIS and CAD, ensuring efficient and effective spatial data management.

QGIS stands as one of the most significant community-driven efforts in the history of GIS, showcasing the power of open-source innovation. QGIS 2 set a high standard, and full support has now shifted to QGIS 3, continuing its legacy of excellence. Despite being completely open-source, QGIS rivals the best commercial GIS software with its extensive features.

QGIS offers a GPL license that provides users unparalleled freedom, beautiful labelling options, and a wide range of GIS analysis tools. Its unique data interoperability and plugins extend functionality while a large user base and robust online support foster continuous improvement and innovation.

Overall, QGIS remains a powerful and versatile GIS solution, perfect for those who value open-source flexibility and community-driven development.

Global Mapper is often described as the “Swiss army knife” of GIS analysis due to its versatility and ease of use. Getting started with Global Mapper is straightforward, yet the software offers incredible flexibility. It excels in robust LiDAR display and processing and advanced elevation manipulation, all within a 64-bit application.

Global Mapper reads many formats, and its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to users of all skill levels. Additionally, it supports the publication of web maps through MangoMap, enhancing its utility.

While Global Mapper is cost-effective, it is not open-source and has some limitations, such as poor symbolisation and print layouts, less robust editing tools, and the inability to build web maps and apps.

Feature Manipulation Engine (FME®) by Safe Software is not a full-fledged GIS package, but it excels at wrangling and transforming data precision. While it's not designed for map-making, FME is a data interoperability specialist with endless transformers, making it invaluable for complex data manipulation tasks.

FME's strengths lie in its robust community support, thorough documentation, and advanced features like FME Server and FME Cloud. It is ahead of the curve in embracing emerging technologies, ensuring users access cutting-edge tools.

However, FME has limitations, including poor traditional cartographic display in FME Data Inspector, high license costs, and a lack of editing and snapping tools. It also offers limited web maps, app functionality, and minimal remote sensing classification and analysis capabilities.

MapInfo Professional is focused on locational intelligence, providing a robust GIS software suite with a strong emphasis on business decision-making. Despite facing shrinking market share from rivals, MapInfo Professional remains a well-rounded and powerful tool. Its ease of use, 64-bit processing, and smart ribbon-based navigation enhance the user experience, making it an efficient choice for various GIS tasks.

MapInfo Professional excels in querying, table management, powerful addressing and geocoding, and side-by-side mapping. The software offers improved visualisation integration, making it easier to analyse and present spatial data effectively.

MapInfo Professional has limitations, including poor interoperability and format support, high licensing costs, and a lack of cloud-based platform functionality. It also offers low functionality for online web maps and limited support for remote sensing analysis.

With over 40 years of history, Hexagon GeoMedia remains a solid GIS software solution despite facing recent challenges. When paired with ERDAS Imagine, it forms one of the best suites for remote sensing.

GeoMedia excels in fast querying and analysis, strong cartography with smart labelling, and superior editing with smart snapping. Its capabilities in all-purpose mapping with multiple layouts make it a versatile choice for various GIS tasks.

GeoMedia benefits from its mature software development, providing a robust and reliable platform for GIS professionals. However, it has some drawbacks, including confusing license tiers, a small user community for problem-solving, and the inability to drag and drop files into the software. Poor interoperability with other GIS formats and slow database connectivity can also be limiting factors.

ArcGIS Desktop is a cutting-edge solution in the GIS field, setting the standard for what GIS software can achieve. Its expansive capabilities, from field apps to advanced modelling and scripting, make it a powerhouse in the GIS world.

The software excels in scalability, offering a robust geoprocessing framework and a wide array of beautiful cartography symbology options. Its comprehensive editing and topology tools and ArcGIS Online for web maps and apps further enhance its functionality.

However, ArcGIS Desktop comes with some challenges. The high usage and maintenance cost can be a significant barrier, and its tiered licensing may limit access to essential tools for basic users. Interoperability is another area where it falls short, and the software is gradually being phased out in favour of ArcGIS Pro. Additionally, ArcCatalog operates as a 32-bit application, which can limit performance.

Open source flows in the DNA of QGIS 3, setting it apart from commercial GIS software with its superior cartography, editing, and analysis tools. QGIS 3 has been designed to break the mould, featuring native 3D integration and offering nearly limitless capabilities through its extensive range of plugins. The software benefits from a devoted volunteer community and boasts a large user base and support network, enhancing its utility and innovation.

With slick 3D integration, inventive editing, analysis, mapping tools, and 64-bit processing, QGIS 3 delivers powerful performance. It includes over 900 tools across 25 toolboxes, making it an impressive choice for various GIS tasks.

QGIS 3 does have some limitations. It lacks highly specialised tools, needs more built-in symbology options (with the QGIS Styles Repository ideally set as default), and has limited web mapping capabilities. Additionally, it lags behind in emerging technologies such as machine learning, real-time analytics, and big data, and has room for improvement in image classification like OBIA.

ArcGIS Pro represents a significant leap forward in GIS technology, integrating a modern ribbon interface, 64-bit processing, and unified 3D capabilities. This comprehensive overhaul delivers enhanced performance and user experience, emphasising speed, innovation, and sophisticated cartography.

The software excels with its unified 3D integration, offering crisp cartography and precise labelling that elevate map presentation and data visualisation. True integration with ArcGIS Online ensures seamless access to cloud-based resources and collaborative tools. The contextual smart ribbon interface enhances usability, making navigation and tool access more intuitive. With over 1,500 geoprocessing tools across 35 toolboxes, ArcGIS Pro provides a comprehensive suite for advanced spatial analysis and geoprocessing.

Despite its strengths, ArcGIS Pro does have some limitations. The high licensing cost can be a significant barrier, particularly for smaller organisations or individual users. Project files can become bulky, which may affect performance and storage. MXD file conversions often result in missing objects, which can complicate transitions from older versions of ArcGIS. License management is conducted through ArcGIS Pro, adding another layer of complexity. Additionally, the software has a steep learning curve, requiring substantial time and effort to master its extensive features and capabilities.

Overall, ArcGIS Pro is a powerhouse in the GIS landscape, offering cutting-edge tools and functionalities that cater to advanced spatial analysis and cartography needs. Its modern design and extensive toolset make it an excellent choice for professionals seeking a high-performance GIS solution despite the associated costs and learning curve.