Geospatial Modeling Environment (GME) grew out of Hawth’s Tools, a collection of tools that provided welcome and easy functionality with an ArcGIS-interoperable toolbar. It has always been optimal for environmental and ecological work, but its functionality can be applied to many other application areas. Now a stand-along package, with all of the original bits and more. It has software dependencies on both ArcGIS and R; see the download page for more information.
Author Archives: Diana Sinton
About Diana Sinton
GRASS
GRASS, Geographic Resources Analysis Support System. The original open source GIS package, remembered fondly – and not so fondly – for the challenges a user would experience. But this isn’t your father’s GRASS. New and improved, and increasingly popular world-wide, with resources and tutorials available in multiple languages.
Manifold
Manifold aims to combine GIS, CAD, DBMS, and image processing, all with an eye towards compelling visual computing. Their standard pricing is significantly lower than others. Academic licensing is available.
IDRISI
IDRISI, a long-standing product of Clark Labs, integrates traditional GIS functionality – focusing on raster-based analyses – with additional digital image processing opportunities. Their application areas are particular strong in natural resource management, environmental modeling, and related land planning and analysis. Their use in GIS classrooms is not as widespread as other platforms, but loyal customers abound.
P.S. IDRISI is not an acronym, but rather a tribute to Muhammad al-Idrisi, the 12th century Islamic geographer and cartographer.
ENVI
ENVI is industry-standard software used for remote sensing and digital image processing. It is inter-operable with Esri’s ArcGIS, and is a popular choice on university campuses. Environmental modeling is one of their primary application areas. They offer trainings, and student pricing is available.
San Diego Mesa College – Intro to Remote Sensing – Fall 2012
This course introduces students to the basics of remote sensing, characteristics of remote sensors, and remote sensing applications in academic disciplines and professional industries. Emphasis is placed on image acquisition and data collection in the electromagnetic spectrum and data set manipulations. This course is designed for geographic information systems (GIS) students interested in imagery analysis. We use both ArcGIS and ENVI-EX.
Ten Ways to Say Nothing with GIS
“Professor Oleg McNoleg’s guide to the successful use of Geographical Information Systems (Ten ways to say nothing with GIS)”
a Guest Editorial, published in 1998 in the International Journal of Geographical Information Science. vol. 12, no. 5, 429 – 430. GuestEditorial_ProfessorMcNoleg_1998
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Models for GIS Support in Higher Education – May 2013
For our May 2013 White Paper, we’ll describe some of the various models under which GIS is maintained and supported in higher education. White Papers and Essays are published on the 22nd of each month.
San Diego Mesa College – Intro to Mapping and GIS – Spring 2013
This is a hybrid class, combining a once/week meeting with many online activities. This course will provide the skills and knowledge to create basic spatial data and GIS maps. It also lays the foundation for students who want to be employed as a GIS Technician or who want to pursue a degree or certificate and it prepares students for entry-level careers.