Free GIS

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POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO COVER FREE SIG NEEDS OF MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT IN MEDIUM AN

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José Carlos Martínez Llario
Doctors Officials Professor Department of Cartographic Engineering, Geodesy and
Photogrammetry. E.T.S.I. Geodesy, Cartography and Surveying, Polytechnic Univers
ity of Valencia
Eloina Coll Aliaga
ity of Valencia
Jesus Irigoyen Gaztelumendi
ity of Valencia
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1. INTRODUCTION
In recent decades, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have evolved rapidly. Th
ey have gone from being a very specific tools in the hands of a few experts to b
e one of the foundations of any rigorous spatial analysis. GIS software is of fu
ndamental importance in any process and geographical analysis and calculation of
these tools should be developed from different points of view. In this regard,
as well as proprietary software, are developing GIS Free. This kind of software
plays an important role in the advancement of GIS technology, by encouraging the
development of experimental applications and provides access to GIS technology
to users who are unable or unwilling to resort to proprietary software. Free Sof
tware represents a revolution in the way they are designed the current software.
This kind of software places no limits on creativity or ingenuity of the potent
ial user. Furthermore, this software will always be cheaper than proprietary sof
tware. The GNU General Public License provides full freedom of use to the user.
The only restrictions imposed by this license protects the inputs from different
users from its possible use in proprietary software. GIS users need to develop
their skills according to their needs. That is why the idea of open source GIS i
s so necessary. These studies are included within the preliminary work done in t
he first phase of the research project SIGMUN, BIA2003-07 914 Project funded by
the Ministry of Science and Technology and FEDER funds, project described in mor
e detail in the paper presented at this conference with the title "Pilot study o
f municipal needs for the implementation of a geographic information system for
municipal management in medium and small municipalities." In this research proje
ct has made a study of the needs for the implementation of a GIS in medium and s
mall municipalities, as discussed in this project one of the agents involved in
the solution model are development companies that create software custom GIS app
lications for local councils: "These companies are now able to find solutions to
municipal management through user-friendly GIS tools at low cost and adaptable
to the particular needs of each municipality. Many municipalities have receptive
to the advantages of these herramientas.Constituyen, therefore, many customers
who implement and maintain GIS software updated with new versions of operating s
ystems or new technical developments. Logically, these companies have to charge
their service creation, development and customization of software as well as the
implementation and adaptation to each particular case. It is necessary that a b
ody such as the councils are in charge of focusing on this type of projects invo
lving municipalities. The cost of software and their adaptation to each case sho
uld be borne by the councils themselves. " This is the point where it enters our
proposal to use free GIS software. This licensing costs would disappear, leavin
g only the responsibility of the Provincial upgrade, customization, enhancement,
and support of software used by municipalities. In this article we will describ
e several GIS products GPL (General Public Licence). The aim of this study is to
show the different alternatives available in the GIS world freealthough altern
atives are going to mold by a specific software actually represent different blo
cks according to the methodology you wish to use to meet the needs of the user o
f the product.
28, 29, September 30 and October 1 / 2004
e-Cooperation in Public Administration
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José Carlos Martínez Llario, Eloina Coll Aliaga, Jesús Irigoyen Gaztelumendi
These blocks would be defined by the following features: • A block A which repre
sents large consolidated programs in the GIS market, but its use by the end user
presents difficulties because among other reasons the austere interface used by
the software. In this block describe the GRASS program originally developed by
the USA-CERL (U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories). GRASS O
fficial Website: http://grass.itc.it/index.html • A block B represents a model p
rogram with a much nicer interface and easy to use but is not as established in
the market nor does it have functionality as varied as the programs of the first
block. The software described in this block is the JUMP program in which they h
ave participated among others Vivid Solutions group. JUMP Official Website: http
://www.jump-project.org/ • A block C which represents perhaps the most advanced
technological solution. In this part describe the software that implements a Pos
tGIS spatial database on the System Database Manager (DBMS) PostgreSQL. In contr
ast, this solution has the great inconvenience of not presenting a graphical inp
ut or editing of spatial data. PostGIS has been developed by refractions Researc
h Inc as a research project database technologies in open source. PostGIS Offici
al Website: http://postgis.refractions.net/ The two blocks below do not represen
t a complete GIS software as above, but a development library (Openmap), and a m
ap server (MapServer), these blocks have been treated more briefly in this artic
le. • A block which represents D programming libraries through which you can imp
lement a GIS itself. This option is what makes the programmer more freedom to me
et the needs of the municipalities but also that more work is involved. This blo
ck will comment on the library Openmap version released as open source Java impl
ementation in 1998 and in whose creation involved the group BBN Technologies. Op
enmap Official Website: http://openmap.bbn.com/ • Finally, we describe a block E
which includes solutions in the field of mapping servers, with the aim of publi
shing the map content on the Internet by construction of different types of disp
lays that are integrated within the browser. This block is represented by the ma
p server MapServer was originally developed by the University of Minnesota. Offi
cial Website: http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/index.html
2. GRASS
2.1. DESCRIPTION AND CAPABILITIES GRASS (Geographical Resources Analysis Support
System) is a GIS with raster and vector capabilities. It also has integrated da
ta visualization and image processing.
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GRASS contains over 350 modules for management, processing, analysis and visuali
zation of georeferenced data. GRASS is GNU GPL since 1999. This license protects
GRASS contributors over the use of their contributions to project owners who do
not provide free access to source code. The GPL ensures that all code released
based on GPL code only can be published at the same time under the GPL. GRASS is
available via the Internet and CD-ROM as a precompiled binary versions for vari
ous UNIX platforms, Mac OS X and MS-Windows. In addition to the binaries, we can
obtain the full source code in C. The GPL GRASS provides the status of Free Sof
tware and protects its authors may offer commercial services related to GRASS an
d are welcome by both the developers and the user community. GRASS GIS is a modu
lar data organized as raster, vector and points. GRASS provides a variety of too
ls to classify it as a high performance GIS.The following summarizes the main f
eatures of GRASS: - Integration of spatial data - data processing raster - vecto
r data processing - Processing of data points - Image Processing - Visualization
- Modeling and Simulations - Support for temporal data - 3D Data Processing - L
inks to other tools in GRASS version 5.0 has limited support for 3D and temporal
data, however, the experimental version 5.7 (version 5.7.0 has been released re
cently in June 2004) is being designed as a complete 3D GIS with support for 3D
raster, 3D vector data and 3D data points. GRASS supports the import, export to
popular formats both raster and vector. 2.2. USER INTERFACE GRASS Although opera
ting systems can run under Windows NT, 2000 or XP (using cygwin, a Linux environ
ment for Windows), to ensure proper operation it is advisable to use the GNU / L
inux. Each capacity or functionality of GRASS is materialized by the correspondi
ng command in console mode, which is a handicap for the end user and even more b
ut has knowledge of LINUX. While it is true that we have implemented a windowing
environment with TCL / TK no longer a compromise and does not offer the potenti
al of using a GUI (Graphical User Interface) such as GNOME or KDE.
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2.3. SOURCE CODE PROGRAMMING AND GRASS code is available to the entire community
in C. Although the code is well documented, presents difficulties of organizati
on and complexity to a language not using object-oriented programming (OOP), as
the developer meets hundreds of methods with their arguments and requires a long
learning period to get started in programming environment. The source code can
be obtained from current CVS (Concurrent Versions System) that provides a networ
k transparent to the source control for groups of developers. In version 5.7, st
ill under development, is significantly improved as a new library of vector geom
etry, external format support without conversion, support for PostGIS, improving
the spatial indexing, storing attributes in a DBMS, new graphical interface, et
c..
3. JUMP
3.1. DESCRIPTION AND CAPABILITIES The JUMP project (Unified Mapping Platform) is
an application based on a graphical user interface (GUI) to display and process
spatial data. It includes many of the most common functions used in GIS. JUMP i
s also designed as an extensible environment for developing and customizing appl
ications to spatial data processing. It is a collection of Java, components, wit
h the following features: • Create classes for the spatial representation of the
data using the JTS Topology package: JTS is an API that provides a spatial obje
ct model and fundamental geometric functions. This API implements the geometry m
odel defined by the OpenGIS Consortium specification paragraph by SQL.A simple e
lements from the use of this API, JUMP provides overlapping functions (intersect
ion, entertainment, marriage, buffer) validation check topology, area and distan
ce functions, etc. JTS is released under GNU LGPL. • The display environment for
application development JUMP, which provides the main user interface and API to
create applications extensibbles to develop and customize applications for proc
essing spatial data. • Classes of algorithms for spatial data handling, integrat
ion and correction topological operations (JCS conflation Suite): JCS helps ocac
ionados solve problems by combining two or more layers of spatial data have been
obtained from different sources. The same item in the field can have different
geometric representation, attributes and associated positional errors as a funct
ion of data source that comes. Through this API are provided techniques for data
integration, although still dependent on a supervised manual editing.
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JUMP original works in the following formats: JCS GML, FME GML, ESRI shapefiles.
These formats can be amplified from the corresponding plugins. 3.2. USER INTERF
ACE Regarding the user interface is much friendlier than the one used by GRASS,
and has certain similarities to more commercial products used as ESRI's ArcView
software. To be programmed entirely in 100% Java code is running correctly multi
platform environments such as LINUX and MS-Windows. 3.3. PROGRAMMING AND SOURCE
CODE The source code for JUMP, and the JTS library code and JCS in which support
s are available in Java. All Java classes are documented using JavaDoc and CVS.
Although there is no documentation or examples as broad as GRASS, from developer
manual and consulting also the documentation of classes can begin to develop in
a reasonably short time. The source code is accessible by using the CVS service
. The current version of JUMP is 1.1.1, released in December 2003.
4. PostGIS
4.1. DESCRIPTION AND CAPABILITIES PostGIS adds support for geographic objects to
the database PostgreSQL object-relational. Thus we can say that PostGIS spatial
ability provides a PostgreSQL server, allowing use as a client of the GIS datab
ase. We can say that most PostgreSQL PostGIS form a spatial database that stores
and manages both the geometry of geographic features and attributes of the same
theme. PostGIS enables the PostgreSQL object-oriented DBMS management of geogra
phical objects. PostGIS makes the database server can handle PostgreSQL geograph
ic object support enabling it to function as spatial data in a Geographic Inform
ation System. In this sense, PostGIS be found at the level of the database ESRI'
s SDE or Oracle version with its corresponding spatial extent. PostGIS follows t
he OpenGIS standard regarding SQL databases known as Simple Features Specificati
ons for SQL. PostGIS has been developed by refractions Research Inc as a researc
h project database technologies in open source. PostGIS is released under the GN
U General Public License. Developers are not committed to the maintenance of the
product indefinitely. The list of future projects includes the development of t
echnologies for loading and unloading of data, creating tools for access and dir
ect manipulation of databases, and support for advanced topologies, such as cove
rages, networks, and surfaces, server environments.
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With PostGIS can use all the objects in the OpenGIS specifications, such as poin
ts, lines, polygons, polylines, multipoint and geometric libraries. PostGIS uses
the GiST spatial indexing engine based on R-Tree spatial indexes. For all this,
PostGIS is the most technologically advanced solution presented in this article
(speed, handling large volumes of data, centralized information, etc.), But has
great inconveniences to the user, and the difficulties of installation and espe
cially the lack of a graphical user interface as GRASS or JUMP include more or l
ess success. 4.2. PostGIS Although UI can run under operating systems Windows NT
, 2000 or XP (using cygwin, a Linux environment for Windows), to ensure proper o
peration it is advisable to use the GNU / Linux. As mentioned, the philosophy of
PostGIS is based on the management of a spatial database. There is currently no
graphical user interface that provides a friendly environment and easy to use a
s JUMP or lesser degree GRASS. As an example, to create a new geographical featu
re, we use the corresponding SQL statement introducing both geometry and attribu
tes. The solution is to use other free software to provide data support for Post
GIS: PostGIS currently supports GRASS as a data source through the driver PostGR
ASS. JUMP The display has a plugin to read data from PostGIS and QGIS software (
http://qgis.sourceforge.net/) has a good support for PostGIS. 4.3. PROGRAMMING A
ND SOURCE CODE PostGIS data can be exported to other output formats using the li
brary in C + + of OGR. Of course any language that supports PostGIS PostgreSQL c
an work with, the list includes Perl, PHP, Python, TCL, C, C + +, Java. PostGIS
source code available in C.The source code is also accessible by using the CVS
service. The documentation of the source code and developer manuals are pretty p
oor. PostGIS The current version is 0.8.2 with support for PostgreSQL 7.5.
5. Openmap
Openmap is a kit based on Java Beans components for building applications and ap
plets that use geographic information. Openmap is thus a set of Java Swing compo
nents to "understand" geographical coordinates. Through these components can dis
play maps and to manage user interaction with events to manipulate spatial data.
Openmap is a set of developer tools based on open source Java libraries. Openma
p is being developed by BBN Technologies and is software
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Open Source is not Free Software GNU-GPL license. It is an open source software
license itself. This license meets most of the important features of free softwa
re themselves, but it has some restrictions not possible to classify it as Free
Software. Openmap can rapidly build applications and applets that are able to ac
cess the data contained in databases and other applications. Openmap gives the u
ser the ability to view and manipulate spatial information. Openmap is in consta
nt development. The latest version is 4.6, making available to the public in Feb
ruary 2004. The source code compatible with JDK 1.2, is available through CVS se
rvice. As already mentioned, one can obtain a copy of Openmap completely free th
rough their website. In addition to download it for free, you can use at no char
ge and even make changes to the source code, a characteristic that closely appro
ximates to a Free Software license itself. The economic benefits obtained Openma
p BBN Technologies fail to sell licenses. Instead BBN Technologies provides cons
ulting services, integration and development for that if you get benefits. The f
act that Openmap is Open Source Software that can enables improvements in the so
urce code and that these be sent to the show's creators for inclusion in future
releases. In this context available to the user community outpouring of contribu
tions and improvements to part of the official distribution of the product.
6. MapServer
It is an application designed to work as a mapping server, which runs under Linu
x / Apache, Windows / IIS. MapServer was originally developed by the University
of Minnesota (UMN). The core of MapServer is a CGI application in order to creat
e contexts dynamic GIS through Internet. The suite of applications that includes
MapServer to create separate applications to create maps, graphic scales, legen
ds, etc.. Are constantly offering new versions, but since version 3.5 supports W
MS (Web Map Service). A WMS produces maps of georeferenced data. These "maps" ar
e a visual representation of geodata, not the data itself, and can be generated
image formats like PNG, GIF or JPEG to be used as an easy answer when the inform
ation is required by a client , thus provides more capabilities to use the map s
erver. The information displayed by the server are shapefiles, only PNG, GIF, or
JPEG are used when connecting to a client server to a web server in the case of
wanting to establish communication between two servers. For the generation of i
nterface, you can use HTML programming and JavaScript, or PHP. MapServer uses hi
s own language that allows the deployment of geographic layers, classification o
f the legend, symbols, and additional components such as color, line width etc.,
Each component must be defined in the file. Map. Depending on the version selec
ted, the
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data display can be made using the OGC protocol mapping services that allow easy
connection to another server. Adding libraries and OGR GDAL, MapServer is capab
le of reading common GIS formats. When compiled against libgrass GDAL, MapServer
raster data directly read from a location via GDAL GRASS.In future versions of
libgrass point and vector data will also be supported. You can create powerful
systems using only free tools like Apache, PHP, GDAL / OGR, MapServer, Proj4, li
bgrass, GRASS and PostgreSQL.
7. CONCLUSIONS
As mentioned the title of the proposed solutions in this article are potential,
ie all the programs described require a fairly complex customization, since the
purpose is to create a free software for the management of medium and small muni
cipalities covering all needs as defined in the project SIGMUN. Due to lack of r
esources of that project is not viable to build an application using the solutio
n provided in block D (the use of libraries as Openmap) because a lot of freedom
but provides the programmer would have to develop the application from scratch,
is ie create the entire graphical user interface, managers of layers, legends,
layout, etc. Moreover, the publication of content on the Internet (block E), if
it is entirely possible using a server mapping as MapServer and some language li
ke PHP customization, although this is merely a complement to GIS software that
actually is looking. Therefore, taking into account the benefits and drawbacks o
f the programs analyzed in blocks A, B and C, and always taking into account ava
ilable resources we can SIGMUN the following arguments: discarded for the time b
lock A with the program GRASS, although it is the most comprehensive GIS encyclo
pedia that currently exists in the market, until it implements a graphical user
interface much more friendly and full vector model of a stable (version 6), we p
rovide the necessary requirements. JUMP presents a good solution if we do not wa
nt to manage information centrally and / or an excessive volume of data. Present
s the graphical interface closer to other widely used commercial software. Altho
ugh of course have to implement all necessary customizations to meet the needs o
f municipalities concluded that it would be a good solution for small municipali
ties. As for medium municipalities with a higher volume of information and even
the thematic mapping and centralized data, the solution would be to use PostGIS
and PostgreSQL as DBMS. The big drawback lies in the construction of a graphical
interface or support other programs for viewing and managing PostGIS layers. As
mentioned above JUMP has a plugin to read data from PostGIS, thus the ideal sol
ution would be to unite the features of JUMP and PostGIS with this plugin
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(Extending its functionality if necessary), which would give the application dev
eloped a graphical user iterfaz attractive. In this way we could always take adv
antage of features such as PostGIS spatial analysis using PostGIS direct sentenc
es. Still work to do to meet the needs of municipalities are presented as a comp
lex job. All members of the research project we are very hopeful SIGMUN be filed
within the next two years an open source alternative to solve the problems of m
unicipal management in those organizations that their economic resources are not
feasible using other commercial GIS software.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This article and the studies of proposals currently under consideration are a di
rect result of work done in the research project SIGMUN, BIA200307914 Project fu
nded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Spain and FEDER funds. We also
thank the collaboration of José Morell Rama student of Engineering degree in Ge
odesy and Cartography of the ETSIGCT of the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
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Christopher Negus. The bible of Red Hat Linux 7. Editorial Anaya Multimedia, Bar
celona, 2000. Daniel Gomez Castro, Jose Carlos Martinez and Maria A. Llario Brov
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Aliaga, David Peñaranda Garcia Rod and Alberto Gonzalez. Geographic Information
Systems and Planning (SIG III). Ed Publications Service of the Polytechnic Univ
ersity of Valencia, 2000. Federal Geographic Data Comittee (FGDC), http://www.fg
dc.gov, accessed in February 2004. International Organization for Standardizatio
n (ISO)http://www.iso.org, accessed in March 2004. Open GIS Consortium (OGC), h
ttp://www.opengis.org, accessed in February 2004.
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Markus Neteler, Helena Mitasova. OPEN SOURCE GIS. A GRASS GIS Approach. Kluwer A
cademic Publishers. Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2002. Moritz Lennert. Grass Tuto
rial. Copyrigth © 2003 GRASS Development Team. Software GRASS, http://grass.itc.
it/index.html, accessed in June 2004 Software JUMP, http://www.jump-project.org/
, accessed in June 2004 MapServer Software, http:// mapserver.gis.umn.edu / inde
x.html, accessed in June 2004 Openmap Software, http://openmap.bbn.com/, accesse
d in June 2004 Software PostGIS, http://postgis.refractions.net/, accessed in Ju
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POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO COVER FREE SIG NEEDS OF MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT IN MEDIUM AN

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