GIS @ UC San Diego: Software

The predominate software in GIS is ArcGIS by ESRI. It can be expensive and has a learning curve for users, but is extremely robust and as noted, is predominate in the GIS industry. Can be used in a desktop, server or web environment.

Open source, free to you! Self-described as "particularly useful for mapping and analyzing biodiversity data, such as the distribution of species, or other 'point-distributions'".

This software program packages Census data - check with your institution to see if you have access to Geolytics.

Very popular software created by Google. Easy to use for anyone comfortable with a computer and its most popular use is to locate the house where you grew up. Google Earth Pro has increased functionality, among which is the ability to make movies of 'to

Open source, free to you! Best for those who are comfortable using command line rather than graphical user interface.

indiemapper is a web based tool to use your data and create vector or raster maps. The maps have high quality graphics and it looks easy to use. The service is pay as you go on a monthly basis.

A relative newcomer to the GIS market. Windows based and self-stated as Vista compatible and runs in a 64-bit environment.

A long time player in the GIS software market. Made by Pitney Bowes, and it is reasonable to say that MapInfo has held the position of the second most used GIS for a number of years.

A new open source GIS software created from the Idaho State University Geospatial Software Lab.

Self-described as a GIS for the educational setting. It is not free, but is reasonably priced and was created to be a more intuitive GIS product.

This organization is specifically positioned to "support and bulid the highest-quality open source geospatial software".

This is an open source GIS software that is gaining a lot of attention and momentum. It's "an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation" and runs on Windows, Macs, Linux, and Unix.

A computing language and an "environment within which statistical techniques are implemented". Becoming increasingly used in conjunction with GIS analysis.

A free open source cartogram software. Uses ESRI shapefiles for input and allows you to create a cartogram based on the attribute values of your choosing.

Self-desribed: "SimplyAnalytics is a web-based mapping application that lets users quickly create professional-quality thematic maps and reports using powerful demographic, business, and marketing data." This is a for-sale GIS-like software product. GIS data (formerly known as SimplyMap).

A free GIS software tool specific for environmental modeling from University of Tennessee Knoxville.

This is where you can find information about purchasing ESRI products if you are part of the UCSD community.

An inexpensive but powerful image manager/remote sensing software for use with the Windows operating system. Works particularly well with HDF, netCDF, SeaWiFS, MODIS, and SST products.