In my quest for a good, free, easy to use package for OS X that can allow the average user to create maps for printing, I’ve found a few candidates. I’ve already done a brief comparision of ESRI’s ArcExplorer Java Edition and QGIS. To be more consistant, I’ve come up with a simple set of steps that I will attempt on all the packages reviewed here.
Today I’ll focus on the User-friendly Desktop Internet GIS, or uDIG.
uDIG is a Java based GIS application developed by Refraction Research. They consider uDIG “…both a GeoSpatial application and a platform through which developers can create new, derived applications. uDig is a core element in an internet aware Geographic Information System.”
I’d like to mention that Refraction Research is taking part in the Google Summer of Code as a mentoring organization.
Now on with the review.
Installation
Installation is a breeze on OS X - simply unzip the downloaded file, and you’re pretty much all set.
Creating a new project
Once again uDIG lives up to its name - simply select File -> New -> New Project to create a new project. There only option to set is the location of the project file.
Opening a Shapefile
This might not be a fair test, but let’s face it, the ESRI Shapefile format is pretty widely used, with a lot of data providers supplying files in that format. uDIG had no problem opening my sample shapefiles. To add them, you simply need to select Layer -> Add, then choose Files from the list of layer types.
uDIG is also internet aware, and can open layers from a Web Map Server as well as from DB2 and PostGIS databases.
Change Symbology
Here I found my first problem - the troublesome roads layer. To review - the roads layer has all the streets and highways in the county, divided into classes. Classes include Interstate highways, Toll roads, US Highways, and so on.
In ArcMap it is easy to change the layer symbology so that certain classes are not shown. So far none of the free applications have been able to do so, and uDIG is no exception - there simply is no way to ignore features in a layer.
Cartographic Elements
Another test is that of adding some cartographic elements to the print layout. For testing purposes, I’ve made this pretty simple - a North arrow and a legend. Neither could be added in uDIG.
Formating for Print
Another weak area in uDIG is in formating for printing. I say weak, but it’s more like “not done”. The infrastructure for a nice formating system seems there, but the only things that you can currently do are to add labels and move the map frame around on the page.
Summary
uDIG has a lot of potential, and hopefully the Summer of Code will be successful for Refraction Research.
I’d like to see more emphasis on actually making printable maps in addition to analysis tools.
All-in-all this is another application to keep an eye on.
5 responses so far ↓
1 matt wilkie // May 12, 2006 at 6:59 am
I recommend you also take a look at OpenJump http://openjump.org/
I recently have also been trying to do a “simple” gis/cartographic job using open source gis packages. When I get back home in a couple of weeks I can forward my notes if you’re interested.
I initally fastened on to qgis as my one true tool, but it fell off the wagon when I discovered it couldn’t edit shapefiles (I need to delete unwanted elements). In the end I had to use a combination of tools (GPSMan, Open Jump, QGIS, gdal utilities) as no single one of them would do the trick on their own. Sadly, for the finished map I needed to steal time from the office and use ArcMap. Oh well, maybe next year.
-matt
2 Walt // May 12, 2006 at 8:04 am
Thanks for the tip Matt. I’ll be sure to add OpenJump to the list to try.
3 Anonymous // May 15, 2006 at 4:12 am
>I recommend you also take a look at OpenJump
And gvSIG http://www.gvsig.org
4 Al // May 15, 2006 at 4:14 am
I recommend you also take a look at gvSIG
http://www.gvsig.gva.es
5 Walt // May 15, 2006 at 8:33 am
Thanks, that’s another one to add to the list.
Keep ‘em coming!
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