I spoke recently about what means in statistics to talk about software, specifically 11 programs which represents 50% of the visitors coming by keyword visits. It is difficult to give recommendations of which software is better, because it depends on the context (and the money) conditions, the more I can aspire is to write and give my impressions; to enable others to form their own opinion. Unfortunately for being a blog, writer characteristics are inherent to the content, such as a humor sense, patience, and irony, without them the world could be more pragmatic…and but not a blog which must (at least this one) produce pleasure (because it was so designed) more than applause.
My 6 Favorites
There are six programs of which I often speak, and which have become my favorites, in some cases more by use than satisfaction or as J would say, more from habit than pleasure. About these ones and in order to half-order this awnings I made index pages.
These six programs are:
- AutoCAD (128 post)
The 128 post not only concern the basic tool, but AutoCAD Map, Civil 3D, Softdesk 8 and other posts are another matter but involving it. As being very popular, and the first CAD tool I met, I use this program regularly. While on AutoCAD there are many blogs and forums, visitors often come here wanting to know how to download free AutoCAD…
Like AutoCAD, apart from the basic tool I talked about Bentley Map, MicroStation Geographics, Descartes, Bentley Cadastre and elsewhere. Some times I have made comparisons between the two brands, some history and criticism of its features.
Because of its popularity I have not left it aside, although it was not my choice for reasons of enterprise-level price. And for the habit which is more like stubbornness of respect for copyright, I prefer to use Open Source tools or low cost tools.
I drawn more profit of this tool, because of using it constantly.
- GvSIG (38 post)
This came late to the blog, but lately has been entertaining me. In terms of open source tools I respect it for sustainability in the medium term, if it not left forgotten on development. Without losing face!
- Google Earth (145 post)
But it does not seem I have written more on Google Earth than on other programs, but almost always making interaction with them or Web applications. While not a conventional GIS tool, surely its name will reinforce the puffs that are now under the flag name of neogeography.
Other GIS programs or with related use
Apart from the above, I have reviewed other programs, some of them deserve much more than a simple post, and others are applications related to GIS work
- QGIS, the best of open source
- uDig, good development, but limited
- MapInfo, robust, but …
- Global Mapper, is growing much
- CadCorp, GIS product line
- Sitch Maps … download images from Google Earth
- ContouringGE … contour lines in Google Earth
- Maptext, complementary application
- Integeo, Business Intelligence
- MapExport, interaction with Google maps
- Fdo2fdo, format conversion
- MapSuite, GIS product line
- Erdas Titan … for chat and share data
Other CAD programs
In the case of CAD, my reviews have included:
- TopoCAD, Very good for Surveying and Design
- ArchiCAD, has its category with 8 related post
- BitCAD, IntelliCAD line
- ProgeCAD (IntelliCAD), my preference in this line
- eCAD Lite, an option for Microstation
- QCAD, an option for Linux and Mac
- Geo5, CAD applied to soil mechanics
- AnyDWG, to convert dwg files
- Photo Modeller … from photos to 3D models
Programs like Google Earth
- ArcGIS Explorer, good but heavy
- NASA World Wind, Wind, well, Java (slow)
- GeoShow, private
- MapJack, alternative to Street View
- Virtual Earth, more data in some countries
Other programs
Others have been mentioned by simple checks or use, including:
- Dossier Manager … Document Management
- SodelsCot, … to convert text to audio
- Live Writter … for blogging a lot
- Vuze … uses and perversions
- Google Crhome … for cool surfing
- CardRecovery … when I damaged the SD
- Earthplot … graphs on Google Earth
- MapinXL, … maps from Excel
To this date, if we do a summary, 37 seem a lot, but only the first six contain the bulk of content. Many of the others have barely a post.
Programs | Software | % |
favorite programs | 6 | 16% |
Other GIS software | 12 | 32% |
Other programs CAD | 7 | 19% |
Programs like GE | 5 | 14% |
Other programs | 7 | 19% |
Total | 37 | 100% |