FOSS GIS Version Checks - March 2015

Keeping software up-to-date is extremely important. Free and open source (FOSS) GIS software are no exception.  Typically, updates bring fixes, better stability, sometimes performance improvements or security patches, and even new features, some of which can be game changers!  Keep an eye on FOSS GIS websites or subscribe to their e-mail listserves to keep up-to-date.

Here's a quick list of a few free and open source GIS programs, related software packages and libraries, and their version numbers.

Desktop GIS
GRASS GIS 7.0.0 LTS
QGIS 2.8.1 Wien LTR
OpenJump 1.8.0

Remote Sensing/Image Processing
Orfeo Toolbox 4.4
Opticks Image Processing 4.12.0

LIDAR
Fusion LIDAR 3.42
FugroViewer 2.0
LAStools (March 2015)

Spatial Analysis
GeoDA 1.6.7
GWR 4.0
SaTScan 9.4.1

Web map development
Leaflet 0.7.3 - an open source JavaScript library for mobile web maps
Open Layers 3.4
GeoServer 2.7.0

QGIS Visual Changelog makes learning about new features a breeze!

Many open source GIS programs have a roadmap, 'wiki', or version log. These exhaustive sources of information can give you the heads-up on when an update will be released and what features the new version may contain.  They also contain lists of bugs, potential fixes, and the progress toward the fix.

Lastly, updates for paid software are also important and sometimes may require you to update your license agreement, depending on when you purchased the software. Additional fees may apply.

Open Source LIDAR Software

I had never seen or heard of an open-source program for viewing LIDAR data, which is increasingly in use.  I do not use LIDAR in my daily work, so it seemed like an interesting challenge. I hoped to find something simple to be able to load an occasional LIDAR data set for exploring.

There are several extensions and add-ons out there.  After searching, I found FUSION software by the Pacific Northwest Research Station / Forest Service. It is stand-alone software.  A new version was just released in early February 2012.  Recent and continual updates for any open-source software are always encouraging to see and to maintain its relevance. The website includes sample data (for Washington State below) and a well-written manual.

The screenshots show the wide range of graphics that FUSION can produce.  After importing an aerial image/DOQ and the LIDAR data, you select an area of interest, and a new window automatically opens.  One can perform a variety of tasks simply by right-clicking--including generating a canopy surface model and even producing anaglyphs for 3D.  There is even the very appropriately named "Wiggle-Vison."