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.

Version 2.0 of 3D FugroViewer Released

Version 2.0 of Fugro's free 3D viewer FugroViewer has been released and includes a few improvements. Head over to their website http://www.fugroviewer.com/ to download it.  The release includes support for compressed LIDAR files or *.laz, created by the open source compression program LASzip.  In addition, there are greater export capabilities and the ability to view 3D shapefiles.  A few months ago, I blogged about using the previous version of FugroViewer to examine LIDAR data of the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.

After completing a brief form on Fugro's website, you will immediately receive an e-mail with links to download the program and sample data.  The program is small, and sample data sets, which can downloaded individually, range from 30 to 155 MB.

One sample data set is LIDAR data from Baltimore City and includes Baltimore's baseball stadium: Oriole Park at Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor. Reference imagery can be added by going to the "File menu" and selecting "Open Reference File."

Left: LIDAR points overlaying imagery.  Right: 3D view of Camden Yards Stadium

A picture I took at a recent Orioles / O's game.

Another data set is a digital elevation model or DEM from Fugro's GeoSAR/IFSAR/Radar.

A DEM displayed in FugroViewer

Note: Because of its recent release, antivirus programs, such as Norton, may not yet recognize this program and display a warning about a "potential threat."