Part 1: Installing Desktop GIS Tools

Introduction

So, you want to learn GIS but can’t afford to pay for software and training… what to do?

Well, if you are reading this page you’re very likely connected to the Internet through the World-Wide Web. Or, you’re a hacker and you just got into my system. Congratulations! Let’s assume you’re not a hacker but someone who’s savvy enough to use web resources. Well, you’re in luck! With a few minutes of your time, you can learn some practical mapping and spatial analysis using this and the next few pages I plan on publishing.

But first, I must tell you that I’ll be writing about open source geospatial software and not some close-sourced proprietary software. If you want proprietary software you can buy a license and training. If you don’t have a license, you shouldn’t be using it. Open source software gives you that license by default. So, really the only thing you’ll be paying for is your own time and internet connection. And maybe data, if you really need some highly specialized and custom data.

In this article I’ll be talking about how to install some open source geospatial software using The Open Source Geospatial Foundation‘s (OSGeo) software kit called OSGeo4W. That’s right, it’s for Windows users. If you’re a Linux user, chances are your distribution already include OSGeo software packages. Check their website first for a software list and installation instructions. There’s also an OSGeo Live DVD which you can download and play with. Go to OSGeo’s Wiki page for more information on open source GIS binary packages.

Installation

Back to you Windows users. Today we’ll install some desktop software using OSGeo4W’s installer. Go ahead, click on the previous link to download and save into your computer; it will work on your any 32- and 64-bit Windows machines. I usually put my downloaded files in it’s own subdirectory under my Downloads folder. You can do the same or you can do whatever pleases you.

The download should be pretty fast as you’re just downloading an installer and not the whole suite. Go ahead and open the installer. Yes, I know it’s called OSGeo4W-setup. Go ahead double-click on it.

You can right-click the installer and click "Open" to start installation. Or you can just double-click on it.

Chances are Windows will ask you if you really want to do it. It’s not like you really have options there… go ahead, say yes. Unless you changed your mind. Once you’ve said “Yes”, the installation window will come up.

There are a few software categories to choose from...

If you know what you’re doing, feel free to click on “Advanced Install”. But then again, if you know what you’re doing you shouldn’t be reading this page. So, go ahead and click on “Express Desktop Install” and then click on “Next”. It should bring up another set of choices.

Now you get to select the software you want to install. You can install them all, if you want.

You can install them all or just select the ones you want. You can always install more apps later, using the same installer. In my case, I selected Quantum GIS, GDAL, and GRASS GIS as those are the desktop tools I will be writing about. Make your selection and click on “Next” again. The software packages will now be downloaded and installed on your computer. Go ahead have some coffee or tea or not.

When the installation finishes, you will be greated by this window:

Congratulations!

Congratulations. You now have some software for mapping and analysis.

I will be talking about opening a map in Quantum GIS (QGIS) in the next installment…

: Installing Desktop GIS Tools