Research Guides: GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Apps & Software

Earth Sciences & Map Library

303-492-6133 (front desk)

libraries@colorado.edu

Earth Sciences & Map Library website

Earth, Environment & Geospatial Librarian

Philip White

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Contact:

Earth Sciences & Map Library
Benson Earth Sciences Building
Rm: 165G

303-735-8278

Apps and Software

Scroll down to view everything! Here are links and information about various GIS tools. "Lite" refers to tools that require minimal training. "Heavy" GIS tools are desktop applications that are normally required for advanced geospatial analyses.

GIS Lite

GIS Medium

GIS Heavy

GIS Lite

These GIS "Lite" tools are web-based and allow for a quick map that you can share on the web. A great starting point.

Google Maps
Besides the obvious --searching for businesses, addresses, landmarks, and other points of interest, directions-- you can create your own custom maps by creating a Google account and using the My Maps feature. Maps you create can be embedded into webpages. We would literally be lost without it.
Google Earth
This desktop application is a step up from Google Maps (although maps seem to be catching up). Allows for importing GIS datasets and some other enhancements that differentiate it from Google Maps. History slider lets you view aerial imagery from the last decade or two, depending on location. Highly recommended.
Open Street Map
Open street map is an open-source, community driven mapping project. Similar to Google Maps, but there are some additional options for adding your own data. Often referred to as OSM.

GIS Medium

These GIS "Medium" tools are a little more advanced but require little training. These tools provide added sharing ability like web apps, access to data, and data manipulation abilities.

Social Explorer
Social Explorer is a handy tool for making a quick map of U.S. Census data. Social Explorer comes loaded with demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau as well as some other social and political data sets. Great if you want to make a quick color shaded map of a particular variable. Data can also be extracted into various formats. Off-campus access to the full suite of data will require that you create an account using your colorado.edu email address.

Google Fusion Tables
Google Fusion Tables allow you to connect data stored in a Google Sheet and create a map. You can plot point data based on address, city, etc. Color shaded maps can also be created. A great feature of Fusion Tables is the ability to merge two datasets based on a common attribute, similar to the Join tool in ArcGIS. Check my YouTube channel for some demos.
ArcGIS Online
Free accounts are available, but I highly recommend an account connected to the CU Boulder institutional account (contact me for access). ArcGIS Online is a true web-GIS. Create maps, scenes, apps, and share data online. Even conduct analyses. A great feature is the web apps, where you can share a map you've created with in a ready-made, customizable app.

GIS Heavy

These are full-fledged GIS desktop applications --the sky is the limit. I recommend these to GIS students, advanced users, and those who need to conduct some form of spatial analysis on their data.

ArcGIS
The ArcGIS suite of applications is the industry standard in geospatial software. Allows for cartography, data manipulation, spatial analysis, modeling, image processing, and more. Free student licenses may be requested (ask me for help).
ArcGIS Pro
ArcGIS Pro is a new addition to Esri's offerings and maintains much of the functionality of ArcMap. Has a nice user interface that mirrors Microsoft Office. Students: ask me about access.
QGIS
Quantum GIS is a free and open source GIS desktop application. Functionally very similar to ArcGIS. QGIS is a great option for those without access to an expensive license to ArcGIS.