Geographic Information System using ArcGIS 10 and Open Source MapWindow - Methodology and Comparative Study

Abstract

Geographic Information System (GIS) is an IT system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically data. We present a comparison between ArcGIS 10 and MapWindow 4.0 in creating a (GIS) for a study area to clarify the similarities and the differences. Upon the application of the GIS system using the two mentioned different software tools, we will provide the methodology and a related comparison. The ESRI® ArcGIS is an integrated geographic information system (GIS) for managing a digital database, working with maps and geographic information. It provides an infrastructure for making maps, analysis, presentations of geographic information available for organizations, communities and openly on the Web. MapWindow is free of charge, extensible geographic information System (GIS) that can be used as an open-source alternative to desktop GIS to develop and distribute custom spatial data analysis tools. It is a "Programmable Geographic Information System" that supports manipulation, analysis, and viewing of geospatial data and associated attribute data in several standard GIS data formats. It is also considered a mapping tool, a GIS modeling system, and a GIS application programming interface (API); all in one convenient redistributable package. It was developed by MapWindow Open Source Team to address the need for a GIS programming tool that could be used in engineering research, without requiring end users to purchase a complete GIS system, or become GIS experts. We had used MapWindow in many applications and always proved efficient. We found Open Source MapWindow GIS as efficient as the commercial GIS system for important applications (Mapping, Navigation, Tracking etc.) in addition to its being free of charge. We had been using it in our applications and research work such as: OSGIS for BAU and in Navigation and Tracking to be used by interested users on the