You should remember that ArcExplorer is designed with severe limitations so that you will be motivated to pay for a licensed version.  I’m facing the same distribution issue here.  I’m leaning towards using pdfs.  If you have a licensed version of ArcGIS, you can export geo-pdf’s that can be opened with the free version of Adobe reader.  In Adobe reader, you have the ability to see the list of layers and turn them on and off as you wish.  It will also embed transparency.  The document is also searchable for text strings.  Just one of many solutions…

 

 

 

Hi Amanda: When you say basemap are you referring to the digital raster graphic (drg) tile?  dh

 

 

 

Since I won’t be able to attend the roundtable this week, I thought I’d throw out a question and hope someone could help me.

Since we have limited ArcGIS licenses available I’ve been trying to set up other potential users with ArcExplorer and adding the MEGIS basemap and orthomap (from megisims.state.me.us).  However I’m running into an issue overlaying the basemap on the orthomap since the basemap appears to have a background color set to gray. When I use the map service in ArcMap I’m able to change the background fill color, but ArcExplorer does not have this functionality – I can change the basemap layer’s transparency, but it is difficult to see the details.  I would prefer to not have to download contours and hydrography layers when they are available from an internet map service.  Can anyone suggest a work around for this issue? Or would using another open-source GIS program make a difference?

Thanks for your help,

 

 

Amanda Lessard

Assistant Town Planner

Town of New Gloucester

385 Intervale Rd

New Gloucester, ME 04260

phone: (207) 926-4126 Ext. 4

fax: (207) 926-4136

[log in to unmask]

 

 

 

I’ve had good luck turning people onto Accuglobe

 

http://www.accuglobe.net/

 

Best,

Andrew

 

 

Probably the biggest open-source GIS usage is MapServer, a web-mapping platform widely used.  GeoServer is also widely-used and a bit more user-friendly.

 

For desktop users, I would recommend:

 

MapWindow (Windows only)
QGIS (multi-platform and includes a GRASS plug-in)

 

gvSIG is also open-source, but I have found some of the documentation is still Spanish-only

 

Keep in mind these tools have limited functionality compared to ArcGIS or MapInfo, but for a lot of people all they need is this lower level of functionality.  Potentially very useful especially for municipalities with small budgets.

 

GDAL/OGR is one of my favorite tools, it is a command-line interface for converting spatial data from one format to another, reprojecting data, mosaicking images, etc.  It is great for batch-processing image data.

 

**********
Michael Smith
State GIS Manager
Maine Office of GIS

 

From: Maine GeoLibrary [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kelly Bellis
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 11:07 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Open-source GIS Software

Does anybody use an open-source GIS program?
Or can you recommend one?
Is GRASS the best thing for Windows users?

I started to write and ask the Geolibrary listserv members this question a month or so ago, but after so many folks freaked out from my last question (Tax Maps - any format) and subsequently asked to be taken off the listserv, fear and guilt has - up until now - been able to suppress the query. However, the pursuit of the best open-source GIS program still lingers and in advance of the Thursday 12.18.2008 11:30-2:00 Central Maine Roundtable at the Waterville City Hall in the Council Chambers (see Dan Walters notice below) I thought it a good time to ask. I've also cc'd this notice to surveyors in the Hancock and Penobscot area in case they might also be looking for an economic alternative to ESRI products.

And for any Geolibrary listserv members interested, you're most certainly welcome to attend the MSLS Hancock-Penobscot Chapter's meeting Thursday 12.11.2008 5:30PM at the Whig and Courier Pub upstairs in the meeting room in Bangor where Paul Swett is slated to give an ArcPad GIS demonstration.

V. Kelly Bellis, PLS 2099
Horizon Surveying Company, Inc.
17 Union Street
Ellsworth, ME 04605
207.667.6912

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:15:37 Notice from Dan Walters:
The Maine GIS Users group is hosting a Central Maine Roundtable from 11:30 AM to 2 PM on December 18, 2008 in the City of Waterville Council Chambers.  The purpose of the roundtable is to provide a local forum for GIS users to get to know each other, share ideas and help each other resolve problems.  Mike Smith from the Maine Office of GIS has agreed to make a presentation on Open-source (free!) GIS software to get the roundtable started.  The remainder of the time will be an open discussion, so make a list of issues you need help with, ideas you have to advance the use of GIS in the area and information you would like to share.  You can register at the MEGUG website (www.megug.org ).  We will be ordering sandwiches from a local eatery and will circulate a menu the week before the meeting.  Feel free to bring your own lunch if you prefer.

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