QGIS for provident startups
March 03, 2017
QGIS for provident startups
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with QGIS
Well, geospatial analytics is a part of my duties. As long as we are developing software, which strongly uses geospatial analytics - we have to prove some kind of research visually, using maps and schemes. QGIS ideally fits us, because it contains all instruments under one suite. Also, it is highly customizable, (using Python scripts and other powerful tools, such as a models designer and the ability to use algorithms from other external GIS software).
- Processing of multispectral satellite imagery. Using an internal raster calculator you can perform virtually any calculation upon bands. Using Python scripting - you can perform anything.
- Vector information manipulation and solving some practical tasks as area zoning, weighing factors from the spatial side of view, optimizing grids. A lot of algorithms supported out of the box. And yes, we can always develop our own, using mighty Python scripting.
- GPS recording and areas digitizing. I've done about 95,000 hectares using a mixed approach - vectorizing upon aerial images and walking around objects with a laptop, connected to a GPS receiver and QGIS, engaged on record.
- Processing terrain shading, roughness index, and using digital elevation maps. I've used these capabilities for the calculation of erosion danger for agricultural lands.
- Prepare maps for printing. QGIS allows you to create amazing mockups for maps and export it to PDF up to A0 size. I've used it to print a lot of analytic maps.
- QGIS lacks predefined support of standard packages for satellite imagery sources. To process metadata from packages (which is used for radiometric correction, atmospheric corrections, DEM corrections, etc) - you need to develop your own scripts or extract metadata manually.
- QGIS' mobile version for Android does not work so well, because this is a port of the desktop version actually, and a lot of controls are adapted for the use of a mouse, and it's hard to operate with it on touch screens.
- Caching of tiles when using WMS/WMTS layers. QGIS doesn't manage it, so working with remote layers can be a real pain [during] a slow internet connection.
- Strongly positive.
- ArcGIS, SAGA GIS and ERDAS IMAGINE
QGIS vs. ArcGIS. The main reason is the price of ArcGIS. Most of the functionality is identical in both products, however, interfacing QGIS with external software allows it to dramatically increase processing capabilities.
QGIS vs. ERDAS IMAGINE. It is quite good for satellite imagery processing. However, it is also expensive. 95% of regular imagery processing can be resolved using QGIS, and for the last 5%, you can use a third party service from time to time.
QGIS vs. SAGA GIS. SAGA is free to use too. Also, it contains a lot of predefined geospatial algorithms. But it handles its own unique file format for rasters and the necessity of converting in and out (so annoying to me). However, it can be used as an external plugin for QGIS to use some of SAGA's internal algorithm for processing.
QGIS vs. ERDAS IMAGINE. It is quite good for satellite imagery processing. However, it is also expensive. 95% of regular imagery processing can be resolved using QGIS, and for the last 5%, you can use a third party service from time to time.
QGIS vs. SAGA GIS. SAGA is free to use too. Also, it contains a lot of predefined geospatial algorithms. But it handles its own unique file format for rasters and the necessity of converting in and out (so annoying to me). However, it can be used as an external plugin for QGIS to use some of SAGA's internal algorithm for processing.