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University (Appleman, 1998). It was developed to
address the need for a GIS programming tool that
could be used in engineering research and project
software, without requiring to purchase a complete
GIS system, or become a GIS expert. It is available
free of charge and can be sued to develop custom
spatial data analysis tools (http://www.map
window.org/). Developers can write Plug-ins to add
additional functionality such as models, special
viewers, hot-link, handlers, and data editors, and
pass these to users. It includes standard GIS data
visualization features, database functions such as
attribute table editing, shape file editing and data
converters. Dozens of Standard GIS formats are
supported, including Shape files, GeoTIFF, ESRI
format, ASCII and binary grids. It includes a
complete ActiveX component to instantly add GIS
capabilities to the user’s existing software product
(MapWinGIS; FOSS4G). Additional geo-processing
components are available for .NET-compatible
Languages. Components of MapWindow are:
-The Main Application: This is the central interface
where, the user may view data elements such as
Shape files and Grids and the Core Components
-The components which operate underneath. The
three main components are: (a) MapWinGISwhcih
is an ActiveX control which may be placed into
any project in any programming language that
supports ActiveX. This is the main map
component - if the user wants to write a program
that displayed shape data, for example, the user
could use this control for the display portion of the
user’s program. (b) MapWin Interfaces: This is
also called the "Plug-in Interface", this is a dll file
which will allow the user to write the user’s own
plug-ins to the main application. This may be done
from any programming Language which supports
the creation and use of Microsoft .NET 2.0
Dynamic Link Libraries (dlls). (c)
MapWinGeoProc: This is a .NET library of
geoprocessing functions, including tools for
managing projections, clipping and buffering. This
Library is under very active development with new
capabilities appearing Often.
3 ArcGIS 10
The ESRI® ArcGIS System is an integrated
geographic Information system (GIS) consisting of:
(a) Arc GIS Desktop software which is an integrated
suite of Advanced GIS applications
(b) Arc SDE® gateway which is an interface for
managing Geodatabases in a database management
system (DBMS)
(c) Arc IMS® software which is an Internet-based
GIS for distributing Data and services.
Arc GIS provides a framework for implementing
GIS for single user or for many users. It can be
extended with additional software, such as Arc Pad®
for Windows® CE devices.
Components of ArcGIS desktop are:
1.ArcMap: This is the GIS application used for all
map-based tasks including cartography, map
analysis, and editing. In this tool, the user basically
works with maps. Arc Map permits viewing a map, a
geographic data and a layout view to implement
advanced GIS tasks.
2. Arc catalog: This is an application to organize
and manage all GIS data, with browsing tools to find
geographic information, managing metadata and to
define the schema structure for the geographic data
layers.
3. Arc toolbox: Arc Toolbox is a simple application
containing many GIS tools used for geoprocessing
tasks (GIS Fundamentals).
ArcGIS Desktop License Levels:
ArcGIS allows better data analysis, relationship
definition, pattern recognition and optimal informed
decision making. It is available in three license
levels: basic, standard, or advanced (formerly
ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo). They share the
core applications, user interface, and development
environment, but each provides more GIS
functionality
ArcInfo is the highest level of licensing and
functionality. It is a full featured GIS system with
access to all functions. It includes advanced data
analysis and modeling, feature management and
processing and data conversion for CAD, raster,
DBASE, and coverage formats
(http://en.wikipedia.org/).
ArcEditor is a standard ArcGIS level of licensing
and functionality. It provides the standard and basic
ArcGIS functions such as complete GIS data editing
capabilities, automate quality control, and use of
raster-to-vector conversion.
ArcView is the basic ArcGIS level of licensing and
functionality. It is a powerful toolkit for mapping,
reporting, and map-based analysis such as visual
modeling, and spatial analysis of a process or
workflow, creation of interactive maps from files,
database, and online sources, and generation of
reports and charts.
ArcReader is a free application to view and use
maps created with ArcMap and the optional ArcGIS
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