GRASS GIS
GRASS GIS is a hybrid, modular geographic information system software with raster and vector-oriented features. GRASS stands for Geographic Resources Analysis Support System, GIS Geographical Information System.
It is under the GNU General Public License and is thus a freely available software. The system provides raster and vector topological data functionality, 3D raster Voxelbearbeitung, image processing, visualization capabilities and the import and export of various GIS data formats. As a portable software running on different operating systems with a graphical user interface and optional command line.
Development history of GRASS
From the 1970s began authorities in the U.S. trying to save geographic data digitally and edit. From the mid- 80s, geographic information systems have been developed with ever nutzerspezifischeren solutions by different companies. The aim was, " ... in the context of specific applications, a comprehensive collection of tools for capturing, storing, providing, if necessary, transformation and presentation of spatial data real-world " provide. Also GRASS has been developed in this context since 1982 by a number of U.S. government agencies. The fact that it was financed by tax funds, led to the ( cost ) -free usability of this program due to American jurisprudence.
More than ten years have passed on the internet since the first release of GRASS version 4.0 early 90s. In 1997, the GRASS Development Team founded at Baylor University, Waco (Texas), and gave in November of the year a new version 4.2 out. Since 1999 GRASS is released under the GNU General Public License ( GPL). GRASS been aimed more at the raster and image processing, and could be compared to the performance in scope with ArcInfo, the far more oriented to vector processing. GRASS has now developed into a powerful GIS.
The modular structure ( GRASS GIS is a unix typical collection of many small programs ), individual elements can be easily connected to your own applications with a user interface.
Versions
Starting at version 5.2, extensive bio- static applications were integrated into GRASS. GRASS moment is in the stable 6.4.x version with advanced functionality and a new vector model. The development is coordinated from Europe ( Italy today FEM, before " Department of Geography, University of Hanover " ), while the Baylor University has withdrawn entirely from the development.
GRASS - user association
In 2000, the GRASS - user Association (CLA ) was founded in eV, from which the FOSSGIS emerged eV in September 2008. The FOSSGIS represents the Open Source Geospatial Foundation ( OSGeo ) in Germany.