It is crucial to understand and represent the data and information related to the urban planning and development for the construction of effective cities. Commercial GIS software is expensive and therefore not easily accessible to urban planners, and this is where open source GIS tools come in. This article aims at discussing some of the most popular open source GIS tools that are revolutionalizing urban planning and development.
1. QGIS
QGIS (Quantum GIS) is one of the widely used open source GIS software in the present generation. It has a simple and easy to use interface and has many features that can be applied in the various aspects of urban planning such as land use, transportation and environmental impact assessment. QGIS has a feature that enables users to display and manipulate more than one layer at the same time to help in identifying trends. This is because the software has a wide plugin system through which the user can alter the software to suit the needs of the urban planning projects.
2. GRASS GIS
GRASS GIS is one of the most powerful open source GIS software which is used in spatial modeling and analysis. It is especially helpful for urban planners who need more efficient and effective means of analyzing raster and vector information. GRASS GIS is capable of processing various geospatial operations including hydrological modeling, land cover classification, and urban growth modeling. Due to the features such as the ability to analyze data, it is suitable for researchers and professionals who are involved in urban development projects.
3. GeoServer
GeoServer is an open source G.I.S server application that is used for serving and manipulating spatial data. It enables urban planners to put their data on the web in the form of services that can be used by other people including stakeholders. GeoServer also supports some of the most common data formats and standards such as the Web Map Service (WMS) and the Web Feature Service (WFS) that enable GIS data to be easily incorporated into web applications. This is especially important for the urban planners who are seeking to involve the public in the process of planning and increase the level of openness.
4. OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a project where the creation and collection of geographic data is done by volunteers and the data is freely available to the public. There are many ways through which urban planners can use OSM data including the assessment of current infrastructure, land use, and the planning of new projects. The data collected by OSM is extensive and is constantly being updated by the users, which means the planners can use the most recent and reliable data.
5. PostGIS
PostGIS is an add on for PostgreSQL that enables the handling of spatial data in a relational database environment. This tool is very useful for the urban planner who has to deal with big data and spatial analysis of this data. PostGIS provides effective data manipulation and analysis and thus helps in the incorporation of GIS into the urban planning processes.
6. Leaflet
Leaflet is an open-source, lightweight, and powerful framework for creating maps with the help of JavaScript. It is most beneficial for urban planners who are interested in creating web-based GIS applications. Due to its simplicity and flexibility, Leaflet enables users to design their maps that can represent different kinds of geospatial data. This capability is crucial to convey planning information to the public and the stakeholders in a manner that is both informative and interesting.
7. MapServer
MapServer is an open source development framework that enables creating of web-based applications for publishing and sharing spatial data. It accepts different data formats and can be coupled with other GIS software and hence is useful for urban planners. MapServer provides users with the ability to create their own maps which can show zoning, land use and infrastructure which in turn can help in decision making when it comes to development.
Conclusion
The use of open source GIS is changing the way urban planning and development is being done through offering cheap, versatile and efficient tools for spatial data analysis and presentation. Applications such as QGIS, GRASS GIS, GeoServer, OpenStreetMap, PostGIS, Leaflet and MapServer help the urban planners to make right decisions, involve the community and design the sustainable cities. Thus, as the need for proper urban planning increases, the use of these open source tools will be critical in solving the various challenges that come with modern cities.