QGIS

The most powerful open-source desktop GIS, supporting almost every geographic data format.

Details

QGIS (Quantum GIS) is the world's most widely used open-source GIS software, offering map-making, spatial analysis and data editing capabilities comparable to ArcGIS. It supports 200+ data formats, includes the GRASS and SAGA algorithm libraries, and can be extended with plugins.

Alternative to: ArcGIS Desktop / ArcGIS Pro

Use cases: GIS mapping, spatial analysis, remote sensing image processing, land use analysis

Used in these research workflows

Remote sensing processingIntermediate

Remote Sensing Tree Height Estimation

A complete workflow for estimating forest tree height from LiDAR point clouds or multi-source remote sensing imagery using QGIS and Python.

QGISPython (research stack)

2–4 hours 5 stepsView workflow

GIS mappingBeginner

GIS Mapping for Papers

A GIS mapping workflow from organising spatial data and unifying projections to producing thematic maps and publication-ready layouts.

QGISInkscape

1–3 hours 5 stepsView workflow

Remote sensing processingIntermediate

Remote Sensing Image Classification

A workflow for preprocessing, building training samples, classifying and assessing accuracy for Sentinel, Landsat or drone imagery.

QGISGoogle Earth EnginePython (research stack)

3–6 hours 6 stepsView workflow

Remote sensing processingIntermediate

Drone Imagery Mapping

A workflow from drone photos to orthophotos, point clouds, DEM/DSM and basic terrain or vegetation analysis.

OpenDroneMapQGIS

3–8 hours 5 stepsView workflow