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GIS: Geographic Information Systems

Northwestern University Library's GIS guide.

Choosing GIS Software

Desktop Software Feature Comparison
  ArcPro QGIS GeoDa SaTScan
Availability

permanent license / annual subscription 

free to NU users*

free and open source free and open source free
Platforms Windows macOS, Windows, Linux macOS, Windows, Linux macOS, Windows, Linux
Data storage options local, cloud local local local
Batch processing and scripting -- --
Large datasets processing
Statistical analysis --
Editing GIS data -- --
Builds static maps --
Customize maps -- --

* To access ArcPro, first create an ArcGIS Online account through the ArcGIS Online homepage. Then, download ArcPro here

 

 

Web Mapping Software Feature Comparison
  ArcOnline StoryMap JS MapLibre GL JS Leaflet StoryMaps with Google Sheets
Availability

permanent license / annual subscription 

free to NU users*

free free and open source free
Access browser-based browser-based code-editor needed browser-based
Data storage options cloud local local local
Ingest real-time data -- --
Interactive
Scalable -- --
Customization

 

 

Programming Software Feature Comparison
  Python R Google Earth Engine spatial SQL
Availability free and open source free and open source free free
Access code editor or IDE code editor or IDE code editor or IDE code editor or IDE
Popular packages or databases GeoPandas, Ipyleaflet, rasterio, plotly sf, terra, tidycensus, ggplot2, tmap -- PostGIS, Carto
Automate tasks
Predictive Modeling --
Data cleaning
Builds static maps -- --
Customize visualizations --