NACIS PCD 2013: Navigating a Labyrinth of Libraries

This talk briefly and broadly introduces some popular mapping software for the desktop and web. Each is aligned on a spectrum between visualization and analysis, as a minor update to my January 2013 presentation on the same topic.

Transcript

1. LIBRARIES
   NAVIGATING A
   LABYRINTH
   of
   JoshuaStevens #nacis2013
   An Overview of Cartographic Software and Capabilities
   

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2. We’ll look at tools
   from here...
   

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3. ...not here
   

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4. Software-specific Talks + Workshops
   

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5. What Software Does, and Where
   • Specialists vs Generalists
   Desktop Cloud/Web
   Analysis
   Visualization
   

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6. Well, that’s just like, your
   opinion, man...
   

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7. Tools for Analysis
   

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8. ArcGIS
   www.esri.com
   

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9. • An industry standard GIS
   • Complete vector and raster analysis
   • Hundreds of tools
   • Model builder
   • Python
   • Many training and certification options
   ArcGIS
   

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10. Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    

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11. www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html
    ArcGIS Online
    

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12. QGIS
    www.qgis.org
    

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13. • Open source, actively developed
    • Supports GRASS, PostgreSQL/PostGIS,
    OSM...
    • Great vector and raster tools
    • Easy to make your own / DL from others
    • Scriptable: Python, GDAL
    QGIS
    

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14. Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    QGIS
    

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15. PostGIS (PostgreSQL)
    • “Spatially-enabled PostgreSQL”
    • Incredibly powerful; super fast
    • No direct GUI
    SELECT ST_Extent(geom) FROM places
    WHERE place = 'STATE COLLEGE';
    www.postgis.org
    postgresapp.com (OS X)
    

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16. Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    QGIS
    PostGIS (PostgreSQL)
    

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17. R (w/ spatial packages)
    • Academics love it
    • Command-line
    • Powerful stats
    • Hamstrung by package
    dependency
    • Recommended packages:
    ggplot2, splancs, maps, spatstat, mapproj
    statisfaction.wordpress.com
    www.r-project.org
    www.rstudio.com
    

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18. R (w/ spatial packages)
    Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    QGIS PostGIS
    PostGIS
    

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19. Tools for
    Visualization
    

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20. CartoDB
    www.cartodb.com
    

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21. • PostGIS + CartoCSS
    • Upload query/analyze style share
    • Several base maps, user-friendly wizards
    • Advanced APIs (cartodb.js, R support, D3...)
    • Torque for time-series (http://cartodb.github.io/torque/)
    CartoDB
    

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22. CartoDB
    Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    QGIS PostGIS
    PostGIS
    R
    

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23. TileMill
    www.mapbox.com/tilemill
    

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24. • Style spatial data with CartoCSS
    • Shp, PostgreSQL, SQLite, GeoJSON, CSV
    • Choose scale(s), produce tiles
    • Export images, embed on web/mobile, PDF...
    • Add interaction
    • Publish on MapBox.com
    TileMill
    

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25. TileMill
    Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    QGIS PostGIS
    PostGIS
    R
    CartoDB
    

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26. MapBox
    www.mapbox.com
    

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27. • Design maps in your browser
    • Add public layers + base maps made by others
    • Load your data from TileMill
    • Embed or share
    • Free account limited to 3,000 views / month
    • Use with MapBox.js or vanilla Leaflet
    MapBox
    

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28. Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    QGIS PostGIS
    PostGIS
    R
    CartoDB
    TileMill
    MapBox
    

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29. Leaflet
    www.leafletjs.com
    

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30. • JavaScript library for displaying tiles (“slippy map”)
    • Add markers, lines, polygons
    • Very interactive
    • Pairs well with other libraries (e.g., D3)
    • Basis for many others (MapBox.js, HugePic)
    • Awesome support, getting simpler (better!)
    Leaflet
    

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31. Leaflet
    Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    QGIS PostGIS
    PostGIS
    R
    CartoDB
    TileMill MapBox
    

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32. D3 (Data-driven Documents)
    www.d3js.org
    

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33. • JavaScript for drawing SVG styled with CSS
    • Extremely capable, many examples online
    • Steep learning curve, requires JS proficiency
    • Maps are only a small facet of D3
    • Great when combined with other libraries
    (CartoDB.js/Torque, MapBox.js, Leaflet)
    D3 (Data-driven Documents)
    

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34. D3 (Data-driven Documents)
    Desktop Cloud/Web
    Analysis
    Visualization
    ArcGIS
    QGIS PostGIS
    PostGIS
    R
    CartoDB
    TileMill MapBox
    3LHÅL[
    

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35. Helpful Resources
    www.colorbrewer2.org geojson.io Sack et al (2013):
    Adapting Web Mapping
    Curriculum to Open Source
    Technologies
    

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36. Thank You!
    speakerdeck.com/jscarto
    

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