Open Source GIS

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The growing acceptance of Open Source Software especially for GIS applications has been around for the past decade. This has been contributory efforts of universities and government laboratories to develop Open Source GIS. According to Richard M. Stallman open source means: (1)The freedom to run the program, for any purpose. (2) The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs. (3)The freedom to redistribute copies. (4)The freedom to improve the program, and release improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. Open source GIS is receiving popularity in academic institutions and there are wide array of GIS software that have followed the Open Source concepts. In some cases, Open source GIS software provides equally the same accuracy and outputs as proprietary GIS software. The future already holds mix feelings for both proprietary and open source GIS software, but regardless, a blend of the two will continue to suffice in the future.