Gis For Mac
ArcGIS for Desktop has been developed for Windows Operating systems, but there are many users out there running ArcGIS Desktop on Macs. Two options are available. The user can install Windows in Boot Camp, a native feature of the Apple Inc.’s OS X operating system, or they can use a virtualization program, such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion. In order to assess which option to use, it is important to understand each option, their limitations, then to configure for best performance. The Performance Engineering team has begun testing ArcGIS Desktop, including ArcGIS Pro, on the Apple MacBook Pro in order to develop performance benchmarks and configuration recommendations. In general we have found the UX of ArcGIS Pro in these environments is quite good. In general, the ArcGIS Pro system requirements should be considered best practices no matter if you are running ArcGIS Pro natively within a Windows environment or using the options available for a Mac: http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/get-started/arcgis-pro-system-requirements.htm
ArcExplorer is a Mac OS X compatible as a viewer for the use of GIS data and basic GIS functions. Software can be used to display, and supports a variety of standard data sources. ArcExplorer can be used stand alone or be a client of a data center server on the Internet. Cartographica 1.4 brings Macintosh GIS to the next level! ClueTrust is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Cartographica 1.4, the GIS for Macintosh. Come and try new style capabilities, new file formats, sophisticated new analysis tools, enhanced Map Layouts, and much more!
Boot Camp
Boot Camp is a utility for Macs that allows users to install and run Windows within a separate bootable partition. Running Windows in Boot Camp is a native feature of the Mac OS X operating system, therefore this is the most financially affordable option since there is no additional software to be purchased. However, users may not prefer this option since they are not able to run both OS X and Windows at the same time and a reboot is required to gain access to the Mac software. The Windows partition is configured during the Boot Camp install; this is an important step for optimal performance. Users should carefully consider how much CPU, Memory and hard disk will be available to the Windows OS, this is of course based upon how many cores and memory is available in the MacBook. The recommended minimum hardware configuration for the windows partition running ArcGIS Pro is:
- 4 virtual CPU
- 6 GB of RAM
Parallels with Boot Camp
If Windows has already been installed on a Mac using Boot Camp, users can use Parallels to run the Boot Camp partition as a virtual machine within OS X. Users must purchase the Parallels software to use this virtualization option. The advantage is that users can run both Windows and Mac applications without rebooting. This is a suitable option for users whom have newer Macs with more powerful hardware resources in terms of CPU, Memory and an Nvidia graphics card like a GeForce GT 750M. This is not a recommended option for users whom have older Macs with less than 4GB of RAM since Parallels puts more demand on the Mac’s processors and memory as both operating systems are running at the same time. Our testing was performed on Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Business Edition.
In order to gain access to the Windows OS, users work within a Parallels VM. Configuring this VM is critical for optimal performance. By default the VM is configured with 2vCPU, 1 GB of RAM and 512 MB of graphics memory. This configuration is not suitable for a graphically intensive, multi-threaded application like ArcGIS Pro. The minimum hardware configuration for running ArcGIS Pro in Parallels is:
- 4 virtual CPU
- 6 GB of RAM
- 1GB of graphics memory
- Disable vertical synchronization
The following screenshot describes how the CPU and Memory can be configured within the Parallels hardware settings.
The following screenshot describes how the Graphics memory be increased and Vertical Synchronization can be disabled within the Parallels hardware settings.
Default optimization settings which should not be changed include “Performance, Faster virtual machine” and Power, Better performance”.
Users who do not have a powerful graphics card have reported flashing in the map display, changing the default display setting from DX11 to DX9 has helped resolved these issues but these users still experience slower rendering times than those with a discrete graphics card present.
VMWare Fusion
VMWare Fusion Pro also provides Mac users with virtualization technology to run Windows and ArcGIS as a virtual machine within OS X. Users must purchase VMWare fusion to use this virtualization option. Similar to Parallels, this is a suitable option for users whom have newer Macs with more powerful hardware resources in terms of CPU, Memory and an Nvidia graphics card like a GeForce GT 750M. VMware Fusion tools is required to be installed within the VM for 3D acceleration. By default, a VMWare Fusion VM is configured with only 1vCPU, 4GB of RAM, and 512 MB of graphics memory. This configuration is not suitable for a graphically intensive, multi-threaded application like ArcGIS Pro. The minimum hardware configuration for running ArcGIS Pro in VMWare Fusion is:
- 4 virtual CPU,
- 6 GB of RAM
- 2GB of graphics memory*
*Preliminary testing has shown 2GB of graphic memory required for optimal performance, more than what it required for Parallels. Esri is continuously working refine the efficiency of the frame buffer and this requirement may change in the future releases.
The following screenshot describes how the CPU and Memory can be configured within VMware Fusion VM settings.
The following screenshot describes how the increase shared graphics memory within the VM display settings.
Default display settings which should not be changed include, accelerate 3D graphics and always use high performance graphics.
In summary, ArcGIS for Desktop can optimally run on Macs, however proper setup and configuration is essential. Newer Macs, with discrete GPU’s, have more powerful hardware resources, and can optimally support a graphically-intensive program like ArcGIS Pro. A final configuration recommendation is within the Mac OS X setting, where high performance graphics does not perform graphics switching when running on battery power. When this setting is enabled, ArcGIS Pro rendering times are more stable.
UPDATE: My World GIS is no longer being developed and may not work with the latest operating systems.
(2007) Earlier this summer I made the switch to a MacBook Pro OS-X. While I knew there was a dearth of GIS software for the Mac, I knew all the other reasons for a switch made good sense for me. I continue to use my PC only for GIS needs and every time I use it I hate to boot up the system at all. I have been searching for an easy, inexpensive GIS system to use on my Mac and have been continually disappointed – until now.
First, let me give a quick overview of what I have found… (a more comprehensive review of these systems is on cartographica.com). The tools I’ve downloaded so far are Quantum GIS (QGIS), UDig, SimpleDEMViewer, and OpenOX-Grass. The biggest disappointment is none of the really easy ones have any ANALYSIS capability — I personally don’t think it is a GIS if you can’t analyze the data. Viewing the data is great, but I definitely need more. Also, let me admit I am not sophisticated enough of a Mac user yet to do everything required to run OpenOX-Grass (it requires Apple X11) but I will try to work toward this because it does look very powerful http://openosx.com/grass/grass.html and the price (~$60 US) is right. Also, QGIS with Grass support looks very promising (if I can figure out how to implement it). My conclusion with these existing programs is that those that are easy enough to plug-and-play lack basic analysis capabilities, and those that show promise for being very powerful are limited by not being plug-and-play.
This brings me to a review of My World GIS (v4.1.1) for the Mac (it can also run on a PC). So far I have been pleasantly surprised.
My World GIS
Northwestern University has developed a GIS called My World, which engages ESRI’s MapObjects Java technology. My World is distributed by Pasco Scientific (http://www.pasco.com/myworld/). Built in Java, My World runs on Macintosh OSX and Windows environments. It provides a robust subset of capabilities from a professional GIS environment, including multiple projections, table and map view, hyperlinks, and a common language approach to conducting analyses. It is marketed to educators, but licensing is also available for non-educational use (for research or other non-educational uses) directly from Northwestern University (currently priced at $99 US per single license). There is a fully functional 45-day trial period available.
Data File Types
My World supports the following types of data files and/or folders for reading and writing shape data:
* ESRI Shapefile, Comma-Separated Values, Tab-Separated Values, and GPX Waypoint Files; plus a variety of Grid and Image file types, and WMS data feeds (more info here).
Adding Your Own Data
I did find adding my own shape files a bit confusing at first since My World doesn’t support the shape files in their native projection and requires them to be un-projected. That this wasn’t totally straight-forward was my only real disappointment with My World. But once I got past the hassle involved with importing my own data, I had a lot of fun with this program.
“My World accepts shape data only in Unprojected Latitude and Longitude in Decimal Degrees, and the longitude must be in the range -180 to +180 (rather than 0 to 360).
If your data uses another projection or different units, you can use My World to un-project and convert it to the proper units by selecting Un-Project Shapefile… from the File menu, or by clicking the Import Data From File… button in Construct mode.
My World accepts projected grid and image data, but you must know all the details of the projection used to project that data before you can use it in My World.”
How I added my own shape files… (some data does come pre-packaged)
I had to really experiment with this before being able to import my shape files and have them show correctly on the map. I was successful using the following steps:
1. I copied my existing data into a temporary folder before using the “Un-project” function (and DEFINITELY HAD A BACKUP OF MY ORIGINAL DATA ON AN EXTERNAL DRIVE).
2. I also created a new folder in the Data directory (in the My World application folder) to hold my data after I un-projected it.
3. When I used the “Un-Project” function, I saved the new files into the new directory folder (I got errors every time I just replaced the existing files).
For the starters Download and Install BlueStacks App Player. Take a look at the Guide here:.2. Upon the Completion of download and install, open BlueStacks.3. Solitaire for mac free. Steps to Download Farmship: TriPeaks Solitaire for PC:1. In the next step click on the Search Button in the very first row on BlueStacks home screen.4.
4. I then deleted the temporary folder containing copies of my original data (My World gets confused if it finds 2 datasets with the same name).
5. Under the “Construct” tab, I added my data to the map by simply dragging and dropping the layer from the Library to the Layer list.
Arcgis Pro For Mac
6. You can set the map projection later.
Now the fun part – seeing what My World can do.
Note, under the Visualize and Edit tabs, single click a layer to make it active and double click the layer to set parameters or edit.
Cartographic Features
Gis For Macintosh
I am pleasantly surprised by the cartographic capabilities of My World. You can outline and fill polygons with any standard or custom RGB value, easy create color ramps, categorize data, create dot density maps, transparencies, etc. If you’re familiar with commercial GIS platforms it should be pretty intuitive (and maybe even easier). There are about 20 shapes for point symbols, all of which you can control the size, color and transparency.
Microsoft access for mac. Labels (Annotation)
In My World you don’t label features per se, you create annotations. This wasn’t intuitive and was kind of buried in the documentation (especially since I was expecting labeling to be done in the same place as symbology), but it was really easy to do once I figured it out. Under the Edit tab, you have to click create new layer. One option you will be presented with for the new layer type is “Annotation.” You can then create an annotation layer from an existing layer, select the existing database field for the annotation, choose from a wide array for fonts, colors, sizes, style, alignment etc. While you can’t do a halo, you can do a background block color and make it transparent to help your text stand out. And since it is annotation, you can just select and move your text around to improve placement. Pretty sweet.
Gis Mapping Software Free Download
Analysis
This is by far my favorite part.
Not only is it robust, but the analysis menu is also super easy to use. Again, if you know GIS and how to do analysis it should be pretty intuitive. Otherwise, there is pretty good documentation available. For example, I was able to very easily “select by spatial relationship” all the building features (first layer) that were within 15 feet of all commercial properties (second layer)(see example). You have the option to save this as a new layer, or make it a selected subset of the existing layer. All the analysis capabilities for selecting by value, by comparing values, by spatial relationship; combining by intersect, union, subtract, and clip; adding fields by math operation, by copying values, reclassifying, computing distances, and selecting members; creating charts of the data, buffering data; dissolving, summarizing statistics, and converting data are all in one place, intuitive and easy to use, and come with a menu complete with graphic depiction of the operation. Wow.
Editing Data
From the edit tab, you can create new layers and/or edit the geometry and data for any of your existing layers, including grids. I easily moved vertices and created new polygons. A note of caution, it seems to automatically save your changes, but there is an undo button or ctrl-Z.
Other Stuff
Overall, the data were pretty zippy to load large files and Web Map Services (WMS). While this wont replace your enterprise GIS, it is a fine system for stand-alone GIS use on your Mac. Besides my own use, my kid’s school only has a Mac computer lab and I now have a good option for getting GIS into their curriculum. I personally am thrilled to have a functional GIS option for my Mac.
My World GIS – I put in the category of “robust low-cost GIS; professionals will be surprised.”