QGIS (Quantum GIS) is a user-friendly GIS desktop application, licensed under the GNU public license. It is an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo). It is compatible with Linux, Windows, and Mac OS with many common GIS features and functions like direct viewing of vector and raster data in different formats and projections, mapping and interactive exploration spatial data, create, edit and export spatial data and to perform spatial analysis.
Quantum GIS can be downloaded from:
https://qgis.org/en/site/forusers/download.html
Steps to download and Installing QGIS Software
- Choose your appropriate Operating System and download.
- Run the downloaded Setup executable file and follow steps to install the software. During the installation, QGIS also allows users to download sample data. If checked, it will be downloaded in My document folder of your computer/Laptop with the folder name GIS Database. You may later on copy and move the entire folder into the folder you want to keep all your files. Also, You can use your own dataset or download it from the following website and store it at a convenient location on your hard drive.
http://hub.qgis.org/projects/quantum-gis/wiki/Download - After the installation is complete, double click the QGIS icon shortcut on your desktop or select it from the start menu.
Great job. You have done it! Now start exploring the features inside the application.
In the field of remote sensing and GIS, Open Source Geospatial consortium, formally known as OSGeo is one of the most comprehensive platforms which provides suits for remote sensing and GIS applications. It has a variety of applications ranging from geospatial libraries, web mapping applications, and metadata catalogs and desktop applications. Examples of such applications are Quantum GIS and GRASS.