Thoroughly updated with material related to the GRASS6, the third edition includes new sections on attribute database management and SQL support, vector networks analysis, lidar data processing and new graphical user interfaces. All chapters were updated with numerous practical examples using the first release of a comprehensive, state-of-the-art geospatial data set.

Since the first edition of Open Source GIS: A GRASS GIS Approach was published in 2002, GRASS has undergone major improvements. This second edition includes numerous updates related to the new development; its text is based on the GRASS 5.3 version from December 2003. Besides changes related to GRASS 5.3 enhancements, the introductory chapters have been re-organized, providing more extensive information on import of external data. Most of the improvements in technical accuracy and clarity were based on valuable feedback from readers. Open Source GIS: A GRASS GIS Approach, Second Edition, provides updated information about the use of GRASS, including geospatial modeling with raster, vector, and site data, image processing, visualization, and coupling with other open source tools for geostatistical analysis and web applications. A brief introduction to programming within GRASS encourages new development. The sample data set used throughout the book has been updated and is available on the GRASS web site. This book also includes links to sites where the GRASS software and on-line reference manuals can be downloaded and additional applications can be viewed.

Open Source GIS: A GRASS GIS Approach was written for experienced GIS users, who want to learn GRASS, as well as for the Open Source software users who are GIS newcomers. Following the Open Source model of GRASS, the book includes links to sites where the GRASS system and on-line reference manuals can be downloaded and additional applications can be viewed. The project's website can be reached at http://grass.itc.it and a number of mirror sites worldwide. Open Source GIS: A GRASS GIS Approach, provides basic information about the use of GRASS from setting up the spatial database, through working with raster, vector and site data, to image processing and hands-on applications. This book also contains a brief introduction to programming within GRASS encouraging the new GRASS development. The power of computing within Open Source environment is illustrated by examples of the GRASS usage with other Open Source software tools, such as GSTAT, R statistical language, and linking GRASS to MapServer. Open Source GIS: A GRASS GIS Approach is designed to meet the needs of a professional audience composed of researchers and practitioners in industry and graduate level students in Computer Science and Geoscience.

The authors are all prominent experts in Open Source GIS in Italy and, in many cases, the international community. They are all professionals with involvement in training and scientific research and are highly motivated by their common goal of supporting Free Software. This is, therefore, an innovative undertaking in that it provides the user with immediate access to the software tools and to the numerous resources and documents described in the text and available via the Internet.The first part of the book, which is divided into nine chapters, deals with describing reference systems and helping the user install the software packages on Microsoft, Apple, GNU/Linux operating systems.Subsequent chapters present the most important functionalities of well-known software, such as QGIS and GRASS GIS, and describe ways of managing geographic data using relational database engines (SpatiaLite). Next, a few examples and applications in landscaping, geomorphology, hydrology and geology are presented and the various online resources where users may obtain free help and support are described.The book closes with a few remarks on advanced functionalities.

The role open-source geospatial software plays in data handling within the spatial information technology industry is the overarching theme of the book. It also examines new tools and applications for those already using OS approaches to software development.

This is a book about how ecologists can integrate remote sensing and GIS in their daily work. It will allow ecologists to get started with the application of remote sensing and to understand its potential and limitations. Using practical examples, the book covers all necessary steps from planning field campaigns to deriving ecologically relevant information through remote sensing and modelling of species distributions. All practical examples in this book rely on OpenSource software and freely available data sets. Quantum GIS (QGIS) is introduced for basic GIS data handling, and in-depth spatial analytics and statistics are conducted with the software packages R and GRASS. Readers will learn how to apply remote sensing within ecological research projects, how to approach spatial data sampling and how to interpret remote sensing derived products. The authors discuss a wide range of statistical analyses with regard to satellite data as well as specialised topics such as time-series analysis. Extended scripts on how to create professional looking maps and graphics are also provided. This book is a valuable resource for students and scientists in the fields of conservation and ecology interested in learning how to get started in applying remote sensing in ecological research and conservation planning.