In order to do something right, you need the right tools for the job. This rule applies especially towards new users in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

If you are like me, just starting out and wetting your feet, you wish you could take ArcGIS out for a spin and learn in the software that holds over 40% of the GIS software market. But since we may not have the resources as a beginner, it makes more practical sense to try your hand out on free open source GIS software.

Unlike proprietary GIS software, open source software is managed and maintained by vast communities of knowledgeable GIS users. This gives us beginners and casual users a lot of flexibility and hope to get a feel for GIS in relation to mapping and creating our own unique data. With lots of resources and beginner guides online, I found a plethora of software that is ripe…