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.

List of Figures. List of Tables. Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgments. 1: Open Source Software and GIS. Open Source concept. GRASS as an Open Source GIS. How to read this book. 2: Prerequisites to Use GRASS. Hardware and software requirements. UNIX basics. Downloading and installing GRASS. 3: GIS Concepts and GRASS. General GIS principles. Introduction to GRASS. 4: Planning a GRASS Database. Map projections and coordinate systems. Working with different projections in GRASS. 5: Working with Raster Data. GRASS raster data model. Import and export of raster data. Viewing and managing raster map layers. Raster data transformation and interpolation. Spatial analysis with raster data. 6: Working with Vector Data. GRASS vector data model. Importing and exporting vector data. Digitizing vector data. Metadata and attributes management. Viewing and analysis. Vector data transformation to/from raster and sites. 7: Working with Site Data. GRASS site data model. Importing, creating and exporting sites. Viewing and managing site data. Transformation from sites to rasters and spatial interpolation. 8: Graphical Output and Visualization. Two-dimensional display and animation. Visualization in 3D space with NVIZ. Creating hardcopy maps. 9: Satellite Image Processing. Remote sensing basics. Satellite data import and export. Understanding a satellite data set. Geometric and radiometric preprocessing. Radiometric transformations and image enhancements. Geometric feature analysis. Image fusion. Thematic reclassification of satellite data. 10: Processing of Aerial Photos. Introduction to aerial photogrammetry. Orthophoto generation. Segmentation and pattern recognition for aerial images. 11: Notes on GRASS Programming. GRASS programming environment. Script programming. Automated usage of GRASS. Notes on programming GRASS modules in C. 12: Using GRASS: Application Examples. Erosion risk in Spearfish area. GIS modeling for land management. 13: Using GRASS with Other Open Source Tools. Geostatistics with GRASS and GSTAT. Spatial data analysis with GRASS and R. GPS data handling. Maps in WWW: MapServer. Appendix: References. Summary of important GRASS commands. Supported GIS formats and projections. Customizing GRASS by environment data preparation. Usage UNIX text tools for GIS data preparation. Selected equations used in GRASS modules. MapServer sample configuration. Index.