Licensed GIS Software and Apps

Carleton College is licensed with a suite of Esri software and apps via the Educational Site License. For the complete list of available software and apps and special notes on permitted uses, see Esri Education Institution Agreement. Use the Rubric from Esri to determine if you may use a particular software/app for teaching, research, service or administration.

Some of the software and apps Carleton has access to are:

  • Professional GIS desktop software ArcGIS Pro and ArcMap (retired) with extensions. Run only on Windows operating system.
  • Cloud mapping platform ArcGIS Online with 2D and 3D map viewers.
  • Apps for creating webpages with interactive maps, including Instant Apps, StoryMaps and Experience Builder.
  • Field data collection app ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey 123.
  • 3D modeling software CityEngine. Runs on both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Free Application-specific Software

ArcGIS Pro and ArcMap are Professional GIS software that serve a wide range of GIS needs. They can be intimidatingly complex for new users. If you are looking for specific geospatial analysis functionalities (e.g. computing landscape metrics, computing Moran’s I), there may be simpler software better suited to your needs.

Desktop Software
  • CrimeStat: Crime incident data analysis
  • FRAGSTATS: Landscape metrics computation. The developer Dr. Kevin McGarigal at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst has retired. The software download page in the UM Amherst website is no longer available.
  • Geoda: Exploratory spatial data analysis such as spatial autocorrelation statistics, and spatial regressions
  • R: spatial statistics, landscape metrics computation
  • SAGA GIS: Geoscience analyses
Cloud Mapping Software

GPS/GNSS Receivers and Field Mapping Software

Recreational grade GPS/GNSS handhelds (e.g. the Garmin GPS handhelds) offer an accuracy of 1-3 meters. If you require more accurate position measurements, contact GIS Specialist (x5733) about using the Trimble DA2 receiver with the real-time correction service. Here is a brief user guide for using the DA2 receiver.

The Trimble DA2 receiver works with ArcGIS Field Maps app.

Geocoding

  • Texas A&M Geoservices
    • Includes Geocoding, Reverse Geocoding and Address Parsing & Standardization services.

Free Desktop GIS and Remote Sensing Software

Esri Contributed Open Source Projects