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**Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Viewers**

**INFORMATION SHEET**

**June 2008**

-   **What is a GIS data viewer?**

> A GIS data viewer is software that can view vector and raster format
> data; it is an automated system for spatially managing and analyzing
> geographic data.

-   **Why do GIS data viewers matter to the USDA Farm Service Agency
    (FSA) and Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO)?**

> FSA and APFO produce two main datasets: Common Land Unit (CLU) and
> digital ortho imagery.
>
> CLU is vector data. It resides in shapefile format. Digital ortho
> imagery is raster data. It resides in TIFF and TIFF World, GeoTIFF,
> MrSID (MG2 or MG3), and JPEG2000 formats primarily.
>
> This data is produced for day to day management of USDA programs, and
> much of the work is done in GIS. This data is also to a great degree
> available for public consumption.

-   **Are all viewers created equal?**

> No. Viewers vary greatly. Factors affecting overall functionality
> include levels of licensing, speed, primary purpose for the software,
> and bells and whistles. In the end, however, the use of one viewer
> over another is left up to personal preference and financial
> considerations.

-   **How much do viewers cost?**

> Viewers range in price from free to upwards of \$10,000, depending on
> levels of licensing and software extensions the user may require.
> Specific pricing information should be obtained directly from software
> vendors as prices and products change frequently.

-   **What are some of the free viewers?**

> The following is a list of some software available at no cost for
> viewing GIS data:

1.  Tatuk GIS Viewer Version 1.8.7.342 and 1.12.0.365

> a\. Views MrSID MG2/MG3, JPEG2000, and ECW formats.
>
> b\. Views shapefiles.
>
> c\. Seven languages available on menu bar.
>
> d\. Can create PDF format maps.
>
> e\. **Does not recognize the 4^th^ band in a 4-band image.**
>
> f\. Download website:
> <http://www.tatukgis.com/products/viewer/viewer.aspx>

2.  Global Mapper 9

> a\. Views MrSID MG2/MG3, ECW, and JPEG2000 formats; however **does**
> **not view the infrared band in JPEG2000 format** (could change in
> fall 2008)**.**
>
> b\. Views shapefiles/feature classes.
>
> c\. Views JPEG2000 and ECW formats.
>
> d\. Download website: <http://www.globalmapper.com/>

3.  PCI Geomatica FreeView

> a\. Views shapefiles.
>
> b\. Many image enhancement options.
>
> c\. **Can view 4 band imagery in geotiff and JPEG2000 formats.**
>
> d\. Download website:
> <http://www.pcigeomatics.com/products/freeview.html>
>
> 4\. ESRI ArcGIS Explorer
>
> a\. Supports JPEG2000, GeoTIFF, and MrSID but **does not view the
> 4^th^ band in a 4-band image**.
>
> b\. Support for shapefiles, geodatabases, and KML files.
>
> c\. Can perform some spatial analysis.
>
> d\. Download website: <http://www.esri.com/arcgisexplorer>
>
> 5\. ESRI ArcExplorer 9.2
>
> a\. Views MrSID MG2 format.
>
> b\. Views shapefiles.
>
> c\. Available for Windows, Mac, Unix, Linux.
>
> d\. Available in several languages.
>
> e\. Does not support MG3, ECW or JPEG2000.
>
> f\. Download website:
> [http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/download.html](http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/download.html                                    )

-   **I received my digital imagery order from APFO. What should I view
    it with?**

> That depends on the product. Some viewers can view almost any product,
> while others can only view selected formats. The **PCI Geomatica
> FreeView** viewer can view all digital imagery APFO delivers. The
> following can view most imagery APFO delivers:
>
> 1\. Tatuk GIS Viewer.
>
> 2\. Global Mapper 9.
>
> 3\. ESRI software including:
>
> a\. ArcGIS 9.x
>
> b\. ArcGIS 8.3 with the raster update, which can be downloaded from
> <http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.viewPatch&PID=43&MetaID=579>
>
> c\. ArcView 3.x with the appropriate plugin, which can be downloaded
> from
> <http://www.lizardtech.com/download/dl_download.php?detail=geo_avmrsid_dll&platform=win>
>
> d\. ArcGIS Explorer
>
> e\. ArcExplorer 9.2

-   **What data viewers does the Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO)
    use?**

> APFO employs the ESRI ArcGIS software suite, selected extensions, and
> custom tools to accomplish GIS production level work. APFO also uses
> other viewers identified in this document, in support of customer
> related inquiries and needs.

-   **What about the States/FSA Service Centers?**

> USDA FSA State Offices and Service Centers use ArcGIS 9.1 and ArcSDE
> geodatabases for management of CLU.

-   **Any advice on choosing the right viewer?**

> Research the viewers thoroughly, especially if you are going to pay
> for the software. Determine what your core requirements are, the
> purpose for which you need the software, and identify the viewer that
> best meets your needs.
>
> Consider whether you're just using the viewer to view imagery, or if
> you want to work with vector data (points, lines, and polygons),
> Global Positioning Systems (GPS), spreadsheets and databases as well.
>
> Also remember if you pay for a license, many times you need to pay
> annual maintenance fees to continually upgrade to the newest version
> without paying for the software all over again.

-   **Who do I contact for more information?**

> 1\. For information on data viewers, contacting software vendors
> directly or browsing their website is always recommended. For more
> information on free GIS data viewers and viewer downloads, go to the
> following sites:
>
> <http://software.geocomm.com/viewers/>
>
> <http://gislounge.com/ll/freedataviewers.shtml>
>
> <http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/features/viewers2002/>
>
> <http://www.apfo.usda.gov/viewers.htm>
>
> 2\. If you have general questions about data viewers, contact GIS
> Specialist Zack Adkins at (801)844-2925 or GIS Specialist Louise
> Mathews at (801)844-2934.
>
> 3\. For APFO sales and product information, contact USDA-FSA-APFO at
> 2222 W 2300 S, Salt Lake City UT, 84119-2020, call 801-844-2922, or
> visit www.apfo.usda.gov.

-   **Note to reader:**

> Information regarding data viewers contained within this document is
> provided for customer convenience only. USDA-FSA-APFO does not support
> or endorse these products or services.