Getting Started

Your institution may already support and hold licences for GIS/CAD software. There are also Eduserv Chest software deals which can provide you with some GIS/CAD packages more cheaply than if you approach the seller directly. EDINA provides support in the use of Ordnance Survey data for key GIS/CAD software in use by the HE community, but does not recommend any particular software packages. Information on how to obtain common GIS/CAD packages is included below.

ArcGIS

ArcGIS can be obtained from your local institution if they subscribe to the Esri/Eduserv site licence agreement. Contact your Digimap Site Representative or email Eduserv to find out who your local Esri/Eduserv contact is to find out if you have access to this software.  Not all institutions hold licences under this agreement, in which case ESRI software may not be available. Instructions for starting software will vary depending on how it is installed at your institution. You will need to find out how to run it locally. Note also that your Eduserv/Esri Technical Contact will have a special username and password with which to download software from the Eduserv download site. This software is not accessible using your own username and password.

MapInfo

MapInfo Professional, produced by MapInfo, is no longer available under the CHEST/MapInfo Agreement. Contact MapInfo for purchasing options.

MapInfo Professional runs on a Windows platform. Instructions for starting MapInfo Professional will vary depending on how it is installed at your institution so you will need to find out how to run it locally. Usually a program can be run by either double clicking on an icon on the desktop, or by locating the program under the Windows Start menu (this may be at the following location: Start > Programs > MapInfo > MapInfo Professional Version x.x)

QGIS

QGIS (formerly Quantum GIS) is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) licensed under the GNU General Public License. QGIS is an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo). It runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, Windows and Android and supports numerous vector, raster, and database formats and functionalities. The latest version can be downloaded from the QGIS website.

AutoCAD

Autodesk is a world leader in 3D design and engineering software for manufacturing, building and construction. A wide range of Autodesk software, including AutoCAD and AutoCAD Map 3D, is free for educational use and can be downloaded from the Autodesk website.