Library Guides: GIS (Geographic Information Systems) & Remote Sensing: Tools

Desktop GIS Tools

QGIS - A leading free, open source desktop GIS program. Create, edit, visualize, analyze and publish geospatial information. Runs natively on many operating systems, including Windows and Mac.

Esri ArcGIS Pro - The leading commercial software for desktop GIS mapping and analysis. Licenses are available to all UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff. Note: ArcGIS only runs natively on Windows machines.

To install:

Follow the instructions from Esri to use ArcGIS Online to download and install the ArcGIS Pro software on your computer.
Launch the application.
Open the login window in the top right corner.
Choose the option to sign in with "Your ArcGIS organization's URL" and fill in "cal" in the box so that the URL reads: cal.maps.arcgis.com
Click the Continue button, and proceed to sign in with your UC Berkeley Calnet ID.

If you require offline access, the GIF (Geospatial Innovation Facility) provides information and a form for requesting a license.

Note: We will no longer have licenses for Esri products ArcMap/ArcGIS Desktop after June 2024. We continue to license ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online.

Web GIS Tools

ArcGIS Online (AGOL)
Esri's web mapping platform. Versatile and somewhat easy to use, with many prepared, ready-to-use datasets. Connects with other Esri apps and software (Survey 123, Esri StoryMaps, etc.). UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff have access to through Berkeley's institutional account. To log in to other applications that use ArcGIS Online, look for a link that says, "Sign in with enterprise account" and complete the URL to read "http://cal.maps.arcgis.com."
Felt Maps
Relative newcomer to the digital mapping space. Easy to use. Limited free version available.
Google My Maps
Easy-to-use, simple mapping platform with good support for collaboration. Limited customization.
StoryMap JS
Free and open source tool designed to tell stories by highlighting the locations of a series of events. Easy to integrate multimedia.
storiiies
Free and open source online storytelling platform that can be used to annotate maps.
MapBox Studio
Upload data files and customize display using CSS. Offers superb customization opportunities. Displays tiled maps. Free tier available.
MapStack (Stamen design)
A relatively painless way to create interesting and beautifully stylized basemaps.
CARTO
Upload your own data and create custom visualizations. Allows for interactivity. Free education accounts available.

Easy US Demographic Mapping Tools

PolicyMap This link opens in a new window
An easy-to-use mapping program that includes over 15,000 US demographic and socioeconomic data indicators from the neighborhood census block to national levels. Data may be downloaded to csv.
PolicyMap is an easy-to-use mapping program that includes over 15,000 US demographic and socioeconomic data indicators from the neighborhood census block to national levels. Data about demographics, neighborhood conditions, real estate markets, income, jobs and economy, education, crime, and health can be presented as maps, tables, charts and reports.
SimplyAnalytics This link opens in a new window
A web-based data analysis and mapping application that allows users to create custom thematic maps, tables, and reports using demographic, business, and marketing data for the United States. Note: Access limited to 10 simultaneous users. To increase the limit temporarily for use in classes or workshops, please send your request to eart-library@berkeley.edu a minimum of 5 business days in advance.
A web-based data analysis and mapping application that allows users to create custom thematic maps, tables and reports using demographic, business, and marketing data for the United States. Includes over 70,000 data variables related to demographics, employment, real estate & housing, crime, businesses, consumer spending, and points of interest data from the US Census, historical US Census data (2000), SimmonsLOCAL data from Experian, and Nielsen Claritas PRIZM data.
Social Explorer This link opens in a new window
Data and interactive thematic maps from the U.S. Census from 1790-present.
Provides access to current and historical United States census data, including all historic decennial censuses and American Community Surveys, as well as other demographic information, such as religious organizations. Census data is current to 2010 and historical back to 1790. In addition to being a data resource, the web interface lets users create maps and reports to better illustrate, analyze and understand demography and social change.

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GIS (Geographic Information Systems) & Remote Sensing: Tools

Desktop GIS Tools

Web GIS Tools

Easy US Demographic Mapping Tools