Mapping programs & GIS programs

[Consaul, Laurie]

 Tue, 6 Jun 1995, Gary Noonan wrote:
>>         The Windows version of Atlas GIS can digitize--although I haven't
>>probably better off in choosing GIS software because it can do formerly
>> impossible geographic analyses that will increasingly probably be
expected
>> as part of grant funded research.  I don't know if QUIKmap  can do
>> geographic analyses.

On Wed., June 7, 1995,  Robert J Raven wrote:
> Heartily agreed. This was exactly the point being put on a GIS list I
>time was whether Mapinfo itself is a GIS. I think it is a matter of
>degree but I very much doubt whether QUIKmap with pcx files is up to GIS
>or other analyses.
>My concern (to partially undo my previous point) is that as an active
>taxonomist I found myself fighting to get a decent printed output for
>publication and the hassles left me little time to explore the analytical
>component. Often we only need to print maps, no?

On Thurs. June 8, 1995, Darren wrote:
>Gary Noonan made a good point about distinguishing between analytical
functions
>and mapping functions.  HOWEVER, within any project or system there is
rarely the
> need for only one of these classes of functions.
>Look closely at  your own particular project/system and identify _inter
alia_,
>what functions you need to ba able to conduct;
 ------------------------------
In response to the suggestion to evaluate mapping and GIS programs, I am
giving this last explanatory note on QUIKmap.

If a GIS is defined by having a relational database manager and a means of
graphic display of georeferenced data, then QUIKmap is a GIS.  It also has
some capabilities for basic calculations but as far as DEGREE goes, from my
understanding, it could referred to as a mini-GIS (???).   It is excellent
for first evaluations of distributions of taxa related to environmental
factors, regional data, and ranges of other taxa  by using point databases
and polygon overlays.
You are right, however, in your first comment about QUIKmap.  It does not
perform more advanced statistical analyses, modelling and predictions.  If
more complex analyses are required,  a user of QUIKmap would have to
corroborate with a user of  a more sophisticated GIS program (or obtain
one's own); QUIKmap can translate to AutoCAD .DXF files (there are other
export options as well) for files usable by the other programs.  QUIKmap
also has a program to translate FROM .DXF and other formats.
(The suppliers of QUIKMap for Windows is also now a supplier for the Digital
Chart of the World, which is the 1:1,000,000 latest military standard
(coastline for the whole world takes about 50 mg).  They supply (for a fee)
translated many layered portions of the map for use in QUIKmap (as is also
available by other companies for their software, eg Spans, I believe).

In Summary,  QUIKmap could be (and is being) found quite useful by
taxonomists trying to GENERATE HYPOTHESES, and get GOOD PUBLICATION QUALITY
MAPS,  if either of these is a problem in other programs.

To Gary Noonan I appreciate the correction on the digitizing aspect of Atlas
GIS.

Laurie Consaul
National Herbarium of Canada
Canadian Museum of Nature
lconsaul at mus-nature.ca

P.S. the National Atlas Information Service in Ottawa uses ArcINFO,
presently.
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