Web-Based GIS and Desktop Open Source GIS Software: An Emerging Innovative Approach for Water Resources Management

This paper introduces an overview of Web-based GIS and its applications and some of the easily assessable Desktop Open Source GIS Software with easy–to–follow guidance that will help water resource decision-maker and interested stakeholder. Web-based GIS is a prospective application in GIS and represents an important advancement over the traditional desktop GIS. Its application eliminates duplication and inconsistency (which is often possible between GIS professionals) and makes location information conveniently and intuitively accessible across organization/s, at a lower cost per user. Internet provides a medium for processing geo-related information and spatial information to users at an amount larger than traditional GIS. XML and Java have been developed to facilitate the utilization of the internet as well as to provide a coding standard in the software industry. Therefore, in the last few years, there has been a significant development in the area of free and open source GIS software. This paradigm shift from stand-alone GIS to open access Web GIS services provide greater opportunities for sustainable solutions in water resource management and planning.