Is there a decent open source map-editor?

Question

I would like to have an open source map editor for drawing a city map? I don't want to use OpenStreetMap. It will be a custom map project.

I don't need an advanced GIS system, but a simple map-editor, where I can use my own custom symbols. It must support Transverse Mercator projection and be able to calculated distances between objects on the map.

this should be merged with http://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/10071/open-source-map-composing-tool. Even though this question is older, the newer version has better answers. (In my opinion this shows the our community is growing, getting better through time, yay!). — matt wilkie, Jun 14 '11 at 18:16

score 21 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 23 '10 at 11:51

21

Depends on your needs.

QGIS, gvSIG, etc, are all good map editors. Just download OSM data and use these to create your maps.

Also, you might consider creating your map with one those above, and then go to something like InkScape to finish the job.

answered Jul 23 '10 at 11:51

George Silva

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qgis is a good starting point for a project like this. – Christopher Schmidt Jul 23 '10 at 17:18
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+1 for QGIS, the editing tools work pretty nicely in the newer versions. – underdark Jul 23 '10 at 20:45

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 23 '10 at 19:43

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I would suggest too to use a traditional GIS software to extract and transform the data, and then to work on another software to work on the cartography. There are import/export procedures in almost all softwares to transfer your data.

Inkscape and also OCAD are good software for cartography.

answered Jul 23 '10 at 19:43

julien

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+1 for Inkscape. I don't make maps very often, but I've finished maps in Inkscape after starting them in ArcMap on more than one occasion. – Jay Cummins Oct 19 '10 at 17:07

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 14 '11 at 18:18

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I have had good success using Viking, a free/open source program to manage GPS data, for doing some mapping applications, especially where I have had to composite different sources.

edited Jun 14 '11 at 18:18

matt wilkie

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answered Oct 19 '10 at 16:22

jwernerny

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Is there a decent open source map-editor?

3 Answers3

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