Research Guides: GIS Data and Applications: GIS Applications

Desktop Software

GIS software for mapping and analyzing. Desktop software is recommended for advanced analysis.

ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Pro is is available to download to your personal Windows-based devices or for use on many library computers. To log on to library computers, use the organizational URL prefix smudallas and sign in with your SMU ID and password.

Instructions for downloading ArcGIS Pro
Instructions for how to download ArcGIS Pro Desktop software to your personal computer.

Q-GIS

Q-GIS is a free, open source GIS tool available for Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD and mobile devices.

Q-GIS
Supports viewing, editing, and analysis of geospatial data. Also supports composing and exporting graphical maps.

ArcMap

SMU Libraries currently offers support for ArcMap users. However, ArcMap will be retired in March 2026 and Esri recommends moving to ArcGIS Pro.

Online Applications

ArcGIS Online This link opens in a new window
Software for building interactive maps. Includes access to curated maps and spatial data.

Google Earth Engine
Catalog of satellite imagery and geospatial datasets with planetary-scale analysis capabilities. Scientists, researchers, and developers use Earth Engine to detect changes, map trends, and quantify differences on the Earth's surface.
Missing Maps
An open collaborative project used to help map areas in humanitarian crises.
OpenStreetMap
A map of the world; provides map data for thousands of web sites, mobile apps, and hardware devices. Uses aerial imagery, GPS devices, and low-tech field maps to verify data; free to use for any purpose with attribution to OpenStreetMap and its contributors.

PolicyMap This link opens in a new window
U.S. national data and mapping tool and analytics platform
SimplyAnalytics This link opens in a new window
U.S. mapping & data visualization application
Restricted to only current SMU students, faculty & staff. To create an account, click on "create an account" and enter your SMU e-mail address and a password. Also, only 5 users can use this resource concurrently. Please log out when done using this resource.

Carto
An open source cloud software that can be used to design custom maps using advanced geospatial tools. Used for data analysis and visualization; does not require previous GIS or development experience.
MapBox
An alternative to Carto; a mapping and location cloud platform for developers; can be used to create custom online maps using anonymized data from both open and proprietary data sources.
Google Earth Pro
A free 3D interactive mapping software to be used on a desktop computer for importing and exporting GIS data. Allows you to see the world clearly and create very detailed maps.
R Maps
Makes it easy to create, customize and share interactive maps from R, with a few lines of code. Supports several javascript-based mapping libraries like leaflet, DataMaps, and Crosslet, etc. Still under development; can be installed from github.

ArcGIS Credits

All SMU ArcGIS users start with 500 credits in their accounts. Researchers working on large projects may apply for more.

Request GIS Credits
We can provide a limited number of credits for ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Pro for working on GIS projects.

ArcGIS Apps

ArcGIS has several useful apps. Sign in to ArcGIS Online, then navigate to the apps through the dots menu icon at the top.

ArcGIS StoryMaps
An easy-to-use tool that can be used for creating interactive digital stories using text, maps and other multimedia content. Can also be used as a great presentation tool.
ArcGIS Survey123
A simple, easy-to-use "form-centric" data gathering tool for creating, sharing, and analyzing surveys. Data can be collected via the web or mobile devices, even without internet connection and uploaded securely for easy analysis. Great for working in the field.
Business Analyst
Helps make business decisions by combining demographic, business, lifestyle, spending, and census data with map-based analytics.