Ilwis is an open source software that provides users with multiple tools to help them realize raster object manipulation, with an accent on analyzing and digitizing data. The program is most suitable for students or researchers because of the various and complexly embedded functionalities.
The program's interface doesn't really stand out, having an outdated look, with small menu icons and non-descriptive toolbar buttons. Moreover, the embedded customizations are too elementary and limit the end user action impact.
Ilwis lets users perform various operations thanks to multiple project options, like raster maps, object collections, rose diagrams, scripts, representations or raster maps.
In addition to these options, with the Operation-Tree users are able to process images or perform segment operations, as well as access a large collection of utilities, statistics or SEBS tools.
Last but not least, the program offers the possibility of managing map classification, calculate distances, create histograms or execute pattern analysis.
All in all, Ilwis is a program that comprises a wide collection of tools that are very appreciated by researchers, not to mention the fact that it's free. The downsides are represented by the poor interface and lack of advanced customizations.
v3.8 [Apr 29, 2012]
The following bugs were solved, some new features were added:
-Map Window selections: added the option to select polygons (previously only points and segments could be selected)
-Added ellipsoidal Plate Carree coordinate system
-Table Join operation: added the missing option to join a column of type Coord, making it possible to e.g. join the coordinates of a pointmap into its attribute table
-Space Time Cube: added the 3D wind-rose option; added XT, XY, YT lines
-Applications: added Parallax Correction of clouds for MSG images (under Image Processing), and Probability Density raster generation (frmprobabilitydensity)
-Improved the compatibility on computers with Intel HD Graphics or combo-graphics-hardware (potential crashes when opening a Map Window). Therefore the "Software Rendering" option in the ILWIS Preferences can be disabled for those who enabled it as a workaround.
-Restored the Epipolar Stereopair functionality (both creation and viewing in the stereoscope window)
-Restored the Import->ILWIS->TIFF functionality (message DATUM.DEF was not found)
-Many stability and usability improvements in the Import functionality for both maps and tables, and recognition of more projections (all Import methods, including ILWIS, GDAL and PostgreSQL)
-Stability improvements in the Export functionality (both ILWIS and GDAL)
-Calling external commands works again (message Exit Code 1)
-Restored the rectangle-based Zoom-Out functionality
-Restored the No-Zoom option for raster images that maps each raster pixel to an on-screen pixel. Use the "Global Tools->Geometry->GeoReference" tool and select the georeference that corresponds to the raster image, in order to display it unprojected.
-MapGlue now allows gluing large images
-Improved the table Window summary statistics for boolean columns and for selected records
-Improved the interactive slicing application
-Solved the problem whereby the Representation Editor would show a wrong color ramp in the preview
-Solved potential crashes and wrong results in the vector operations Union and Intersect
-Solved "vector too long" error when opening corrupted polygon maps
-Improvements in per-class hatching and transparency for polygon layers
-Solve potential crashes when opening "Use As" data
-Now the Color Composite application creates 24 bits files when this option is selected (previously it was always 8 bits)
-Open Street Map: corrected the zoom level making the labels readable, and solved potential deadlocks and crashes. Known issue: OSM may not show in 3D-view, depending on the viewing angle.
-DEM Hydro-Processing functions: solved potential "vector too long" and "Find Error" problems, and the menu is now arranged in the recommended workflow order.
-Maplist Statistics now work again: solved the "Encountered an improper argument" error
-Solved inconsistent behavior in iff statement when one of the parameters is undef (?): iff (a,b,?) is now the same as iff(not a,?,b)
-Solved crashes or empty results in copying a map to the clipboard when using WMS and Open Street Map, or when using Software Rendering
-Solved crashes and inconsistent behavi
