GeoBoliviaOS For Linux

GeoBoliviaOS is a free distribution of Linux based on the world's most popular free operating system, Ubuntu, and designed for geographers who require open source GIS (Geographic Information System) tools. It uses GNOME as its default and only desktop environment and Spanish as its default language.

Geographers will have two choices when downloading this Ubuntu-based distribution, a Live DVD ISO image with geographical data that has around 4GB in size and a Live DVD ISO image without any geographical data and half the size of the first edition. Both DVD images are supported on the 64-bit (x86_64) and 32-bit (i386) hardware platforms.

From the boot prompt, the user can start the live environment with default boot options or in safe graphics mode, start the graphical installer to permanently install the operating system to a local drive, run a memory test, as well as to boot an existing OS from the first disk drive.

As mentioned, GeoBoliviaOS uses GNOME as its default and only desktop environment, with both GNOME Classic and GNOME Shell graphical interfaces. While the GNOME Shell session uses a single-panel layout, the GNOME Classic interface provides users with a traditional two-panel setup.

As expected, the distribution comes preinstalled with wide range of useful Geographic Information System (GIS) applications, among which we can mention SAGA GIS to view and manipulate geographical data, the gvSIG and GRASS GIS geographic information systems, Quantum GIS Desktop, uDig GIS data editor, CatMDEdit metadata editor, and GeoNetwork tool to manage spatially referenced resources.

In conclusion, GeoBoliviaOS is a great operating system for Spanish and Bolivian geographers who are desperately looking for an open source platform for gathering, organizing and editing geographical data.