JUMP GIS
| Industry | Geographic information system software |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 |
| Products | Java Unified Mapping Program (JUMP) |
Java Unified Mapping Program (JUMP) is a GIS and programming framework built with Java, supporting both vector and raster data, originally created by Vividsolutions Inc. Its ongoing development is now carried forward under the name OpenJUMP.
Features
As detailed on the official project page:
- Cross-platform compatibility (including Windows, Linux, Unix, and macOS); requires Java Runtime Environment
- Supports numerous file formats such as ESRI Shapefile, GeoJSON, GML, JML, CSV, OSM, DXF, among others
- Capable of reading from databases like PostGIS, SpatiaLite, Oracle Spatial, MariaDB, and MySQL; capable of writing to PostGIS
- Manages raster formats (with world file support) including GeoTIFF, TIFF, JPEG, BMP, PNG, FLT, ASC, JPEG 2000, and ECW*
- Outputs raster data in formats such as GeoTIFF, TIFF, PNG, FLT, and ASC
- Allows saving of map views as georeferenced rasters (JPEG, PNG)
- Offers comprehensive editing of geometries and attributes; adheres to OpenGIS Simple Features standards
- Implements geometry operations through the Java Topology Suite
- Provides a wide range of third-party plugins (e.g., connectivity for PostGIS, Oracle, ArcSDE; printing support; reprojection tools)
- Supports standards including WMS, WFS, and SLD
- Functions as an extensible GIS programming environment enabling custom application development
- Features multilingual interfaces covering Czech, German, English, Italian, Spanish, Finnish, French, Hungarian, Malayalam, Portuguese (including Brazilian dialect), Telugu, Simplified Chinese, and Chinese (Hong Kong SAR)
- Distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0
History
In 2002, Vividsolutions Inc. developed software for the British Columbia Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management aimed at automating the conflation process—merging roads and rivers from distinct digital maps into a single geospatial dataset. Initially focused on roads and rivers, this adaptable software—called JUMP (JAVA Unified Mapping Platform)—expanded to handle diverse spatial data types such as provincial boundaries and satellite imagery, eventually becoming a widely used free GIS tool.
Following the end of initial development efforts, Vividsolutions maintained support for the expanding JUMP user base and developer community who continued customizing and enhancing the software. Former staff members Martin Davis and Jon Aquino played key roles in nurturing this ecosystem.
To resolve interoperability challenges among users and contributors, core members established the JPP Development Committee with the goal of creating a standardized platform. This effort led to the creation of "OpenJUMP," an open-source GIS derived from JUMP.
Throughout the late 2010s, both JUMP Platform and OpenJUMP found application in research environments such as IGN France and the University of Zurich for developing novel GIS algorithms and workflows including automated cartography techniques. Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences utilized OpenJUMP in developing innovative precision agriculture solutions. Moreover, OpenJUMP has been incorporated into GIS curricula at various universities and included in the OSGeo Live DVD Project alongside other prominent free GIS software packages, although it is not officially part of OSGeo projects.
File formats
One of the prominent capabilities of Jump and OpenJUMP is their compatibility with GIS data formatted in GML (Geography Markup Language), an open XML-based standard designed for spatial data representation. OpenJUMP is equipped to both import and export GML files, with continuous improvements underway to expand its GML functionality.
Embracing open standards like GML offers a strategic benefit by providing alternatives to proprietary formats such as Autodesk DWG and ESRI Shapefiles. Additionally, OpenJUMP supports reading and writing ESRI Shapefiles and can manage the ESRI ASCII grid format through a plugin developed by the SIGLE team. While its primary focus is on vector data, OpenJUMP is also capable of processing raster formats, including TIF images and ESRI ASCII grids.
See also
- Kosmo, a project based on JUMP developed by a Spanish company