GeoCat
Wageningen vendor of open-source spatial data infrastructure: catalogue, map publishing and a QGIS and ArcGIS bridge
Quick Overview
| Company | GeoCat BV |
|---|---|
| Category | GIS Software |
| Headquarters | Wageningen, Netherlands |
| Founded | 2007 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Netherlands (EU) |
| Data Location | As deployed |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - open-source based products |
| Main Features | GeoCat Live hosting, GeoCat Find catalogue, GeoCat Map publishing with standards, GeoCat Bridge extension for ArcGIS Desktop and QGIS Desktop, training and consulting |
| Pricing | Pricing on request (quote form) |
| Best For | Organisations that must catalogue and publish metadata and map services under open standards |
| Replaces | ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Online catalogue |
Detailed Review
GeoCat covers the part of GIS that comes after the map is drawn: describing datasets, making them discoverable and publishing them. Its Find product is a catalogue system, Map publishes spatial information with industry standards, and Live hosts the basic data infrastructure.
The company says it follows the free and open-source philosophy since 2007, when Jeroen Ticheler founded it. The Dutch headquarters are in Wageningen, with offices also in Canada and Spain.
Bridge for existing desktops
GeoCat Bridge is an extension for ArcGIS Desktop and QGIS Desktop. That lets staff keep working in their current tool while publishing to a European catalogue and map service, which eases a stepwise migration.
Services and training
GeoCat offers consulting and training on its technologies, delivered at customer locations or at the Wageningen office.
Pricing approach
The site invites a quote request and does not list prices, so budgeting needs a conversation.
Limitations to Consider
GeoCat is a catalogue and publishing specialist, not a general GIS, so analysts will still need QGIS or Cadcorp SIS. Prices are not published, offices in Canada and Spain mean you should confirm the contracting entity, and the pages we read give little detail on product internals.
Who Should Use GeoCat
Public bodies with metadata and open-data duties that want a Dutch supplier for catalogues and standards-based map publishing.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Focused on catalogue and publishing
- Bridge for ArcGIS and QGIS desktops
- Open-source philosophy since 2007
- Dutch headquarters
- Consulting and training offered
Cons
- No public pricing
- Not a full GIS
- Offices outside the EU
- Limited detail on the site
Alternatives to GeoCat
Other European gis software worth comparing before you decide:
GeoSolutions
Italy · Support and web mapping software around GeoServer and MapStore
Mapbender
Germany · MIT-licensed WebGIS that publishes maps from one installation
disy Cadenza
Germany · Reporting, analytics and map views for public-sector data
QGIS
Switzerland · Open-source desktop GIS run by a Swiss association
See all European gis software or compare them directly against ArcGIS Hub on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an extension for ArcGIS Desktop and QGIS Desktop that connects them to GeoCat's publishing and catalogue services.
No. Its products concentrate on catalogues, publishing and hosting spatial data.
The About page says Jeroen Ticheler founded it in 2007.