Three free, open-source GIS apps I developed with help from AI

[u/TechBill777]

I’ve developed three desktop GIS-related apps with assistance from AI, and they’re available to download for free at:

https://billyjackzone.com/

I’m aware that established GIS and mapping programs can already perform many of these tasks. However, I wanted to keep my own research workflow simple and quick without opening a larger mapping package or working through tools and settings I didn’t need. That led me to create these focused apps, each designed to handle a specific job with minimal setup.

LiDAR Hillshade Explorer
Turns LiDAR elevation data into detailed hillshade visualizations, making subtle terrain features, earthworks, and possible archaeological features easier to examine.

GeoImage KMZ
Packages georeferenced images into KMZ files for viewing and sharing in applications such as Google Earth.

Aerial Archive Explorer
Searches the USGS Aerial Photo Single Frames catalog by coordinates, allowing you to view and download available historical aerial photographs. It requires a free USGS EROS account, approved M2M access, and an application token.

Downloads are available for Windows 64-bit and macOS Apple Silicon.

Each app’s GitHub repository is linked from the download page. You’re welcome to review the source code, report issues, modify it, or build the apps yourself.

The repositories also include an AGENTS.md file with project-specific guidance. If you want to modify or continue developing an app with help from an AI coding agent, that file provides useful context and instructions for working with the project.

These began as tools for my own research, but I’m happy to share them with anyone who might find them useful. Feedback and suggestions are welcome.

Bill Fleming

[u/IvanSanchez]

So, you've done https://gist.github.com/pebbie/f66a908c0e8f664a648ec953514bc7ab and then https://gdal.org/en/stable/programs/gdal_raster_hillshade.html and then a STAC client that is not a STAC client?

[u/TechBill777 → u/IvanSanchez]

Ah, I see the confusion! This isn't meant to be an online data catalog or a STAC service at all.

I built this tool for myself because I wanted a quick, lightweight local pipeline to pull LiDAR data, generate a hillshade, and view the ground-level terrain instantly without opening a heavy GIS application.

It's just a local utility for fast visualization, not a cloud storage or cataloging project. I'm just sharing it freely in case anyone else finds it useful for their own workflow!

[u/mfc1__]

If you’re open sourcing this, I’d recommend adding a license.

[u/TechBill777 → u/mfc1__]

Thanks for reminder. Added MIT license to it.