System for Automated

Geoscientific Analyses
A modern Free and Open Source GIS Software
www.saga-gis.org
What is SAGA

Graphical User Interface

SAGA is a Geographic Information System (GIS) software with strong capabilities for geodata processing and analysis. SAGA is programmed in the object
oriented C++ language and supports the implementation of new tools with its
Application Programming Interface (API). Tools are organised in framework
independent Tool Libraries and can be accessed most simply via SAGAs
Graphical User Interface (GUI) or various scripting environments.

Manager

Map View

Histogram

Print Layout

Properties

Notifications

Attributes

Scatterplot

Front Ends
Graphical User Interface

Command Line Interpreter

Script Languages

Interactive Data Management,

Analysis and Visualization

Shell, RSAGA, Sextante

Python, Java

Tool Libraries
Library A

Library B

Library C

Library D

Application Programming Interface

Data Management

Tool Management

Data Structures

Helper

Tools

Tables, Vector and Raster Data, TIN

Memory Handling, Files, Strings,

Numerics, Statistics

Library Interface, Parameter Lists,

User Interaction

Some key features:

Object oriented system design
Modular structure allows framework
independent function development
API with strong support for geodata
handling
GUI for intuitive data management,
analysis and visualization

Far more than 650 freely available

tools for geodata analysis
Runs on Linux as well as on
Windows operating systems
Portable software running without
installation even from memory sticks
Free and Open Source Software

The SAGA Toolbox

Map Projections

Vector Tools

Image Analysis

Print Layout

Currently SAGA provides 71 free tool

libraries with altogether 690 tools.
Data Import & Export: interfaces to
numerous table, vector, image and
raster formats, data base access

Terrain Analysis & Geostatistics

Map Views

The GUI facilitates interactive data management,

analysis and visualization
with various options for the
creation
of
expressive
maps. Alternative data
views comprise charts,
histograms, scatter plots
with built-in regression, a
few specialized 3D viewers
and a print layout. Feature
geometries and attributes
as well as raster data can
be edited easily.

Diagrams

3D Viewers

Scripting & Programming

Map Projections: georeferencing

and a comprehensive list of
cartographic projections

Command Line

Gridding: interpolation of scattered

point data, triangulation, IDW, spline
interpolations, ...
Vector Tools: intersection, union,
buffer zones, raster to vector
conversion, TIN & QuadTree
structures, ...

Python

Raster Tools: calculator, resampling,

segmentation, skeletonisation, ...
Image Analysis: composites,
filtering, unsupervised and
supervised classification, object
identification, ...
Spatial & Geostatistics: regression
analysis, variogram modelling,
ordinary & universal kriging
interpolation, ...

R Script

Accessing SAGA functions from scripting environments

enables further automation of complex workflows as well
as the integration with other software systems. SAGAs
command line interpreter enables tool execution from
batch or shell scripts. More flexible is the Python
interface, which gives access to the complete API
functionality. This can be used e.g. to extend ArcGIS
with SAGA functions. With the RSAGA package it is
possible to access SAGA functionality in R, a very
popular software environment and programming
language for statistical computing and graphics. The
implementation of new functions as highly performant
SAGA tools involves the usage of SAGAs C++ API,
which supports tool programming with a comprehensive
set of functions and object classes.
RSAGA Help

C++

C++ API Help

Terrain Analysis: slope gradient,

contributing area, potential insolation,
visibility, wind effect, terrain position...
Simulation of Dynamic Processes:
soil moisture, fire risk, landscape
evolution, ...
690

700
651

Numbers of Tools available

in different SAGA versions

600

586

500

469
447
401

SAGA User Group Association

The SAGA User Group Association has been established in
May 2005. The primary aim of this non-profit organisation is
to guarantee a sustainable long-term development of
SAGA. The SAGA User Group Association is a registered
and approved non-profit charitable society.

400
330
300
300
234
200
119
100

0
2005
(1.2)

2007
(2.0.0)

2008
(2.0.3)

2009
(2.0.4)

2010
(2.0.5)

2011
(2.0.7)

2012
(2.0.8)

2013
(2.1.0)

2013
(2.1.1)

2014
(2.1.2)

If you are using SAGA and you want to support its

development, you or the organisation which you represent
are welcome to become a funding member of the SAGA
User Group Association. This will help to improve SAGA for
you as well as for the rest of the world wide SAGA user
community.
Copyrights 2014 by Department for Physical Geography, Universitt Hamburg