[dundee] (Dundee) storing and using GEOSPATIAL data

[jamie]

I've been playing with the R language and spatial statistics on linux
        for a few years. This language also has a windows port, although
        I am not sure if all the SP extensions are available. As usual
        the
        proprietary nature of ARCview or Mapinfo formats need plugins
        that
        escape the protection of American corporate lawyers, so
        if .NET/Mono
        makes it easier to access the info that has to be a plus. I had
        noticed that MS excel (and hence probably access) can use native
        GIS formats but is a B**g*r to make decent graphics in, or tie
        in other data.R can do topographic, 3d or spacial bar graphs
        with relative ease and is recommended with S-stat as the only
        two statistical packages to be correct with large weighted
        social data sets by the National Statistics
        Chief Statistician.