This title was written for experienced GIS users, who want to learn GRASS, as well as for the Open Source software users who are GIS newcomers. Following the Open Source model of GRASS, the book includes links to sites where the GRASS system and on-line reference manuals can be downloaded and additional applications can be viewed. The text provides basic information about the use of GRASS from setting up the spatial database, through working with raster, vector and site data, to image processing and hands-on applications. This book also contains a brief introduction to programming within GRASS encouraging the new GRASS development. The power of computing within Open Source environment is illustrated by examples of the GRASS usage with other Open Source software tools, such as GSTAT, R statistical language, and linking GRASS to MapServer.