Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Projects Mailing List
On Fri, Sep 23, 2011 at 09:27:37AM -0300, George R. C. Silva wrote: > Em sexta-feira, 23 de setembro de 2011 03:34:05, Tyler Mitchell > escreveu: >> >> On 2011-09-22, at 11:31 PM, Jorge Gaspar Sanz Salinas wrote: >> >>> El 23/09/11 00:22, Sunburned Surveyor escribió: >>>> This is what I meant: (proje...@lists.osgeo.org) >>>> >>>> I don't have my heart set on a projects mailing list, but I thought it >>>> was a good idea. How do the software project contacts feel? >> >> I'm not a project lead, but I do have a super ultra secret alias already set >> up that I've used in the past for spamming project steering committee leads. >> So if you do end up with the project contacts list, let me know and I'll >> dump my list as a set of invites for you. >> >> Tyler >> >> ___ >> Discuss mailing list >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > > > I'm considering a simple software that would keep track of: > > A) projects and their status (last updates, in what stage is inside > OsGEO, etc); > B) OsGEO members (?); > C) project team members and primary roles You're talking about a different thing than Landon was suggesting. If you'd like to participate in the existing effort to track OSGeo membership, that's a reasonable thing to discuss, but I really think it's out of scope for this thread. Landon, We recently discussed needing such a thing on the board list as well, so that we could invite projects to participate in discussions which actively affect them. I worry about allowing any user to spam all of our project leads with one email, but barring any significant objections, I think this is worth having and discouraging people from using inappropriately (socially, not technically.) -- Chris > Of course, this has a lot more featuers than we need and it's a SaaS, > but it is a way to illustrate my point: > > http://highrisehq.com/ > > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Request for help with OS farm and ranch mapping tool.
For the record, I did some of the initial development on the landplanner side of things with William, so anyone who helps out on that side of things can spend their nights cursing me :-) (That code is available as a general tool under crschmidt/olhttp in github.) --Chris On Sep 12, 2011 8:32 AM, "Abe Collins" wrote: ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Open Street Map WMS Servers in EPSG:4326
On Thu, Aug 04, 2011 at 12:37:51PM +0200, Alvaro Zabala wrote:
> Hi,
>
> sorry for the possible cross posting.
>
> I've been looking for an Open Street Map's data WMS Server which work in
> EPSG:4326 projection to visualize with Open Layers, but almost all google's
> references I've found link to a server seems to be down:
Yeah, keeping that up to date was more pain than it's worth. I recommend
not using 4326 :)
-- Chris
> geocache = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS( "OSM",
>[
> "http://t1.hypercube.telascience.org/tiles?";,
> "http://t2.hypercube.telascience.org/tiles?";,
> "http://t3.hypercube.telascience.org/tiles?";,
> "http://t4.hypercube.telascience.org/tiles?";
> ],
> {layers: 'osm-4326', format: 'image/png' } );
>
>
> Main open street map tile servers work with EPSG:900916
>
> Do you know any open street map web map service (tiled or not) which work in
> EPSG:4326?
>
> Thanks in advance, and best regards.
>
> Alvaro Zabala
> ___
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
--
Christopher Schmidt
Web Developer
___
Discuss mailing list
Discuss@lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] open-source project site construction
On Tue, Mar 08, 2011 at 03:08:44PM +0100, Paolo Cavallini wrote: > Il giorno mar, 08/03/2011 alle 13.51 +0100, Jorge Gaspar Sanz Salinas ha > scritto: > > I agree this is a nonsense, but as I said, many people are suffering > > those restrictions so as they are applied to many services and sites > > (not only for developers, also for something as normal as getting a java > > virtual machine, for example) I would encourage to avoid using them. > > > > SEXTANTE for example moved from Google Code to OSOR.eu forge because of > > this. > > Just to make it clear: can people from, say, Cuba, download packages > from OSGEO servers? A few years back we had reports they could not. > All the best. There are no restrictions on any OSGeo services that intentionally prevent access from any location. At one point, some OSGeo projects were hosted on SourceForge, which enforced these restrictions, but they were never in place on servers maintained by OSGeo. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Comparison of Mobile GIS applications
On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 08:56:14AM -0600, Bob Basques wrote: > > All, > > Just resurrecting this thread. It's been 6 months. I've done a couple of > little projects with the N900 which are detailed here: > http://pwultra5.ci.stpaul.mn.us/OPERA/ > > Question to Chris S., do you have any other insights into the directions that > the N900 device (or others like it) might be taking in the future (that you > can mention? :c) The N900 platform is dead. MeeGo will continue to exist as an open source development platform, but you're not going to see it on any mass-produced phones in the near future, based on public statements from Nokia. (I'd expect numbers similar to the N900; you may see them, but it'll be a toy, not a commonplace.) > I'm setting up some netbooks next for the two projects > listed above, using essentially the same software stack as used for the N900, > which it is somewhat amazing when you think about it. Maemo and MeeGo are definitely interesting platforms, though I don't know if they're more exciting than other Netbook distros, since I haven't used many of them. > I would still like to revisit the Mobile controls issues for OpenLayers and > GeoMoose at some point, but focusing on flexibility with software stack at > the moment. There's an OpenLayers sprint for Mobile taking place next week in Lausanne. If you have things you've thought of, you should share them on the mailing lists to help support the effort. -- Chris > > Thanks > > bobb > > > > > >>> Christopher Schmidt wrote: > > > On Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 03:25:45PM -0500, Bob Basques wrote: > > Milo, > > > > You mentioned MEEGO in your post, I just ordered a N900 to do some testing > > for GIS related stuff on the N900. What types of functionalities are you > > focusing your efforts on for MEEGO? > > Note that the current development platform for the N900 (and likely > for the next 6 months at least) is still Maemo. The two platforms > will likely not differ greatly; a lot of the UI functionality is already > SDK-level in Maemo, and apps themselves likely won't change much > other than packaging. In either case, it's mostly just a Very Small > Linux Box. > > -- Chris, proud owner of an N900 > > > bobb > > > > > > > > >>> miblon wrote: > > > > I have been using navit and osm2go on moblin. There is a debian build > > for osm2go which is targeted at maemo, I managed to get it up on moblin > > and will try to get it running on meego. > > > > If you are interested in me filling the blanks for these 2 apps on your > > feature list, let me know. > > > > Kind regards, > > > > Milo van der Linden > > > > Miguel Montesinos wrote: > > > Hello to all, > > > > > > I'm preparing a presentation for the FOSS4G, with title "Comparison of > > > Mobile GIS applications". I know some, but I think that the best way to > > > make an objective analysis is to offer the chance for anyone to > > > collaborate, in order to define common feature lists as well as > > > perfomance or usability check lists. > > > > > > Is anyone developing or using a mobile geospatial application > > > interested? > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > - > > > Miguel Montesinos > > > CTO > > > PRODEVELOP, S.L. > > > mmontesinos [at] prodevelop [dot] es > > > www.prodevelop.es > > > > > > ___ > > > Discuss mailing list > > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > > > > > > ___ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > ___ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > -- > Christopher Schmidt > Web Developer > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Montreal Code Sprint 2011
On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 11:48:21AM -0400, Connors, Bernie (SNB) wrote: > If you are linking data to locations on a map it is a GIS. One of the best > descriptions of GIS I have heard is: "GIS is a two-way conversation between a > map and a database" or something like that. > > Just because your software cannot not perform advanced analysis like GRASS or > ESRI does not mean it is not a GIS. Agreed. If you're doing analysis or evaluation of anything -- even if the analyzer is a human being, not a piece of software -- by using a map as a piece of the decision, then that's GIS. Anyone who insists that it's not "GIS" unless it can do bilateral convex hull buffers is living in the past :) -- Chris > Bernie. > -- > Bernie Connors, P.Eng > Service New Brunswick > (506) 444-2077 > 45°56'25.21"N, 66°38'53.65"W > www.snb.ca/geonb/<http://www.snb.ca/geonb/> > > From: discuss-boun...@lists.osgeo.org > [mailto:discuss-boun...@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Arnie Shore > Sent: Tuesday, 2010-11-23 11:38 > To: OSGeo Discussions > Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Montreal Code Sprint 2011 > > Hello all. I've been asked to present my current project at a conference > devoted to "GIS in a Crisis". > > While my project, open source computer-aided-dispatch, meets the 'crisis' > element handily, whether or not it's 'GIS' is another question; it's built on > GMaps. > > I'm well aware of the large body of GIS work being done as this group uses > that term, and I don't want to offend any GIS'ers in the audience (or here) > by implying that my project is indeed a GIS instance. > > Accordingly, in my presentation's title or elsewhere, I'm thinking of using > something like "... GIS[?] ..." and explaining that usage. > > Reactions/suggestions appreciated. > > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Usage of 'FOSS4G' in webpages?
On Fri, Oct 15, 2010 at 10:19:33AM +1100, Simon Cropper wrote: > Hi, > > Can someone please explain if the FOSS4G acronym can be used to identify > 'free > and open source geographical information systems/tools used to view, edit, > manipulate and map geospatial data' and whether I can use it to help > define/name some educational material I am creating? > > Something along the line of 'FOSS4G Handbook' or 'FOSS4G Guide'; or is the > FOSS4G acronym now to intrinsically linked to OSGeo? Socially speaking, I think that to anyone in the OSGeo community, it's not only linked to "OSGeo", but actually to the conference itself; a "FOSS4G Guide" would be a conference guide to me, not a software guide. I don't have technical information on trademark, etc. but I think that it is really unlikely that using the term "FOSS4G" in the OSGeo space would have the effect you're hoping for. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] RE: Representing Places With Intelligent URLs
On Tue, Oct 05, 2010 at 05:18:47PM -0700, Paul Ramsey wrote: > "All attempts to construct simple ontologies end up reinventing RDF" .. ? That was actually my first thought when I saw this: "Hey look, someone else reinventing RDFa!" :) Seriously, I say this with a bit of knowledge; I mean, after all, I sort of work on making places searchable on maps. For a company with a pretty big set of data about the hierarchy of the world. It's a lot fuzzier than you think :) Also, Landon, I do highly recommend looking into RDF -- specifically, RDFa -- because I think it's heading in a very similar direction to what you're describing, without the need for some all-world-hierarchy to tie it to, which might actually help you get a bit further. -- Chris > On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 5:12 PM, Christopher Schmidt > wrote: > > > How about the fact that although some counties contain cities, > > some cities exist over the border between multiple counties, and > > other counties are *contained* by cities? (Queens, Manhattan, etc.) > > > > How about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysart_et_al,_Ontario? > > > > Any effort to turn the real world into a standard hierarchy > > will fail, because the world is Fuzzier than you realize. > > > > -- Chris > > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] RE: Representing Places With Intelligent URLs
> > I realize there are some problems with this overall scheme. How do you store > a city that straddles a state boundary, for example? Or what if you want to > have a URL for the location of the Pacific Garbage Patch? > > However, I think we could use this system to uniquely identify and describe a > lot of places in the world. We could then work on how to handle the edge > cases. > > Is anyone else interested in ironing out the kinks for a system like this? Is > there already a system like this in place? (If so, I have just revealed my > great ignorance to everyone on this mailing list.) > > I'm interested in setting something up that could be maintained by a group of > geospatial professionals, and not by any one company. > > I'm not sure how this system I describe would tie in with geonames. My first > reaction when I stumbled on geonames is I couldn't find a unique and human > understandable URL for a place. > > Still, I'm interested in microformats and place names, and I'd like to see a > system like this that was "open" and non-proprietary. > > Let me know what you think. > > The Sunburned Surveyor > > > > > Warning: > Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against defects > including translation and transmission errors. If the reader is not the > intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, > distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you > have received this information in error, please notify the sender immediately. > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] WMS and layer stacking.
On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 04:33:04PM +0200, P Kishor wrote: > On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 3:59 PM, Ian Turton wrote: > > On Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 2:59 PM, Bob Basques > > wrote: > >> All, > >> > >> does anyone know if there is a layer hierarchy setting in the WMS service, > >> which layers are on top of which layers (Z value=)? > >> > > > > There is an "opaque" hint in the capabilities document that suggests > > that the layer should be a base layer. Other than that the layers are > > just drawn in the order the client requests them and there is no > > implied ordering from the capabilities file. For example GeoServer > > returns the layers in alphabetical order by namespace then layer name. > > > > > I was quite under the belief that the layers were requested, delivered > and drawn in the order they appeared in the map.addLayers([array]) > invocation. You're discussing an implementation (OpenLayers), with multiple requests to the WMS server being stacked in the client. This discussion is about the WMS "API". WMS draws layers from bottom to top, from the beginning of the list in the 'layers' param to the end. layers=foo,bar,baz will put foo first, then bar, then baz. -- Chris > > > Ian > > -- > > Ian Turton > > ___ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > > -- > Puneet Kishor http://www.punkish.org > Carbon Model http://carbonmodel.org > Charter Member, Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org > Science Commons Fellow, http://sciencecommons.org/about/whoweare/kishor > Nelson Institute, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu > --- > Assertions are politics; backing up assertions with evidence is science > === > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G2010: Good, Bad and the Ugly
On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 06:38:22PM +0900, Venkatesh Raghavan wrote: > Hi All, > > Back to work after four weeks on the road > with the ZOO-Team. > > Enjoyed being at FOSS4G2010. As usual there > many good things, few bad things at least > one ugly incident (for the ZOO-Team). > > About the good things, i will not spend too > much time as it is obvious to all. Just to > mention that it was wonderful to meet many > of you folks and learn new things. > > Few bad things that I will elaborate more below; > > a) Difficulty in meet people since we were all spread > out and there was not much info about common meeting > points Not really sure what you mean about this. I mean, we were all in the conference center; the OSGeo Booth was a reasonably easy to find meeting space, etc. On each evening, I successfully gathered a crowd of 20+ for dinner, thanks to having a number of ways to pre-assign spots to meet up, and so on. > b) No "Practical Guide" To the town? To the conference? Perhaps this existed somewhere else; what would a practical guide contain? > c) No ice-breaker I think that with 800 attendees, it gets really hard to host an ice breaker event practically. Even in Lausanne, the icebreaker event was pretty hard to actually meet people; imagining it with 2-3 times as many people seems impossible. > e) Lunch at least on the first day was a sea of people and >great difficulty in getting to the food. Choose to grab >a sandwich nearby coffee shop I think a lot of this comes down to unfortunate assumptions about the size of the conference. The Organizing committee can correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding was that much of the conference was designed around the idea of 500 attendees; food, wireless, etc. were initially targeted for that. With the conference ending up at almost 900, some of the things that are limited by physical resources ended up being a bit ... tighter than expected :) > f) Having poster session in lunch-time and having authors >being present in front of their posters to answer questions. Why is this a bad thing? > g) Was not particularly amused by keynote speaker putting out >his cap and a great guy running to the stage to put coins. >Must think of better gimmicks to get money flowing into OSGeo. I don't think that's a bad thing about the conference. I also think that it tells an important story about OSGeo that most people don't seem to be getting: we need sponsors if people want this organization to survive in its current state. We need organizations who want to support the organization (and the great conference it helps make happen), we need support. > h) AGM should be planned well in advance. The idea of canceling >Local Chapter Reports and Committee reports was not a good one These two statements are unrelated. Local Chapter and committee reports are no longer practical to do in a situation where we have all attendees participating. Unless you limit them to 1 minute per (most people want something more like 5), it's 2 hours just to do local chapters, another hour for committes, and another 2 hours for projects. I discussed with some people the idea of having an "What's what in OSGeo" 'track' -- during breaks, lunches, or possibly alongside presentations -- that would let local chapters and projects present. This would give groups a longer time to talk about what they were doing, and would give people who are interested in what local chapters are doing a 'default' place to go during these times. Neither of these solutions is ideal, but short of turning the AGM into an all day event, i don't think it's practical to include local chapter reports in the AGM. > i) Some kind of OSGeo-Nostalgia talk with ex-board director was >missing I don't really understand what you mean here. > j) seated tables at Gala Dinner. Would have been better like a buffet >with people able to mingle. Enh. I personally liked this, but I can understand either wya. I think you'll get some each way no matter what you do. > k) Could not see many students. More explanation here; did you mean that students were unable to attend? That you couldn't tell who the students were? That you didn't feel there was ample oppourtunity to meet up with students? Something else? Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: Staistical analysis support needed
On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 06:45:38AM -0700, mayank_agarwal wrote: > > Hello Christopher, > Sorry for that, I didnt mean to be so harsh on GRASS, but as R can be > bridged with JAVA using JRI library, that's why I prefer R, and then it is > simpler in using, and I agree that both will have there pros and cons, no > doubt. > Never the less thanks for helping me so much and iI am sorry if I hurt you. Not me personally :) I just like to make sure that I'm not misrepresenting projects; especially ones I don't work on :) -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: Staistical analysis support needed
On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 04:02:44AM -0700, mayank_agarwal wrote: > > Thanks Christopher, > > I think R is a really good option to use, as GRASS is a desktop GIS. Er... and? I mean, R is a 'desktop statistics program', right? :) GRASS can be seen as a command line tool for performing analysis operations on a set of geospatial data. It can also be many other things, but calling it a "Desktop GIS" and dismissing it out of hand as a result is not really fair. (You might say something like "Programmatic access to the statistical options with R will be simpler than doing similar operations with GRASS"; that *might* be true, though I'm not actually sure.) In the end, for geospatial analysis, my expectation is that both GRASS and R will behave similarly; both have a psuedo-language that you use to operate on data and generate more data / statistics. Each will have different pros/cons, but "it's a desktop GIS" isn't really either :) Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Staistical analysis support needed
On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 03:49:46AM -0700, mayank_agarwal wrote: > > Hello everyone, > > Finally I have decided to use Open Layers on client side in conjunction with > J2EE Technologies, > GeoServer as a web map server and, > POST GIS as Spatial Database. > > Now integrating all of these I want to do Statistical data analysis on the > spatio-temporal data using- > 1. Moran's I > 2. Geary's C > 3. Kriging > 4. Local Moran's I > 5. Spatial Scan Statistic > 6. Geographic weighted regression > > Does anyone has any idea on how to proceed further using these combination? > Is there any other client side library that I can use for this? My guess is that there are two ways that you might explore to do this. 1. Any time someone says 'statistics', my first thought is 'R'; I don't know any of the things you're talking about here, but if these are statistical methods of some sort, R seems like a valid place to start looking. http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/rgdal/index.html rgdal will let you read OGR data sources (like PostGIS databases) into a spatial vector object, and interact with them from there. 2. I know that at least some of these mechanisms (like Kriging) are implemented in GRASS, and I would bet that this is your second best option. GRASS is a bit intimidating to a first time user (though I guess not much more so than R :)), but a very powerful geographic data analysis tool. Best of luck, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: Best GIS with below listed requirements
On Sun, Sep 12, 2010 at 10:09:45PM -0700, mayank_agarwal wrote: > > Thank you Everyone. > And sorry for not being clear, actually i want a GIS which is web based as > many clients would be acting on it at the same time, we being on server > side, as a desktop GIS does not has this feature. > So I would like for suggestions on that, Geomajas is a good option, but > still open for suggestions. In general, there are a couple things you can do. 1. For a full WebGIS solution, it seems like Geomajas is the primary option. It comes set up with GIS functionality out of the box, and many people seem to be using it this way successfully. 2. If what you're most interested in is a UI for managing a bunch of GIS data, what you may be interested in may actually be something like Mapbender, which is a geospatial data portal. 3. If you want to 'roll your own' -- for example, if you only need a limited set of functionality -- then OpenLayers+GeoExt+MapFish provide a set of reasonable tools to work with to create your own. There are a number of service providers -- like OpenGeo, Camptocamp -- who can provide development services support to help you implement a solution in this vein. Another option that I know less about is GeoMoose. A third option I also know less about is MapGuide's 'Fusion' toolkit. GeoMoose is generally tied relatively closely to MapServer, I believe, though I could be wrong on that. MapGuide Fusion is tied relatively closely to MapGuide; at one point there was some work on extending it to also talk to MapServer, though I don't know how far that went. OpenGeo may also have some aspect of the GeoServer toolkit that fulfills this need, but nothing comes to mind off the top of my head. I believe something like OpenGeo's "GeoNode" is actually a 'competitor' of sorts to something like Mapbender, a combination of catalog services and tools to manage and browse them. If I have misspoken about any of the projects described here, please let me know. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Where to discuss TMS?
On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 02:42:22AM +0200, Mateusz Loskot wrote: > Folks, > > Is there a dedicated ml for Tile Map Service spec? > Or, Is http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/standards > appropriate place to ask questions about TMS? For TMS, the spec, the standards list is fine. For TMS, in the form of implementation of the standard, the new tiling list (lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/tiling) is probably best. For vending machines on every corner, I recommend Japan. For big, person sized trash cans on every corner, I recommend Barcelona. Best of luck. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] is TileCache alive ?
On Wed, Sep 01, 2010 at 09:06:42AM -0400, John Callahan wrote: > I was also just looking into tile caching options and had exactly the same > question. It looks like the latest version (2.10) was released back in Jan > 2009, and the readme is dated Dec 2007. It would also need to update the > use of mod_python, which I read development had stopped a while ago. I'm not sure why the fact that the software hasn't been released since 18 months ago makes it dead. There have not been any bugs reported that neccesitate a new release, so far as I'm aware. (If you're aware of one, you can feel free to bring it to the mailing list.) WSGI support was available since 1.4 or so, so if you'd like to use mod_wsgi with TileCache, you can. I still use mod_python, and no one has offered a significant patch to the documentation to improve the documentation for various mechanisms. While TileCache may be a somewhat idle project, it's far from dead: I am actively maintaining the community resources, and handling questions to the mailing list in the same way that I always have. TileCache is simple, and easy to set up. It is used to serve literally millions of tiles every day by at least dozens of deployments (my guess is that it's more like hundreds). It doesn't solve every problem for every user, but it provides a simple framework and has been extended and abused for many many things, and I don't see that changing any time soon. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Publications on FOSS4G tools in web services
On Wed, Aug 04, 2010 at 09:08:51AM +0200, Rafal Wawer wrote: > Dear All, > I am trying to do some advertising within consortium for FOSS web service as > good platform for the project we prepare. I have been asked about a > publication describing application of FOSS4G web tools in building network > services. Comparisons with proprietary tools are most welcome. > > In previous webpage of MapServer there was a kind of application gallery with > over 200 cases... I could not fin it on www.mapserver.org. Did it dissapear > completely? Also, http://gallery.osgeo.org/ may be useful. > Thank's a lot for your kind help. > > Best regards: > Raf > > Dr. Rafal Wawer > Department of Soil Science Erosion COntrol and Land Protection > The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute > ul. Czartoryskich 8 > 24-10 Pulawy > Poland > www.erozja.ung.pulawy.pl > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: land records management with open source GIS
On Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 12:12:43AM -0500, P Kishor wrote: > Hi all, > > Thanks for replying, everyone. Instead of replying to each one of you > separately, I am replying to myself, primarily to add more info to > this query. > > On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 12:24 AM, P Kishor wrote: > > does anyone know of an existing product, or a firm that develops such > > a product catering to cadastral and land records management, but using > > a completely open source stack? > > > > A friend of mine is working in a SA country that has a new policy that > all software at the national level must be non-commercial open source. One of these clauses makes sense, one of them does not. Why would you limit yourself to *non* commercial Open Source? Don't people realize that hiring someone with expertise in a field is sometimes better -- depending on your in-house expertise that exists -- than learning it all on your own? Open Source isn't supposed to mean 'free' :( At least they're acknowledging that there will be some costs, but overall, I feel icky whenever I see someone say things like 'non-commercial open source'; the whole point of the 'open' part is that it shouldn't be a problem if it's commercial. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Fusion Layout Remove Login
On Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 12:26:07PM -0300, Erik Heinze-Milne wrote: > What I am trying to do is create a fusion layout that doesn't require the > user to login in through mapguide in order to use the viewer. Whether I can > somehow pass in log in credentials to the viewer automatically or bypass the > login entirely doesn't matter as long as the process is invisible to the > user. > > I have tried copying the layout to another location, but then that causes > problems with being able to edit it in MapGuide Studio 2009, which I still > need to be able to do as well. Would recommend: http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/fusion-users to ask this question. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] displaying complex GML in web-based enviroment ?
On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 09:06:59AM -0600, Stefan Steiniger wrote: > not sure - but I know deegree was always quite up to date with the > standards. > but if it does 3.1.1? > > http://wiki.deegree.org/deegreeWiki/deegree3/HowToWorkWithGML > the text in the page mentions version 3.1 This doesn't look like a 'web based environment'? I thought deegree was a desktop app. I expect OpenLayers is probably the closest thing, but handling 'complex GML 3.1.1 features' sounds like you're working with a custom handler of some kind; isn't the whole point of 'complex features' that they are combining app-specific data/formatting, etc. into the GML? Or perhaps 'complex' means something different in this case? -- Chris > stefan > > Raj Singh schrieb: >> I would love to know this too! >> --- >> Raj >> >> >> On Jun 15, at 10:00 AM, andrea giacomelli wrote: >> >>> Hi - I received a request from a team who is not (yet) on the discussion >>> list >>> >>> -- >>> ...We are looking for free/open source package which can display >>> complex GML 3.1.1 features in a web based environment, and supports >>> both WFS and WMS >>> -- >>> >>> TIA for any feedback >>> >>> Andrea >>> ___ >>> Discuss mailing list >>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> >> _______ >> Discuss mailing list >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> >> > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Getting a .kmz into GIS
> > Hi Ezra, > > > > looking inside the kmz file, > > http://www.cstars.miami.edu/media/20100613_Envisat_PM.kmz > > > > It appears that the image is actually a PNG file. The kml file > > references this as a groundOverlay with bounds: for example: On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 02:53:24PM -0400, Raj Singh wrote: > Looks to me like the PNGs referenced in the KML are 2 logos and a small image > preview icon. > The actual image file seems to be called 20100614151937_Envisat_VV.tif, but I > can't figure out the full web URL. That's because it doesn't have one. (At least, not one that the KML uses.) the tag is just a descriptive element; the actual 'icon' (image) is the small_scaled.png file included in the KMZ file, Tim was right. -- Chris > > 32.4216794699724 > > 23.59737906433506 > > -84.32169599536186 > > -90.33200805674051 > > > > Using this information it should be possible to view it in most GIS > > systems, or at least to convert it to a GeoTIFF using GDAL perhaps. > > > > Hope this helps! > > > > Tim > > > > On 14 June 2010 14:16, Ezra Boyd wrote: > >> > >> Hi Everyone, > >> I need help in importing or converting a .kmz file so that I can view it in > >> my GIS. > >> I work for a small environmental NGO in coastal Louisiana, and we are > >> currently assisting emergency responders tackling BP's oil spill. One of > >> my > >> tasks is surveillance of oil streamers and globules as they approach the > >> coast. To help with this, I am using radar satellite imagery obtained from > >> CSTARS (https://www.cstars.miami.edu/.) > >> The website provides downloadable .kmz files. When I open these files in > >> an > >> GeoBrowser, I can view a georeferenced .tif image. However, I have not > >> figured out how to get geotiff into my GIS, where I can overlay winds, > >> currents, tides, and waves to project likely movement of observed oil > >> globules. > >> I have tried exporting the image in Google Earth, Nasa Worldwind and ArcGIS > >> Explorer. I have also tried opening the .kmz in a half dozen or so GIS > >> viewers. I have also tried converting the file using GDAL. I have also > >> tried changed the file extension .zip and then uncompressing it. None of > >> these attempts have worked. > >> Please let me know if you how to extract the .tif file embedded in the > >> .kmz. > >> Thanks, > >> Ezra > >> > >> > >> ___ > >> Discuss mailing list > >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > >> > >> > > ___ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
[OSGeo-Discuss] SVN/Trac Migration
Hello, The SVN/trac migration is now underway. The services and servers have all been moved. Trac will automatically redirect you to the correct, new machine, at http://newtrac.osgeo.org/ SVN will not automatically redirect you (it confuses trac); instead, I have marked all SVN servers on the old server as read only (to prevent new commits). You can tell if the SVN changes have propogated to you by looking at the SVN signiature on any SVN HTTP page, such as: https://svn.osgeo.org/featureserver/ If it says: Powered by Subversion version 1.6.9 (r901367). It is the new server. If it says: Powered by Subversion version 1.5.6 (r36142). It is the old server. Thank you for your patience during this transition to better serve you. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] SVN/Trac Migration
On Wed, Jun 09, 2010 at 11:55:54AM +0200, Markus Neteler wrote: > Chris, > > would you mind to indicate "midnight eastern time" via URL - do you mean this? > http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?year=2010&month=6&day=10&hour=3&min=59&sec=0 Yep, that's what I meant. Thanks. > thanks > Markus > > > On Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 11:05 AM, Christopher Schmidt > wrote: > > Hello, > > > > As of this morning, I believe that I have completed the final testing > > for migration of trac/svn services to the new host. As a result, I > > will be shifting services this evening, starting shortly after > > midnight eastern time. > > > > SVN: > > * Writes will be disabled at this time. > > * A final copy of the data to the new server will commence > > * After the final copy, the DNS record will be updated. DNS > > is set to 1 hour TTL, so after approximately one hour, > > SVN should be functional again. (You can confirm this has > > occured by checking that 'svn.osgeo.org' resolves to > > 140.211.15.71) > > > > Trac: > > * A final copy of the data to the new server will commence. > > * A redirect will be created at this time. > > * The DNS record will be updated. > > > > In the interim, you will be able to use Trac via the > > redirect. > > > > The practical upshot of this is that you should not plan any > > heavy usage of trac/svn starting around midnight eastern time > > tonight. Once the DNS changes have been made, I will update > > the list. > > > > Best Regards, > > -- > > Christopher Schmidt > > Web Developer > > ___ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
[OSGeo-Discuss] SVN/Trac Migration
Hello, As of this morning, I believe that I have completed the final testing for migration of trac/svn services to the new host. As a result, I will be shifting services this evening, starting shortly after midnight eastern time. SVN: * Writes will be disabled at this time. * A final copy of the data to the new server will commence * After the final copy, the DNS record will be updated. DNS is set to 1 hour TTL, so after approximately one hour, SVN should be functional again. (You can confirm this has occured by checking that 'svn.osgeo.org' resolves to 140.211.15.71) Trac: * A final copy of the data to the new server will commence. * A redirect will be created at this time. * The DNS record will be updated. In the interim, you will be able to use Trac via the redirect. The practical upshot of this is that you should not plan any heavy usage of trac/svn starting around midnight eastern time tonight. Once the DNS changes have been made, I will update the list. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Comparison of Mobile GIS applications
On Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 03:25:45PM -0500, Bob Basques wrote: > Milo, > > You mentioned MEEGO in your post, I just ordered a N900 to do some testing > for GIS related stuff on the N900. What types of functionalities are you > focusing your efforts on for MEEGO? Note that the current development platform for the N900 (and likely for the next 6 months at least) is still Maemo. The two platforms will likely not differ greatly; a lot of the UI functionality is already SDK-level in Maemo, and apps themselves likely won't change much other than packaging. In either case, it's mostly just a Very Small Linux Box. -- Chris, proud owner of an N900 > bobb > > > > >>> miblon wrote: > > I have been using navit and osm2go on moblin. There is a debian build > for osm2go which is targeted at maemo, I managed to get it up on moblin > and will try to get it running on meego. > > If you are interested in me filling the blanks for these 2 apps on your > feature list, let me know. > > Kind regards, > > Milo van der Linden > > Miguel Montesinos wrote: > > Hello to all, > > > > I'm preparing a presentation for the FOSS4G, with title "Comparison of > > Mobile GIS applications". I know some, but I think that the best way to > > make an objective analysis is to offer the chance for anyone to > > collaborate, in order to define common feature lists as well as > > perfomance or usability check lists. > > > > Is anyone developing or using a mobile geospatial application > > interested? > > > > Regards, > > > > - > > Miguel Montesinos > > CTO > > PRODEVELOP, S.L. > > mmontesinos [at] prodevelop [dot] es > > www.prodevelop.es > > > > ___ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: fastest option of serving huge imagery on web map on the fly
On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 06:24:26PM -0300, Fabio Renzo Panettieri wrote: > On Fri, 2010-05-21 at 13:17 -0700, Karsten-3-2 wrote: > > Yes. What I want to do is simply to find out the fastest options to render > > on > > the fly from raw data imagery > > (no tiles whatsoever stored on disk in addition to the raw data ). I will > > check out what SpatialCache is... >From raw aerial imagery: 1. Store everything as uncompressed tiffs. 2. Make images as large as possible. (This probably requires BigTIFF support.) 3. Use overviews -- usually one for every power-of-two level from the base image up to the point where you have 256 x 256 overviews (gdaladdo) 4. If you have too many images to make one large image practical, create one reduced size image that you use at lower zoom levels. All of this is based around serving with MapServer. I have no experience using other imagery servers to solve this problem. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Illegal Request to Geoserver ?
On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 03:25:52PM +0100, Jonas Blasques wrote: > > POST /cgi-bin/proxy.cgi?url=http%2F%2Flocalhost%3A8080%2Fgeoserver%2Fwfs > > Response Body > > Illegal request. > > > > I would guess it has to do with the prox.cgi (which I got from the ol site) > because there is one line of code which says: print "Illegal request." > Exactly my error message in the response body. Your "URL" there doesn't have a : -- it just says "http//", which is invalid. -- Chris > ... but what does it mean ? > > I tried the proxy in other situations and it works. > > > Anyone has any ideas ? They are deeply , deeply appreciated. > > Thanks, João > -- > "Ajude um pouco ... já é muito" > Projecto SOSIndia http://sosindia.net > - > > Shoot for the moon, > even if you miss it > you will land among the stars. > - Unknown > > - > > What if for a moment, as an experiment, > you drop every belief that you have? > - Unknown > > --- > > "We are all linked by a fabric of unseen connections. This fabric is > constantly changing and evolving. This field is directly structured and > influenced by our behavior and by our understanding." > —David Bohm, quantum physicist, 1917–1992 > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] are there any unpaid developers?
On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 08:10:13AM +0200, Andrea Aime wrote: > Ian Turton ha scritto: >> One of my students was asking today about the open source development >> process (with special reference to geospatial projects). One question >> I'm left with is are there any OSGEO developers who are doing this >> just for the fun and fame? I know that a lot of us have fun developing >> but everyone I could think of (GeoTools, GeoServer, uDig) gets paid to >> have that fun. > > My first few years of Geotools were completely unpaid: wake up at 5, > worth though the weekends, to get it to work enough for my students > at the uni to use (so in a sense there was a "work" purpose, but > I was barely paid just for the hours spent in the classroom and nobody > pushed for them use an open source library). > > Today I'm paid to work on GeoTools/GeoServer, but I still put in > weekends time so there is still an unpaid portion. > I don't think it can really go away: paid stuff is directed by > company/customer needs /plans, on the spare time you do what you feel > is good/necessary/fun instead. > I don't believe you can really be "involved" if you don't have > that kind of passion, yes, one can just "work" in an OS project, > but it's not really the same thing as real involvement. One of the best things that the OpenLayers project ever had came in the form of our first PSC president, Erik Uzureau. Erik was not a big open source community participant -- he wasn't on all the OSGeo mailing lists, etc. His involvement was crucial precisely because of what he did do -- which was organize and document a lot of the processes in the OL community, as well as answering questions on the mailing list, managing the bug tracker, etc. Erik was instrumental in documenting our processes, and I give a significant amount of the credit in the strict coding standards on the OL project to Erik's attention to detail and thorough documentation. Erik, as far as I'm aware, did almost all of his development on OpenLayers on company time. MetaCarta gave him a portion of his time with them as time dedicated to open source projects, and he seldom worked outside of that time on the project. Using only a small portion of his time, and very little to no 'personal' time, Erik was able to accomplish great good for the project, and I think that without him, OpenLayers wouldn't be the project it is today. I think that this kind of thing is not entirely common, perhaps -- the core contributors to many open source projects are also 'free time' contributors -- but I think it can happen, and that these contributions are just as valuable, if not more so, than the others made by hobbyists, on a 'value per time' scale. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] are there any unpaid developers?
On Mon, Apr 19, 2010 at 06:00:45PM -0400, Ian Turton wrote: > One of my students was asking today about the open source development > process (with special reference to geospatial projects). One question > I'm left with is are there any OSGEO developers who are doing this > just for the fun and fame? I know that a lot of us have fun developing > but everyone I could think of (GeoTools, GeoServer, uDig) gets paid to > have that fun. About 80% of my work on OpenLayers has been entirely unpaid and unsupported by anyone for the past couple years. The early days of OL were a MetaCarta project, and some portion of my work time is still done with support from my employer on open source software, but most of it is just me spending my own time. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] open source desktop shootout
On Fri, Apr 09, 2010 at 03:36:43PM +0200, Seven (aka Arnulf) wrote: > > Christopher Schmidt wrote: > > On Fri, Apr 09, 2010 at 10:16:52AM +0200, Seven (aka Arnulf) wrote: > >> Markus Neteler wrote: > >>> On Tue, Apr 6, 2010 at 6:50 AM, Cameron Shorter > >>> wrote: > >>>> Percy, > >>>> To start the ball rolling, I've created a wiki page for a desktop > >>>> comparison > >>>> here: > >>>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/GIS_Desktop_Comparison > >>> Here a reasonable contribution, lead by Tom McConnell: > >>> > >>> "Matrix on OSGeo and COTS software functionality" > >>> http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Albk_XRkhVkzdGxyYk8tNEZvLUp1UTUzTFN5bjlLX2c&hl=en > >>> > >>> Best regards, > >>> Markus > >>> > >> Here comes the prayer wheel again... > >> > >> What does "COTS" mean? "Ready-made products" [1]. Is that the opposite > >> to Open Source software? No. > > > > Did anyone say anything about it being an opposite? "OSGeo and COTS" > > is one phrase -- there is no distrinction in the spreadsheet (although > > there is a row stating whether the software is proprietary or not, > > which is obviously distinct from COTS.) > > > > I don't understand your complaint. What would you change about the > > spreadsheet that causes you to make this point? > > Did I complain? Your email reads very much like a complaint to me. In fact, as your only reply was a complaint about terminology, with no obvious positive feedback for the person who put a lot of work into a nice spreadsheet, I would feel very discouraged personally on reading it -- doubly so since it comes from someone whose opinion is obviously well-respected in the OSGeo community. > Nothing wrong with the spread sheet. It is just the > words we are used to. To me "Matrix on OSGeo and COTS software > functionality" reads as "Comparing OSGeo software on one hand and COTS > on the other". But that's not what the spreadsheet is, nor is that the only way to read the sentence. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] open source desktop shootout
On Fri, Apr 09, 2010 at 10:16:52AM +0200, Seven (aka Arnulf) wrote: > Markus Neteler wrote: > > On Tue, Apr 6, 2010 at 6:50 AM, Cameron Shorter > > wrote: > >> Percy, > >> To start the ball rolling, I've created a wiki page for a desktop > >> comparison > >> here: > >> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/GIS_Desktop_Comparison > > > > Here a reasonable contribution, lead by Tom McConnell: > > > > "Matrix on OSGeo and COTS software functionality" > > http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Albk_XRkhVkzdGxyYk8tNEZvLUp1UTUzTFN5bjlLX2c&hl=en > > > > Best regards, > > Markus > > > > Here comes the prayer wheel again... > > What does "COTS" mean? "Ready-made products" [1]. Is that the opposite > to Open Source software? No. Did anyone say anything about it being an opposite? "OSGeo and COTS" is one phrase -- there is no distrinction in the spreadsheet (although there is a row stating whether the software is proprietary or not, which is obviously distinct from COTS.) I don't understand your complaint. What would you change about the spreadsheet that causes you to make this point? -- Chris > Citing some more Wikipedia: "The term often refers to computer software > or hardware systems and may also include free software with commercial > support." > > Best regards, > > [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COTS > [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_off-the-shelf > > -- > Arnulf Christl > > Exploring Space, Time and Mind > http://arnulf.us > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: Whitebox GAT (Chris Puttick)
On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 08:06:59AM -1000, Brian Russo wrote: > The latent arrogance displayed in this thread is more destructive than > any software license. I'm not trying to be arrogant, I'm sorry if it came off that way. I really just think it's important to realize that "Not every programmer programs like I do". There are many different, effective ways, and tools that can be used to write code; writing them off for yourself is fine, but trying to control the decisions someone else makes is ill-advised and potentially harmful. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: Whitebox GAT (Chris Puttick)
On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 01:14:35PM -0400, Arnie Shore wrote: > Awww, the relative merits of the platforms/languages involved, IMO, are a > far second behind the factor of whether or not the choice makes it available > to the largest community of possible users. Free is good; de-facto > limitations ain't. > > The author is certainly to be applauded both for developing the package and > offering it here. But I for one can't jump at it. > > Ya gotta have an OS and a language, so any choice here will prbly hack off > some of the truly devout. But you don't gotta have a framework - > proprietary or not. Huh? Are there any graphical GIS programs that don't use *some* framework? qgis uses, I believe, qt. uDig, I believe, uses Swing. Heck, even RESTClient uses wx (via Python). In web applications, the situation is even more pronounced -- Django, TurboGears, etc. For UI work, jquery/ext/mootools, etc. Using a framework as part of your development encourages you to write the hard parts... rather than doing the easy parts that people have done before all over again. Now, you may not like the particular one that was chosen here, but that's hardly the same as saying "You should enver develop with a framework." -- Chris > The choice of .NET rules out for me any interest other > than curiosity. And to point out that MONO resolves the .NET issue, simply > translates to 'you gotta have that in addition to the basic product', adding > to the relative complexity and fragility of an implementation. > > So, thanks, but no thanks. > > AS > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: Whitebox GAT (Chris Puttick)
On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 04:03:52PM +, Chris Puttick wrote: > Please understand I am in no way criticising your software, which > sounds of interest although out of reach for me. I am also highly > appreciative of the work you and others like you put into developing > solutions which you then share with others and I do what I can to > contribute too. I am just hoping to persuade you and others that .net > has far more bad points than good and to consider using a different > software development framework/tools in the future. "I like your software, I just wish you hadn't written it the way you did. You should have written it the way I would have instead." This kind of argument is why I choose the "Open Source" moniker for my work instead of the "Free Software" moniker. Many people are willing to work and open source their work -- continuing to criticize someone for the way they chose to do that goes beyond simply expressing an opinion, and directly in to "rude." I don't think anyone here is confused or uninformed about the status of .Net or the technologies around it. > I guess it is a matter of perspective. I want to have the widest set > of choices professionally and personally want the largest number of > choices to be available for others. That's a reasonable desire, but not a reasonable desire to force on someone who wants to develop software (unless you're paying them). Discouraging someone taking steps towards releasing open source software because you don't agree with the design/development choices they made isn't appropriate, in my opinion, in an open source software discussion forum. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] OSGeo maintained ArcSDE (EDN ?) instance
On Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 04:20:18PM -0500, Yves Moisan wrote: > > > > > I think that the costs to doing this would likely be prohibitive, right? > > I didn't know it was so costly. The minimum subscription option (EDN > license) is $1500 per year but that comes with SDE (as ArcGIS Server I > believe) : http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/edn/pricing.html. I > wouldn't want OSGeo to support that and there's probably no hope of > getting a freebie from ESRI. I didn't think you could put a publicly usable SDE on the web with EDN; "Use the type and number of copies of Software, Data, and Documentation and access Web Services (i) for which the applicable license fees have been paid, (ii) for Licensee's own internal use, and (iii) in accordance with Exhibit 1 and the licensed configuration on file as authorized by ESRI or its authorized distributor." the 'internal' there seems like setting it up on the web would be problematic. And 4.2.a: "Except as provided herein, Licensee shall not sell, rent, lease, sublicense, lend, assign, or time-share Software, Data, Web Services, or Documentation" So, I think ESRI would rather not do this, based on their license seeming to explicitly prevent it. -- Chris > > The software requires a license, and I expect ESRI wouldn't want to > > encourage use like this? > > > > > (not to mention the idea of SAC being responsible for maintaining an > > ArcSDE instance seems costly for no tangible corresponding benefit to > > OSGeo.) > > Thanx for your comments. > > Yves > > > _______ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] OSGeo maintained ArcSDE (EDN ?) instance
On Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 03:35:16PM -0500, Yves Moisan wrote: > Hi All, > > I know the subject line doesn't exactly sound like an appropriate topic > to discuss on the OSGeo list, but I'd like to make a suggestion to see > if there is any traction to it or not. I -- and I'm sure quite a few > FOSS4G users on this list -- sometimes have to deploy FOSS4G solutions > on corporate/government organization setups that are geared with ArcSDE, > for better or for worse. > > Lately, I've been fighting with MS4W to get it to connect to an ArcSDE > server that we set up on our intranet (9.3.1 with postgresql, no postgis > is the way it was installed). The intranet SDE was set up as a test > server, because we can't access the customer's SDE. So why would I want > a public facing OSGeo managed SDE instance if I can set my own ? First, > looking at the error logs I'm not sure the installation went well. I'd > like to debug being sure that the SDE server is functional. Plus, if I > want an independent contractor to work on my problem, I can't offer a > test instance because it's on our intranet. > > I realize most of the people that have customers using ArcSDE will test > on the customer's ArcSDE service so there might not be a need for a test > instance generally speaking. Am I the only one with that (temporary) > need of testing a FOSS4G setup on an ArcSDE server ? Would it make > sense to have test data (e.g. like in MS4W) set up on a shared test > ArcSDE ? I think that the costs to doing this would likely be prohibitive, right? The software requires a license, and I expect ESRI wouldn't want to encourage use like this? (not to mention the idea of SAC being responsible for maintaining an ArcSDE instance seems costly for no tangible corresponding benefit to OSGeo.) Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] WCS/WMS accuracy tests?
On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 04:35:59PM -0200, Pablo Carreira wrote: > > Hi Simone, > The issue > http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/GEOS-3702217is not avaliable. http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/GEOS-3702 > > Pablo Torres Carreira > > > > > > Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:39:51 +0100 > > Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] WCS/WMS accuracy tests? > > From: simone.giannecch...@geo-solutions.it > > To: discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > > > Hi there, > > any feedback on this from the gdal/mapserver folks? > > Anyone looked into my findings? > > > > Simone. > > --- > > Ing. Simone Giannecchini > > GeoSolutions S.A.S. > > Founder - Software Engineer > > Via Carignoni 51 > > 55041 Camaiore (LU) > > Italy > > > > phone: +39 0584983027 > > fax: +39 0584983027 > > mob:+39 333 8128928 > > > > > > http://www.geo-solutions.it > > http://geo-solutions.blogspot.com/ > > http://www.linkedin.com/in/simonegiannecchini > > http://twitter.com/simogeo > > > > --- > > > > > > > > On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 11:45 PM, Simone Giannecchini > > wrote: > > > > > > Dear All, > > > I have spent some time investigating this isue with GeoServer trunk. > > > > > > Here: > > > > > > http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/GEOS-3702217 > > > > > > you can find a quick detailed report. I am particularly interested in > > > FrankW > > > feedback. > > > > > > > > > Ciao, > > > Simone > > > > > > Steven M. Ottens wrote: > > >> > > >> > > >> On Dec 7, 2009, at 5:47 PM, Stephen Woodbridge wrote: > > >> > > >>> Steven M. Ottens wrote: > > >>>> > > >>>> I know there have been speed tests between different WMS services, > > >>>> but I'm wondering has there been any data-quality/accuracy test been > > >>>> done between WMS and/or WCS services? > > >>> > > >>> I wonder if this is the difference between pixel as a point versus pixel > > >>> as an area. Mapserver uses gdal to handle GeoTiff files and Frank has > > >>> put > > >>> a lot of effort in Gdal to handle this correctly. > > >>> > > >> That's our feeling as well. Andrea mentioned that there's an issue with > > >> different interpretations on the location of a pixel (centre vs. > > >> top-left). > > >> > > >>> Also, I'm surprised that there is any shift in mapserver because I do > > >>> not > > >>> think mapserver reprojects data if the in and out projections are the > > >>> same. I can speak for the other services as I don't know how they work. > > >> > > >> I'll be doing more detailed tests tomorrow and will post an overview then > > >> with the exact versions and configurations and results if people want to > > >> reproduce them. I f people have suggestions for specific tests or > > >> configurations I'm happy to apply those if possible. > > >> > > >> Going to test with the latest Geoserver nightly, Mapserver 5.6.0-rc1, > > >> Deegree 2.3 rc1 on a windows 2003 machine. With two different GeoTIFFs > > >> (one in epsg:4326 and one in epsg:3035) > > >> > > >> Steven___ > > >> Discuss mailing list > > >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > >> > > >> > > > > > > -- > > > View this message in context: > > > http://n2.nabble.com/WCS-WMS-accuracy-tests-tp4127002p4148407.html > > > Sent from the OSGeo Discuss mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > > > ___ > > > Discuss mailing list > > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > ___ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > _ > Sabia que você tem 25Gb de armazenamento grátis na web? Conheça o Skydrive > agora. > http://www.windowslive.com.br/public/product.aspx/view/5?ocid=CRM-WindowsLive:produtoSkyDrive:Tagline:WLCRM:On:WL:pt-BR:SkyDrive > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] looking for OS softwre to stitch aerial photos automatically
On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 12:58:30PM +0100, Marco Lechner - FOSSGIS e.V. wrote: > Hi, > > does anybody know a open source tool to stitch a bunch of aerial > photographs automatically by detecting similar pixelareas? > I know that GRASS is pretty good in processing images, but I there's no > funtion to patch a bunch of aerial photos by detecting similarities in > overlapping areas, I guess. > Hopefully, I'm wrong. Sounds like the kind of thing I'd expect ossim to have, but I never got it to work. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] HELP PLEASE - Does anyone know where I can get high resolution GIS data for use in tutorials?
On Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 10:36:11AM +1100, Simon Cropper (Botanicus Australia Pty Ltd) wrote: > Hi, > > *** Sorry for cross-posting for those people on both lists *** > > Does anyone have or know of some high resolution vector and raster data > that can be used in tutorials? MassGIS. http://www.mass.gov/mgis/laylist.htm Ortho imagery up to 15cm. DEMs. Vector data, including every road in the state, water, parks, and everything down to Abandoned Cranberry Bogs (yes, really). There isn't a better source of unfettered high quality GIS data around. (Okay, maybe there is, but since I live in Mass... not one that I care about :)) > The datasets need to be unfetted by intellectual property constraints. > > Essentially I want to build a set of tutorials around this data and have > the users able to download and manipulate the data without breaking any > laws. > > Preferably I would like data for Australia, even better southeast Australia. > > Data > >* georeferenced aerial photography (ECW or JPG, 0.15m/pixel) >* shapefiles showing cadastral data, soils, contours, roads >* DWG files showing details of a development or plan > > Spatial Reference System > >* GDA94 MGA55 > > -- > > Cheers Simon > > Simon Cropper > Botanicus Australia Pty Ltd > PO Box 160, Sunshine, Victoria 3020. > P: 9311 5822. M: 041 830 3437. > mailto: scrop...@botanicusaustralia.com.au > <mailto:scrop...@botanicusaustralia.com.au> > web: www.botanicusaustralia.com.au <http://www.botanicusaustralia.com.au> > > ___________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Support for '@' field type in a Shapefile.
On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 02:32:33PM +0100, Sylvain Maillard wrote: > There is a function like this for raster in GRASS : "*r.timestamp* - > Print/add/remove a timestamp for a raster map" > http://grass.osgeo.org/grass65/manuals/html65_user/r.timestamp.html > > I don't know if it's using "@", but it should be visible in the source ... A shapefile wouldn't be a 'raster map'. -- Chris > > @+ > Sylvain > > > 2010/1/12 Ariel Nunez > > > Hi everyone, > > > > I am currently working on adding support for reading and writing > > timestamps on a Sapefile using GeoTools [1]. > > > > On a talk with FrankW on #gdal I learned that the timestamp field > > (code: '@') is not supported by ogrinfo and also that it does not > > enjoy much widespread use. > > > > My question is, apart from ESRI software, is anyone aware of a OS > > library or software package that supports such field type? > > > > Best, > > > > Ariel. > > > > > > [1] http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/GEOT-2903 > > [2] http://www.clicketyclick.dk/databases/xbase/format/data_types.html > > > > -- > > Ariel Núñez // GeoSolutions > > http://www.geo-solutions.it/ > > ___ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] OSGEO code
On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 10:29:56AM +, Jo wrote:
> Hi,
> I apologise if this is out of topic, but I don't know where else to post
> this question.
> I'm implementing the OSGEO Tile Map Server
>
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Tile_Map_Service_Specification
>
> <http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Tile_Map_Service_Specification>and I came across
> a SRS named "OSGEO:41001";
> since I don't know this authority and code, I was wondering if it is the
> same as Google Mercator ("EPSG:900913").
> This was also suggested to me from reading in other places:
41001 no longer has any meanng, but what we meant by it at the time is
what we now call 900913.
For a time, this was EPSG:3785; this is now EPSG:3857.
All 4 of those (and occasionally 54004) mean essentially the same thing in
common usage.
>
> http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/wiki/SoCGDAL2Tiles#NewsuggestionsforTMSStandard
>
> <http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/wiki/SoCGDAL2Tiles#NewsuggestionsforTMSStandard>If
> it is the same, maybe it would be a good idea to change the code for EPSG
> (update the spec), for a matter of inter operability and compatibility with
> other services?
> If it is not the same, I would really appreciate if you could point me to
> other places where I can get more information about this SRS.
> Thanks in
> advance,
>
> best regards,
>
> Jo
> --
> "#define QUESTION ((bb) || !(bb))" (Shakespeare)
> ___________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
--
Christopher Schmidt
Web Developer
___
Discuss mailing list
Discuss@lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Software Copyright ownership
with those decisions? I think that it would be lovely to create an environment where projects feel that giving copyright over to OSGeo makes their lives -- as project managers -- easier. I'm not convinced that is currently the case; the lack of obvious documentation on how projects should give copyright to OSGeo, and what it means when it happens, seems to me like it creates a void in which projects might feel uncomfortable about giving copyright to OSGeo, for fear of what that might mean. Improving that, through solid documentation, seems a great first step in making projects feel more comfortable with that process; this is certainly true for me as a contributor to OpenLayers. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] copyright assignment
On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 12:47:43PM +1000, Tim Schaub wrote: > Hey- > > I'm interested making simpler the process of collecting & maintaining > contributor agreements. Specifically in the case where a project wishes > to have contributors transfer copyright to OSGeo. > > I recently had the pleasure of "signing" an agreement (copyright > assignment) digitally. I know the rules for what is acceptable probably > vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Does anybody know where a > digital signature suffices? > > Currently, I think the process is that the PSC is responsible for > collecting agreements from contributors. The PSC then sends these > agreements to the OSGeo Secretary. The OSGeo Secretary maintains the > agreements. Not sure how this is working out. > > I wonder if something simpler would be possible. > > Sample copyright assignment form: > http://tinyurl.com/copyright-assignment > > And the records: > http://tinyurl.com/assignments-on-file > > Anybody know if this could be made legitimate? Would OSGeo be amenable > to having things work this way? Is this a pipe dream? For the record, for CLAs, Google (in getting contributions to their applications/source code) allows digital signing for ICLA contributions, but requires a faxed document for CCLA contributions. I've followed the same basic principle with OpenLayers; accepting emailed ICLA documents, but preferring that CCLAs be mailed or faxed. I don't know if this is based on anything particularly legal, but it seems to be a common thread in most setups -- possibly just because if the copyright is owned by a commercial entity, the risk is higher (Because they can actually afford to sue you), so corporations take a more strict interpretation of their legal requirements. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] role of foundation with regard to licensing
On Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 11:12:43AM -0800, Tyler Mitchell wrote: > On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:16:13 -0500 > Frank Warmerdam wrote: > > > >> I know that in practice, this is probably the way things already > > >> are. Why rock the boat? Why assign copyright to OSGeo in the > > >> first place [2]? > > > > The primary reason to assign copyright to OSGeo is to make it easier > > to relicense in the future. It is very hard to relicense a project > > with copyright held by many contributors. > > > > There are also reasons not to assign license, foremost being the > > paperwork overhead involved in contributions agreements for all > > contributors. Some contributors are also hesitant to surrender their > > control over their contribution. > > A few questions about copyright have come across my desk or > face-to-face at events this year. Frank, for the sake of > others on the list, could you give us an overview of what does it mean > to be an "OSGeo project" if OSGeo itself does not hold the copyright? > > I think the question was geared toward whether or not OSGeo could > guarantee future appropriate licensing of a product that > it has arms-length influence over - or would a non-complying project > then be rejected somehow? First, once code is released under a given license, that license can't later be 'removed' in any meaningful way: OSGeo will always be able to maintain and distribute code which was openly licensed at any point, which is a requirement of becoming an incubated project. As far as that goes, OSGeo could always continue to provide a home for open source code that has ever gone through the OSGeo incubation process. If a project were to attempt to 'rescind' its openly licensed status, I believe that it would be the job of OSGeo to: 1. Work to prevent such a change from happening. Given the communities we're working with, I think there would be very strong social pressure against any incubated project going from open source to closed source; changes like these typically simply end up leading to a fork, and OSGeo could continue to provide a home to a community built around the open source project. 2. If all else failed, it would be possible for OSGeo to maintain resources for the open source code, but would probably do best to retire the project, similar to how MapBuilder was retired (but obviously for different reasons). Being an OSGeo project means that the project is a participant in the OSGeo community. Sharing information, collaboration, and resources with other projects in the foundation is the primary motivation for OSGeo projects to continue to participate. OSGeo is not a controlling foundation; in this way, it is somewhat unlike the Apache Software Foundation and the Free Software Foundation, which take a direct ownership over the projects. This means that OSGeo's role in exerting control over the direction the project takes is limited. However, OSGeo's role as a parent organization means that OSGeo can act as a shepard to code/projects, regardless of the directions that may be taken otherwise. Becoming an OSGeo project means putting your project out there, and participating in a shared community. As a result, you get to exert some control on OSGeo, and OSGeo works with the project to help it succeed. If a project were to take a path away from open source, OSGeo would act as a shepard for the project unless it was no longer in a position where it made sense to do so, at which point the project would no longer be a participating project in OSGeo. This is just what seems to me to be the most reasonable and logical approach to the situation as it stands today. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] distributing "read-only" vector files?
On Tue, Nov 03, 2009 at 08:58:58PM +0800, maning sambale wrote: > Before anything else, let me introduce our dilemma. We are a > non-profit geo-research institution. In many cases we produce > geospatial datasets no other local institution can create in my > country at the moment. What we create are sometimes benchmark info > useful to various research and policy initiatives. At the moment we > have two broad users the public (we provide free download of pdf maps) > and special interest group (requesting for GIS data). We always want > our datasets to be used by other geoshop. > > However, we have several concerns regarding the release of GIS data: > 1. Securing "data integrity" - once released we cannot guarantee that > the data will be distributed from other sources with > alterations/changes. Some of this data may contain critical info that > if used (coming from altered data), our institution "might" be blamed. > 2. Ensuring corrections will be reported back to us for data enhancement. > 3. Ensuring non-commercial use of the data > > I'm sure these concerns are not unique to us but also common to other > institutions. I am hoping we can discuss options on how we can > resolve the above concerns in areas both technical and institutional > policy. My advice would be "Figure out how to deal with the fact that these are not going to happen". If you are distributing data that people care about altering, modifying, etc. then there is no practical way to prevent them from doing so. A license agreement of some kind can keep 'honest people honest', but no means, technical or otherwise, will prevent people from distributing data that they want to distribute. Additionally, these types of restrictions typically serve to limit the usefulness of the data -- the more restricted a dataset is, the more likely you are to block legitimate usage unintentionally while 'protecting' the data. That said, the last restriction is well-addressed by Creative Commons licenses. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Next 5 years for OSGeo
On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 09:36:35AM -0700, Paul Ramsey wrote: > That kind of high-touch approach will have to be left to those (like, > hopefully OpenGeo) who are building and monetizing products around the > core software. The non-profit core organization can't do that unless > it's willing to become much more vendor-like, which is something OSGeo > has repeatedly shied away from (perhaps because OSGeo has many members > who work for companies, that, like OpenGeo, are monetizing open > source). (And Paul says in a paragraph what I say poorly in 10.) Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Next 5 years for OSGeo
On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 04:24:37PM +, Chris Puttick wrote: > > - "Christopher Schmidt" wrote: > > > > > > Speak to whom? Decision makers with no real knowledge of the thing > > they are > > > signing off on, being advised by lazy people who have some > > understanding but > > > want to ensure they cover their back and don't have to try too > > > hard > > rather > > > than implement the best solution for the least money? > > > > No, to the lazy people. If your code is good enough, then the right > > way -- even the lazy way -- will be the Open Source way. In order to > > really succeed, > > You've not been hanging with enough lazy people. Laziness is taking the path > of least resistance; in IT that means using the brand most people know about > regardless if it is the best tool for the job. Sometimes brand is all that matters. In that case, I don't think that a successful marketer changes the equation. Sometimes more than the brand matters; especially when the person who is going to be implementing any potential solution has a say in the way the solution is developed. I maintain that *Those* cases are the ones to target first: When OSGeo software projects are succeeding at those regularly (not a done deal yet, in my mind) then we (as a community) can turn to outreach as a next step. > You think people went to NT Server because it was better than Netware? > It wasn't. People chose MS SQL Server because it was better than its > competitors, open or closed source? It wasn't (and in so many ways > still isn't). And the reasons for those are not ones that would be swayed by any marketing argument that an OSGeo representative could make. If the fact that our software is better, cheaper, and more fully featured, and people still want to use ESRI -- as is often the case -- then why fight them? What is the point in spending your effort to force your way into a community that is fighting against you, rather than -- for example -- expanding into a developing market that doesn't have the same preconceptions? The latter will have way more chance of improving the projects through more contributions, etc. in the end, in my opinion. > Marketing. Branding. Lots of ferrying decision makers to > shiny demo labs and glossy events and making them feel good about the > product, regardless of the fact that driving sports cars around race > tracks has nothing to do with the promo'd products effectiveness > (although such events should provide some pointers about value for > money...). Again, if people are making decisions based on irrational things, then OSGeo software isn't going to convince them. I do not think that OSGeo should attempt to compete with the 'big boys' in terms of dollars and effort spent on advertising. That would be a mistake, because those dollars could almost universally be better spent -- by the organization -- in supporting a developer attending a conference or sprint, in getting better project hosting together, or other things like that. Sure, if money, time, and energy were infinite, marketing in the same way that the Big.Co.s do would make sense, but they're not. With that in mind, I think that OSGeo should not be about trying to push out other software: We should document what projects are, what they do, how they do it *better* -- and if people don't want better, that's all there is to it. (Note that this does not apply to companies using OSGeo software, or doing contracting, or anything else like that. They are well-suited for that type of 'convincing', whereas OSGeo is positioned poorly for it.) > Laziness is going with the solution most people have heard of; in > particular not having to look at lots of options and not having to > come up with a real defence in the event of issues arising from the > choices made. No one ever got fired for buying IBM was a line in the > 80s regarding computing solution purchases; in GIS right now I guess > you all know the products in the typical organisational list - how > many open source ones are on it? Actually, to be honest, I don't. I do know that the products in my organization's list are MapServer, GDAL, and OpenLayers, and have been since before my time. I'm sure that there are many companies out there that are like this. Changing companies that aren't -- rather than documenting what exists and allowing them to make the choice -- is (at least at this point, and in my opinion for the forseeable future) not worth the effort when it could be easily spent better. > For sure OSGeo and most open source products will never have big > marketing budgets, so no sports cars, F1 practice days, Grand Prix > tickets, WSB tickets (to name a few I've recently
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Next 5 years for OSGeo
On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 02:57:15PM +, Chris Puttick wrote: > > - "P Kishor" wrote: > > > 2009/9/30 Cédric Moullet : > > .. > > > - The OSGEO is very developer centric and probably need more input > > from > > > management, end user, marketing etc... > > .. > > > > noo! > > > > Let our work, and not marketers and management, speak for us. > > > > Speak to whom? Decision makers with no real knowledge of the thing they are > signing off on, being advised by lazy people who have some understanding but > want to ensure they cover their back and don't have to try too hard rather > than implement the best solution for the least money? No, to the lazy people. If your code is good enough, then the right way -- even the lazy way -- will be the Open Source way. In order to really succeed, I think you need to make it so that organizations which aren't already entrenched see your software as the best tool for the job. Once you do that, the 'lazy' people you're talking about here see it, and use it, over the proprietary solutions. Obviously, for organizations which are already entrenched, this is a more difficult task, and I think that that's a case where OSGeo can support more educational efforts, but the software really has to stand on its own before marketing will be successful with the type of people your'e talking about, in my opinion. > Trust me, the mean and nasty marketing and management types can be a force > for the good, and one *every* open source project needs to thrive. I agree that *communication* -- spun as 'marketing', or many other things -- is neccesary for the sake of Open Source projects. However, to go back to my earlier statements: I think that OSGeo can be a supportive force in that direction, but the effort really needs to come from participants in the project who have their own reputation built into the project. The motivation just isn't there otherwise. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Next 5 years for OSGeo
On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 04:28:20PM +0200, Cédric Moullet wrote: > Hi, > > I read these interesting answers and I'd like to bring my point of view. I > know, I'm quite new in the OSGEO world (1 year, previously by Autodesk and > other "porprietary" structures), but I'm sorry (and unhappy) to say that the > GIS leaders (ESRI, Autdoesk, Intergraph etc...) don't see OSGEO has an > important contradictor: from my point of view, this is what needs to be > changed in the next 5 years. > > I see several reasons that explain the current situation: > - The majority of OSGEO software are dependent of a few heroic developers or > a few heroic companies that have nothing in comparison with the GIS leaders. > With the same idea, the OSGEO is depending of a few persons that have > another job and do that "as extra" (how many incubation requests pending ?) > - There is almost no marketing (comparing to GIS leaders) done around the > OSGEO Software > - A large part of the GIS market is not addressed by OSGEO Software. I'm > particularly thinking to the industry that need to invest billions of > dollars (if you don't believe me, please ask Geoff ;-) and OSGEO has for now > no stacks that is able to answer these need. > - The OSGEO is very developer centric and probably need more input from > management, end user, marketing etc... I think that all of these things center around a primarily different desire for OSGeo than I personally have. My goal is to: * Support projects and allow them to succeed * Support developers and users and allow them to succeed An organization like the Free Software Foundation, for example, wants to educate people that Free Software is the only Option that people should choose. I do not believe that this should be the role of OSGeo. Instead, I think OSGeo should take a role of supporting developers in pursuing their projects. If someone wants to compete with ESRI -- that's fine. We should support them insofar as we can with community resources, shared userbases, and feedback. But it is not the job of OSGeo to make these projects successful -- only to help them succeed based on their own efforts. For this reason, efforts like "Marketing" are (in my opinion) less important than, for example, setting up a test server for running buildbot, or other things that help software become successful. We have already seen ibg companies like ESRI and Google using open source software within their applications -- this type of commercially successful effort did not require marketing on the behalf of OSGeo projects. They simply were the best tool for the job. The job of OSGeo should be to provide the resources for educated users to make the correct decisions, if they seek them. Pushing the information to people who are currently happy with non-OSGeo solutions seems (to me) to be far less important in the big scheme of things. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Next 5 years for OSGeo
On Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 10:40:17PM -0500, Howard Butler wrote: > > On Sep 14, 2009, at 4:01 PM, Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote: > >> Hi everyone, a recent chat I was asked about our vision for OSGeo over >> the next 3 and 5 years. I'd really like to hear thoughts on the >> matter >> and pool a few of the ideas together for further discussions amongst >> committees, projects, chapters and the board. >> >> It's also a good way for the board nominees in the upcoming election >> to >> get a sense of where other members are thinking these days. > > > My measurement of success for OSGeo and priorities I hope it shares in > the next 3-5 years are the following three items: > - Continued expansion of the local chapters. Local chapters make OSGeo > real in the sense that mailing lists, websites, and an IRC channel can't. > - The conference continues uninterrupted for the next five years, and we > start to use it our central fundraising piece. > - Cross-project collaboration, like the journal, osgeo4w, metacrs, > benchmarking, system administration, and geodata continues to be > fostered by us. From my biased developer's perspective, these have been > OSGeo's biggest accomplishments along with the local chapter development > and consolidation of the conference. I was going to write a post in response to this, but after reading Howard's, I realize I hardly need to: essentially, his opinions and position mirror mine 100%. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
[OSGeo-Discuss] Board Election: Christopher Schmidt
Greetings to All and Sundry, I'm Christopher Schmidt. I feel proud to have been nominated for the OSGeo Board, and would gladly serve on it in order to help OSGeo continue to grow and mature as an organization which is able to represent the best in Open Source GIS software. I have participated in many projects across the OSGeo sphere since my (relatively recent) introduction to GIS software in general. My background prior to that was mostly in web development, and I have especially worked to help create and extend the possibilities for web mapping with Open Source software. Some of the projects I've participated in are well known in this field: as a founding member of OpenLayers, TileCache, FeatureServer, an author of the GeoJSON specification, and a contributor to other software like MapServer, GDAL, and more, I feel that I have a broad base of experience of the OSGeo community and software. In addition, I have worked as a member of the Systems Administration Committee, worked as part of the Geodata committee, and more, to help enable OSGeo to continue to provide the excellent resource that it does today. I believe that OSGeo is reaching a point in its life where the next several years will help truly define what the organization is in the long term. As the organization reaches maturity, I think it's important that we establish a clear direction for growth into the future. Many graduating students have heard the phrase: "Today is the first day of the rest of your lives: Make the most of it". I think that this sentiment applies to OSGeo at this time, and I think that I am well suited to helping usher OSGeo towards a future which is beneficial to all of its projects. I look forward to seeing the results of the board election this year. If anyone has any questions for me as a board candidate, I welcome them to either my personal email address, or you can find me on IRC, as 'crschmidt'. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Options for setting up a Web Feature Service
On Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 12:34:34PM +1000, nicholas.g.lawre...@transportandmainroads.qld.gov.au wrote: > > Hello osgeo people, > > I am a member of a professional institution that is considering setting up > a web feature service that publishes point locations, of members and > offices, in a global context. > > The idea being to, instead of producing a map directly, to instead just > publish the WFS, which makes the information available for mash-ups. > > The published data is likely to have a very small volume and only > be updated a few times per annum. > > How do you go about setting up a WFS? To be honest, in this case, I wouldn't. Instead, I would publish a file describing the data in a well understood data format. KML is widely used and understood by many different clients. Publishing the data in a single file, well understood by many clients -- like Google Maps, Google Earth, etc. -- is likely to be more effective at having the data reused than publishing it in a "WFS". If the data was large -- many thousands of results -- then "WFS" might be a better answer. (Though KML NetworkLink might still be better.) With a small collection of data, however, a static file -- KML, GeoJSON, or some other widely used format (GML doesn't count, Ron), would probably be good. (The primary reason I would select GeoJSON over KML is if the attributes -- more than name and description -- are important, though recent KML work has sort of improved that situation as well.) Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Open Source Lurkers
On Fri, Aug 21, 2009 at 11:55:30AM -0700, Landon Blake wrote: > Is OpenJUMP the only community with these open source lurkers? No. > How many of these companies do you think there are? (I'm not talking about > one guy who downloads an open source app and uses it. I'm talking about > actual companies with more than one employee.) The majority. I figure it's approximately equal to the iceberg effect: Unless you are a consultant advertising your services far and wide, my guess is that for every one company you see participating openly in an Open Source project, there are probably about 9 that are using the software without you having any clue. > Why don't they get more involved? * No need: When Open Source solves the problem, you don't need to get involved. * No time: We'd love to participate more, but we've got our own problems to solve -- and they don't match those of the community. * No understanding: We download this software just like all of our other software. What's a mailing list? * Not enough encouragement. Gtting started in an open source project can be a daunting task even for the well-educated in the open source world; for those who aren't, it's an order of magnitude more difficult > Are they embarrassed? Do they not want > their competition to find out about the open source program they are > benefiting from? Are they violating the terms of the license and don't > want to get busted? I think these are generally unlikely. > Do they not understand that their involvement is a > key part of the program's survival? It is likely they do not, in my opinoin; and in this, they may well be right. The software existed before they started using it; it is likely it will exist in some form afterwards as well. > This has become an important question for me recently as the active > development of OpenJUMP has slowed. We don't have any organizations > actively participating in development. (Well, maybe one or two, but they > have been quiet lately.) I'm the only one working on serious > improvements or changes, and not just bug fixes. I would really like to > reach out to these lurkers to get them more involved. Ultimately, the > survival of the project may depend on it. See also: OpenLayers. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Open File Formats andProprietaryAlgorithms[SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
On Fri, Aug 21, 2009 at 09:45:04AM -0700, Landon Blake wrote: > MPG wrote: "Tiling" essentially means you can take a large file and > compress pieces of it independently. This avoids having to deal with > the large memory footprint issues, but it can also lead to seam-line > artifacts under certain conditions. Ideally, one would prefer to have > the option of compressing large images without resorting to using > tiles." > > This is probably a stupid question, since I know absolutely nothing > about image compression, but couldn't you overlap the tiles slightly to > avoid the seam lines? > > This would obviously result in a slightly larger file size because some > pixels would be compressed twice. But that might be OK if you were > trying to compress a huge image. > > What about reading chunks of the image off disk, instead of trying to > put the whole image in memory? This would be slower, but might make an > impossible task possible. "Reading chunks of image off disk" == "tiling". With compression, bits aren't stored on th disk in a way that you can say "Okay, bytes 0-32768 are the first 720 pixels" in any way. Instead, you have to decompress the image, or part of it, to start to learn these things. Tiling lets you split the image up into many little chunks, which you can read individually. > We run into this problem with vector datasets to. Some datasets are just > to stinking BIG. One of my tasks for OpenJUMP is to write a core module > that displays vector data accessed directly from disk, instead of from > memory. This will be slower, but it is better than crashing the program > because there isn't enough RAM. Most Vector datasets have some lvel of "random access" -- I can look for feature 7, and get it, because i know where the start and end of feature 7 are. I don't know where the start and end of pixel 7 is -- because its' different depending on exactly how wth file is compressed. This is all a vast simplification, and some of it is probably not-entirely right, but the problems are -- as you suggested -- more complex than most people not working in imagery know. (And even more complex than some of them know, most likely :)) Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Open File Formats and ProprietaryAlgorithms[SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
f the NAIP data, then no, it is not > > exclusively available in MrSID format; it is also shipped as GeoTIFFs. > > > > - JPEG 2000 is a very robust open standard alternative to > > MrSID, and a number of players already support it (including > > LizardTech), but not enough to make it viable for certain > > domains like NAIP. > > > > - some of you also know the history on open JP2 support: > > there is today no open source implementation of JP2 that is > > suitable for geo work. Alas. > > > > > > > > -mpg > > > > > > > > > > > > From: discuss-boun...@lists.osgeo.org > > [mailto:discuss-boun...@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Eric Wolf > > Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 2:15 PM > > To: OSGeo Discussions > > Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Open File Formats and > > Proprietary Algorithms > > > > > > > > The MRSID format is a very special case - and perhaps an > > opportunity for a new FOSS file format. MRSID is a lossless, > > fractal-based, multi-scale raster compression format. > > LizardTech has the algorithms to encode and decode MRSID > > locked up in copyrights, and I believe, patents. Even > > companies like ESRI shell out big bucks to LizardTech to be > > able to read and write the MRSID format. > > > > > > > > I guess I missed the context of the discussion. Is the > > government releasing certain data exclusively in this format? > > If so, I think the argument can be made against this > > practice. The different in compression between MRSID and > > gziped TIFFs isn't really that great in this day of cheap > > disks and fat pipes. > > > > > > > > -Eric > > > > > > -=--=---===---=--=-=--=---==---=--=-=- > > Eric B. WolfNew! 720-334-7734 > > USGS Geographer > > Center of Excellence in GIScience > > PhD Student > > CU-Boulder - Geography > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > This message and any enclosures are intended only for the addressee. > Please > notify the sender by email if you are not the intended recipient. If > you are > not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, disclose, or > distribute this > message or its contents or enclosures to any other person and any such > actions > may be unlawful. Ball reserves the right to monitor and review all > messages > and enclosures sent to or from this email address. > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > Warning: > Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against defects > including translation and transmission errors. If the reader is not the > intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, > distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you > have received this information in error, please notify the sender immediately. > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Open File Formats and Proprietary Algorithms
On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 01:57:16PM -0700, Landon Blake wrote: > MPG: > > Thanks for the clarification. > > When you said "there is today no open source implementation of JP2 that > is suitable for geo work" do you mean that there is no open source > library that can read and write JP2? If so, who is using the format? There are: 1. Several non-open source implementations (most of which cost money) which work at geo-sized JP2 images. 2. Many use cases of JPEG2000 which involve imagery at sizes that are less than geo. (This is the much more common case, in my research.) > Do you know why there hasn't been a broader adoption of JP2? I'm not sure what your definition is of "broader adoption"; many of the datasources I worked with for OAM were provided in either JP2 or MrSID formats. I would almost always go with MrSID, because I could: * Work with it easily, and for free * It was typically significantly smaller. Perhaps you're asking why there hasn't been more open source software written to handle large, highly compressed JP2 images better -- to which I would point out that there isn't *any* format that has good open source support for large, highly compressed images. (gzipped TIFFs work to some extent, but don't compare to the benefits gained by JP2 or MrSID in many cases.) It's a hard problem, and -- given that the major players see the costs to 'pay to play' as being trivial (and they typically are, in the big scheme of things), not in a situation where it's likely that the people with ots of money ar ein a position to spend it on open source, rather than simply paying a smaller amount for existing non-opensource solutions. Despite the claims that 'disks are cheap and bandwidth is free', many providers *are* limited by bandwidth: MassGIS, for example, had to put in cash for a costly upgrade to their badnwidth solely due to the demand put on their servers by people downloading aerial imagery. Those funds could have gone to funding more open geodata, but instead were used to maek the data that already existed more readily available. These things *do* matter, and MrSID offers, by far, the best 'bang for the buck' for amount of data per byte of download. This applies even more at the consumer end; when you talk about consuming data, MrSID is even *more* user-friendly, because the users (who have limited bandwidth) are able to open it more easily. Additionally, many viewers which include MrSID support are able to display larger images -- due to the MrSID library -- than they would be by opening the entire image in RAM or something similar. Many of my friends have used MrSID for looking at thigns like Shakespear's Folios, because tools like IfranView include it by default, and the tool "Just Works" better than anything else. I believe that the important things in terms of delivering public content to users are: * License -- Are they allowed to do what they want with it? * Ease of use -- Is it *possible* For them to do what they want with it, including downloading it in the first place? * Openness -- Can they do what htey want with it with free/open tools? If the formwer two are true, then the latter -- openness -- can be handled by third parties. Imagine that you have two options: * Data provided online, for users to download, in MrSID * Data provided on CDs, for users to have shipped to them, in GeoTIFF (The latter will almost always have a non-trivial fee, because it involves person time, but ignore that for the time being.) If these are your options -- and this *is* the case for a non-zero number of imagery providers -- which one would you prefer to use? Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Options for sharing geodata symbology along with WFS?
On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 02:22:51PM -0400, Alexandre Leroux wrote: > > Hi, > > Thanks Christopher for your answer. A colleague excluded SLD by telling > us it only applies to WMS, which, based on your comment, isn't true. The > OGC website isn't clear on this (I guess we should read deeper). This > would enable us to generate SLDs with uDig :-) SLD is a language; at least some non-WMS tools can read SLD, and style WFS vectors according to it. (OpenLayers can do this; I'm sure that other client software can as well.) Insofar as such a thing exists, SLD is the primary standards based way of communicating styling information regarding a set of data. Some WMS servers are capable of using SLD as their style descriptions; I believe both MapServer and GeoServer can do this. However, other clients can as well. > > >>> answers! :-) To my defense for this OSGeo-unrelated question, we do >>> process and serve all the related geodata using OSGeo software! ;-) >> >> Which software? > > Since you're asking.. still the same project already mentioned on this > list: providing Canadian weather information with web maps and standard > web services. Our (fully working) prototypes use MapFish, OpenLayers > GDAL/OGR. (we also use other OSGeo software for other projects) Hm, I guess my question was unclear; I was curious what software you were using for WMS/WFS. GeoServer uses SLD as the primary styling configuration on the server, for example. > > Cheers, > > Alex > -- > Alexandre Leroux, M.Sc., Ing. > Environnement Canada / Environment Canada > Centre météorologique canadien / Canadian Meteorological Centre > Section de la réponse aux urgences environnementales / > Environmental Emergency Response Section > alexandre.ler...@ec.gc.ca > > > ___________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Options for sharing geodata symbology along with WFS?
On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 11:58:00AM -0400, Alexandre Leroux wrote: > > Hi all, > > > My team is starting to play with WFS and a colleague had the following > question: what are the options we have for sharing the symbology of > geodata served via WFS? > > If I'm not mistaken, symbology isn't part of the WFS service. I know > there's the OGC Symbology Encoding standard, but is this the best way to > share symbology of WFS-served data? Can't the geodata be styled directly > by the GML styles of the WFS-served data? If that's an option, what tool > (open source ideally, of course) should we use to create those styles? I think what you're looking for is SLD. > To be honest, no one of my team knows a lot about WFS yet (or much on > the other OGC standards). I thought of asking the WFS forum > (http://feature.opengeospatial.org/forumbb/viewforum.php?f=17 ) but > activity is pretty low. I'm confident this list will provide insightful > answers! :-) To my defense for this OSGeo-unrelated question, we do > process and serve all the related geodata using OSGeo software! ;-) Which software? Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Patent for feature of paper map.
On Fri, Aug 07, 2009 at 08:14:10AM -0600, Bill Thoen wrote: > You might be surprised what people might be able to get away with, > though. There's been repeated attempts to patent "web mapping" for > example, and if it wasn't for the efforts of a few dedicated people, > there would now be patents in both Britain and the USA on displaying > maps over the web. But the threat is not dead yet, believe it or not, > and it may culminate in a battle between Microsoft and Google sometime > in the near future. Check out Daniel Morissette's blog entry for Feb 21, > 2009, "Microsoft Patents the Map" at http://www.systemed.net/blog/?p=68. > If Microsoft really uses the Multimap patent to put the bite on Google, > then you can bet your bippy that it'll affect your web mapping business > too. Er, that blog is written by Richard Fairhurst. http://www.systemeD.net/blog/about.html Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Using GPL for geospatial software in a commercial application.
On Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 04:12:14PM -0700, Landon Blake wrote: > I'm working on a group of AutoLISP scripts for IntelliCAD and AutoCAD > that increase cooperation between these CAD programs and FOSS GIS > software. (For example: One set of my scripts allows CAD users to export > drawing geometry in OGC WKT format.) > > > > I'd like to release these scripts under Version 3 of the GPL, but I'm > not sure if this is possible. The scripts are read by proprietary CAD > programs, and I don't have the power to release the code for these > programs under the GPL. The GPL requirements for this case are only when you 'distribute' the work. I'm assuming you don't expct that people will take your scripts, build them into the CAD programs, and then 'distribute' them togther. So long as that is the case, it seems likely that this won't be an issue: your code is GPL, and you're not 'shipping' their code, or at least not outside 'mere aggregation' (which doesn't drag in derivative clauses). So, I can't see any likely problems with this. IANAL, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries
On Tue, May 05, 2009 at 10:09:50PM +0200, Cuinet Jérôme wrote: > I'm curious and I have seen the GNU libc license, and it's obviously GPL. It's not GPL, it's LGPL. "Released under the GNU Lesser General Public License, glibc is free software." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_C_Library > According to this thread, if I have well understood the GPL, all software > linked with glibc are licensed under GPL ? If glibc was GPL, yes. > I had seen > http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#PortProgramToGL wich > suggest that a lib such as glibc is under LGPL. But the license text of > glibc is well the GPL, with the last paragraph : "This General Public > License does not permit incorporating your program into > proprietary programs." Where are you getting the license text of glibc that it says this? I can't find a license file which indicates this. > > What I have missed ? > > > Jérôme > - Original Message - From: "P Kishor" > To: "OSGeo Discussions" > Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 7:19 PM > Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries > > > On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 12:02 PM, Christopher Schmidt > wrote: >> On Tue, May 05, 2009 at 11:55:47AM -0500, P Kishor wrote: > .. >>> >>> Thanks Dan (and Christopher and others), I see the distinction now >>> between GPL and LGPL. However, I am reading the actual GPL text and >>> its extensive FAQ, instead of Wikipedia's interpretation of it, to try >>> and sift through all the variations and exceptions to better >>> understand this now. Hopefully I will come out better informed from >>> this process. In the meantime, the distinction that you point out >>> between GPL and LGPL makes sense. >> >> http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#LinkingWithGPL >> >> "The combination itself is then available under those GPL versions." >> > .. > > This actually gets even more clear as mud... from the para above the > link provided above, we have the following -- > > > Can I release a non-free program that's designed to load a GPL-covered > plug-in? > > It depends on how the program invokes its plug-ins. For instance, if > the program uses only simple fork and exec to invoke and communicate > with plug-ins, then the plug-ins are separate programs, so the license > of the plug-in makes no requirements about the main program. > > If the program dynamically links plug-ins, and they make function > calls to each other and share data structures, we believe they form a > single program, which must be treated as an extension of both the main > program and the plug-ins. In order to use the GPL-covered plug-ins, > the main program must be released under the GPL or a GPL-compatible > free software license, and that the terms of the GPL must be followed > when the main program is distributed for use with these plug-ins. > > If the program dynamically links plug-ins, but the communication > between them is limited to invoking the ‘main’ function of the plug-in > with some options and waiting for it to return, that is a borderline > case. > > Using shared memory to communicate with complex data structures is > pretty much equivalent to dynamic linking. > > > So, the above question is possibly closer in spirit to the OP that > started this thread. Can I create a commercial (and ostensibly closed > source, although that closed-source-ness of the program was not asked > for by the OP) program with "LGPL GIS SDK or library". The answer > would be yes. But, the answer would be yes with GPL as well, but then > we would get into whether or not the result would be open or closed > source, and what the license of the result would be. Yes, I muddied > the issue a bit by using the example of ShapeLib, but, perhaps that is > a good thing, because it does illustrate the need for thinking it > through carefully... what are we doing with the GPL program? Are we > linking? Are we doing a "simple fork and exec"? Do we have some other > borderline case? > > Once again, the clearest advice would be -- if you think you have the > possibility of creating a business that is based on software worth > protecting its source, and yet want to use other free software, pony > up some cash up-front and get a real lawyer to advice you. Don't > listen to folks on mailing lists or read wikipedia articles... invest > in a lawyer. Otherwise, take the easy way out and stay free. > > I actually quite like GPL's philosophy -- it doesn't restrict at all > what I do with GPLed software. It only stops me from restricting &g
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries
On Tue, May 05, 2009 at 01:47:32PM -0400, Yves Moisan wrote: > > > > > > But if he wants to keep his code under some closed-source license then he > > > can > > > not link to or embed any GPL licensed code or library. > > Whence licence exceptions e.g. in ExtJS > (http://extjs.com/products/floss-exception.php) to allow using ExtJS > (GPL) with an application/library that is distributed as an open source > type of license. Assuming that you consider them valid. Red Hat Legal is "firm that this exception clause isn't valid." -- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=471509#c2 (The comment even points out that the FLOSS exception would require you to make your program not open source in order to apply, because you limit the field of use, which is a violation of the OSD.) ExtJS is a whole different ball of wax than the OP was talking about; it's best not to treat too much in that project's licensing as doctrine, since it's different from any other open sourced project I've ever dealt with, and unusual in a number of ways. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries
Nenad Milasinovic > >> > wrote: > >> >> > >> >> Hello, > >> >> > >> >> I am interested is there any reliable open source, LGPL licensed GIS > >> >> SDK > >> >> or library suited for building commercial, platform independent GIS > >> >> application on top of it. > >> >> I am also interested for commercial solutions but only as SDK or > >> >> library. > >> >> I will appreciate any help. > >> >> > >> >> Best regards. > >> >> > >> >> -- > >> >> Nenad Milasinovic > >> >> Software Development and Testing > >> >> > >> >> --- > >> >> > >> >> "ZESIUM mobile" d.o.o. > >> >> Valentina Vodnika 8/9 > >> >> 21000 Novi Sad > >> >> Serbia > >> >> Tel: +381 (0)21 472 15 48 > >> >> Fax: +381 (0)21 472 15 49 > >> >> Mob: +381 (0)61 231 41 20 > >> >> E-mail: nenad.milasino...@zesium.com > >> >> > >> >> ___ > >> >> Discuss mailing list > >> >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > >> >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > >> > > >> > > >> > ___ > >> > Discuss mailing list > >> > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > >> > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Puneet Kishor http://www.punkish.org/ > >> Carbon Model http://carbonmodel.org/ > >> Charter Member, Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/ > >> Science Commons Fellow, Geospatial Data http://sciencecommons.org > >> Nelson Institute, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/ > >> --- > >> collaborate, communicate, compete > >> === > >> Sent from Madison, WI, United States > >> ___ > >> Discuss mailing list > >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries
On Tue, May 05, 2009 at 10:33:40AM -0600, Daniel Ames wrote: > IANAL either, but I do read wikipedia. So by way of clarification... > Everything I've read makes a clear distinction between GPL and LGPL such > that GPL code can not be embedded in or linked to a closed source > application. Period. Whereas L-GPL licensed code can be linked to a closed > source application. > > See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Lesser_General_Public_License > > So if the individual wants to link to GPL licensed code/libraries and is > willing to make his code GPL then fine. He can still run a commercial > business based on this code, as many people do. > > But if he wants to keep his code under some closed-source license then he can > not link to or embed any GPL licensed code or library. You beat me to it :) this is exactly what I tried to say in my previous post. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries
On Tue, May 05, 2009 at 11:24:47AM -0500, P Kishor wrote: > On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 11:06 AM, Daniel Ames wrote: > > Nenad, > > The OSGeo projects use a variety of licenses. You'll see LGPL, MPL, GPL, > > MIT, and others. If you are developing commercial tools, you'll need to > > avoid GPL (someone correct me if I'm wrong.) > > > Disclaimer: IANAL. Get legal advice from your lawyer before embarking > on your million dollar enterprise. > > > I'll correct you, because, as stated above, you are misrepresenting at > best, and wrong at worst. ;-) > > GPL does not prevent you from making money. GPL only requires that if > you modify the code that is under GPL, then you must redistribute the > modified code under GPL. Granted this may not be easy to figure out in > real world scenarios, but consider the following -- > > Let's say ShapeLib is published under GPL (I don't know whether or not > it is; this is only for illustration purpose). Let's say, MapServer > utilizes ShapeLib, but doesn't modify ShapeLib, but uses ShapeLib as > is. Let's say, MapServer's creator decides to make millions off of > MapServer, Inc. He is under no obligation to release the source code > of MapServer, but he is obligated to release the source code of > ShapeLib, which is no big deal, because the source code of ShapeLib is > already available to anyone. > > On the other hand, let's say, ShapeLib is modified to perform better, > or differently, for MapServer. Now, there is an obligation to release > the source code to the modified version of ShapeLib no matter what the > value of that value-added might be. That is what the GPL obligates. > MapServer itself is still governed by whatever license that its > creator decides to apply. Er, I think you're confusing the GPL and the LGPL. What you have just described is the situation with the LGPL, but not with GPL. Because MapServer integrates ShapeLib (I'm assuming from your description above that it does) then MapServer is also required to be released under the GPL, because shapelib is linked to MapServer. MapServer -- as it is linking ShapeLib -- is *also* required to be released under the terms of the GPL, even if the MapServer code itself was not. (For the record, no part of shapelib or MapServer is released under the GPL, to the best of my knowledge, so this is simply a straw man, not a practical discussion.) Any time your code includes GPL code, all of the code that incorporates it must also be treated under the GPL. This does *not* prevent you from making money. It simply means you also have to give source code to the people you give object code to, and that they are then able to do the same to others, if they choose to do so. Red Hat makes a large amount of money by doing exactly this, for example -- though they don't make money off giving you the software, and it seems unlikely that much software can be 'sold' when it's under the GPL. (It's not impossible, though -- especially when things like 'compiling on Windows' come in to play.) Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: TOP 20 OSGeo Mailman subscriber statistics - GeoNetwork stats
On Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 06:00:15PM +0200, Jeroen Ticheler wrote: > Here are the GeoNetwork opensource mailing list subscribers statistics, > running on sourceforge: > > User mailing list: 430 > User mailing list in French: 21 (new mailing list) > Developer list: 249 > Commit mailing list: 44 OpenLayers: dev - 494 users - 1081 trac - 31 commit - 24 -- Chris > Cheers, > Jeroen > > On Apr 25, 2009, at 3:52 PM, Markus Neteler wrote: > >> TOP 20 OSGeo Mailman subscriber statistics: >> >> I have written a small script to count the *enabled* subscribers of >> all >> OSGeo hosted mailing lists, here the top 20 lists: >> >> mapserver-users: 1667 >> gdal-dev: 1006 >> grass-user: 938 >> announce: 868 >> discuss: 864 >> mapguide-users: 748 >> qgis-user: 728 >> grass-windows: 382 >> mapserver-dev: 335 >> gdal-announce: 335 >> spanish: 303 >> grass-dev: 299 >> mapbender_users: 278 >> mapserver-announce: 274 >> grass-announce: 270 >> qgis-developer: 251 >> grass-stats: 234 >> geodata: 229 >> africa: 229 >> portugal: 227 >> >> Best >> Markus >> ___ >> Discuss mailing list >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] List of FOSS GIS Implementations
On Sat, Apr 04, 2009 at 03:50:52PM +0200, Markus Neteler wrote: > Hi Chris, > > On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 11:02 PM, Christopher Schmidt > wrote: > ... > > http://gallery.osgeo.org/ > > would it be possible to link the screenshot to a higher res > version of the uploaded photo instead of the same link as > the title? The 'permalink' (small link, under the title) has the full res of the uploaded screenshot: http://gallery.osgeo.org/item/12/ When I made the image go to this page, people complained on the OpenLayers gallery, which is why it doesn't anymore. -- Chris > Best > Markus > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] List of FOSS GIS Implementations
On Fri, Apr 03, 2009 at 01:49:45PM -0700, Landon Blake wrote: > I was thinking of starting my own list of FOSS GIS software being used > in the real world. Several examples have been cited in this mailing list > over the last couple of weeks. This list would be my ammunition in the > "nobody uses that stuff" gun battle. > > > > I was wondering if there might be a home for this on the OSGeo wiki? > Would we consider keeping use cases/recommendation letters from > organizations using OSGeo projects? http://gallery.osgeo.org/ http://gallery.openlayers.org/ http://docs.openlayers.org/casestudies/index.html#all-case-studies http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Case_Studies -- Chris > > > Just thinking out loud here... :] > > > > Landon > > > > > > Warning: > Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against defects > including translation and transmission errors. If the reader is not the > intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, > distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you > have received this information in error, please notify the sender immediately. > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Liability Issues For Companies Supporting OpenSource Development
sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam > and watch the world go round - Rush| Geospatial Programmer for Rent > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > Warning: > Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against defects > including translation and transmission errors. If the reader is not the > intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, > distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you > have received this information in error, please notify the sender immediately. > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] RE: [Majas-dev] [Majas-users] Flex in geomajas
On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 10:01:34AM -0300, Leonardo Mateo wrote: > Ok, here's my grain of sand. I don't know what geomajas is, so I don't > know how much Flex would impact on this. > I've been working with Flex from the past two years or so, now a days > a little less intensive, but still working. I've worked with two or > three map API's for Flex and I have to say that totally worth it. > About the speed, I haven't seen any benchmark bu ActionScript3 should > be way faster than JavaScript and should work fine with large amount > of data, wether you use raw XML or some other technology such as AMF*. > About the downside Pieter mention there, I think in these days, the > Flash plugin is something you should have on a browser, it is not a > strange requirement anymore. However, in corporate environments (enterprise) or in the case of Open Souce geeks, you have two groups of people who commonly dnt have Flash installed -- the former due to to corporate policy, the latter due to sometimes esoteric operating systems and setups that don't support it. (For example, Flash, the last time I was aware, still didn't natively work on 64bit...) > Anyway, my opinion is: "go for it if your UI is complex enough", Flex > allows you to build a really complex, advanced UI with advanced > widgets that looks, performs and behaves really good. Programming AS > is way much easier than JavaScript (I come from a JS background too) > not to mention modularization possibilites with Flex Modules and > Libraries also, you should reduce the browser compatibility issues in > a 95% at least. So long as you are willing to completely ignore that Flash now has multiple players, anyway. (Gnash is becoming competent enough that it's actually usable, and in some cases, more so than existing Flash clients.) With the opening of the Flash spec and the existence of multiple players, if you actually care about hitting the niche markets currently served by non-Adobe Flash, you're in the same boat as you are in the browser world. At the moment, Adobe Flash marketshare is big enough that you probably don't need to care about this for business reasons -- but that used to be the case for IE, too. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] seeking OS client API to embed maps in desktop app
On Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 09:32:21AM +0200, Tim Sutton wrote: > Hi > > > 2009/1/23 Judy and Chris Beaudette : > > greetings. > > > > my company is developing a demo that queries tabular data for environmental > > facilities based on environmental interests, NAICS codes, etc. and generates > > reports that have embedded simple maps (google maps) with the facility > > location and some facility details in a custom marker. we want to embellish > > the maps by pulling data from different sources as follows: > >- environmental tabular/attribute data in xml fed from Web services > >- GeoRSS with location data from the same Web services > >- spatial data from other WMS, WFS, WCS services > > > > to that end, we're looking for an appropriate open source GIS client > > application that can do the OGC stuff and that we can pass the attribute and > > GeoRSS stuff for rendering the environmental data. > > > > those are the gotta-haves. the nice-to-haves are: > >- .NET or C/C++ API (preferred) or Java API, so that the maps can be > > embedded in a desktop application, but barring that: > >- a Web API (HTML, python, php, etc.), and barring that: > >- a desktop client that can be invoked from our app that can do all of > > the above > > > > after browsing the products pages at osgeo.org, opengeospatial.org, > > opensourcegis.org and freegis.org, the names that kept coming up were gvSIG, > > iGeoPortal, and maybe uDIG, with various other possibilities (cartoweb, > > GeoDango, Chameleon, Mapfish, and of course many others). > > > > does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on what would: > >- work best to support the functionality required in the demo, while at > > the same time (and to a lesser degree): > >- what is a viable long-term solution (i.e. not likely to go away any > > time soon) > > > > thanks in advance, > > > > ~~crb > > > > > QGIS (http://qgis.org) is probably a good fit for your needs - we have > an API that can be used from Python or C++. It doesnt have everything > you need (e.g. GeoRSS support isnt there) but its a great solution for > writing vertical applications with embedded GIS data browsing > functionality. GDAL trunk has GeoRSS support; I don't know if you can open arbitrary GDAL datasources with QGIS yet, but at the very least, it's not inconceivable to add that support with relatively limited coding effort. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Symbology/styles exchange
On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 11:58:44AM +0100, Andrea Aime wrote: > RAVI KUMAR ha scritto: > >Hi, > >symbology is of particular significance for Geologists. Orientation > >(Rotation) of symbols and labelling through attribute table are essential. > >OpenJUMP user list has made great contribution towards this. Wish to know > >if any other Open GIS has similar resources. > > Any software using SLD should be able to rotate symbols, > at least point ones. GeoServer does for example, I think > MapServer does too. OpenLayers does too. http://openlayers.org/dev/examples/styles-rotation.html Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
[OSGeo-Discuss] State of OpenAerialMap
using lossy compression -- has issues that are difficult to make happen; these could be improved with some work on improving existing libraries, but the work has not been done yet. * The current server status is unclear to me. The primary thing that OAM has always needed is "disk, more disk!" thus far. Early on, the server that OAM runs on got access to a large amount of disk. However, after a couple months of loading data, I was told I was using "too much" disk. When asking another server admin, I was told to use as much as I wanted. Clearly, there is some lack of clear understanding about the way that OAM should be using its resources. TelaScience, which has acted as a gracious host thus far, is not in a position where adminning servers is part of their day to day work. Clarifying this aspect of things with TelaScience -- what resources are available, and what resources should be conserved -- would help allay a lot of my personal confusion acting as a host. This also applies with regard to other aspects of the actual maintenance of the server. These are the problems that have existed so far, from my point of view. The lack of community around OAM makes all of these problems much more difficult to handle -- previous cries for help have gone essentially unnoticed. In an effort to kick-start the community, I think we have the following needs: * Improving the relationship with TelaScience, and the servers provided by them, to be more clear. * A clear vision for what OAM should be should be defined. * An active community needs to be built around supporting and improving the site, so that it does not stagnate again. * It is important to make it as easy as possible for the target users of OAM to upload data. I apologize for my poor stewardship of the OpenAerialMap project up to now, and in more than one case, turning away possible contributors due to my frustrations at working with the project. At this point, I think it would be best -- once we have a clearly defined relationship with TelaScience -- for someone other than me to take over as point person for communications about the OAM project. I would like to suggest that OAM falls within what I consider to me the responsibilities of the OSGeo Geodata committee, and it probably makes a lot of sense to stop treating OAM as anything other than an 'arm' of that committee. I hope this helps to clarify the situation with regard to OAM, and spur the community onwards towards taking the base that has been started with and developing a real solution to some of the hard problems the project needs to solve to continue to grow. Best Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Re: GeoExt: call for participation
On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 11:28:10PM +1100, Roald de Wit wrote: > Hi Bart, Cameron and lists, > > Now it's time to de-lurk I guess. I've been subscribed to these lists > for some time now and this is my first post. > OSGeo Discuss members: this is a discussion started by Cameron Shorter, > 2 posts down in this email. > > As Cameron points out: for our organisation the GPL (v3) license is too > restrictive. I don't have context for this, since I'm not on the GeoExt list, but the answer to this seems easy to me: GeoExt itself can be licensed in a non-restrictive way (under BSD/MIT). Then, the resulting 'product' from combining Ext + GeoExt is licensed as per the Ext licensing -- which means that if you haven't paid, you're stuck with GPL, but if you own a commercial Ext license -- which is not prohibitively expensive -- you're good. The only case this *wouldn't* work in would be the case where GeoExt itself is GPL licensed. Since GeoExt has no license file or license mentioned on their website that i can find at this time, I assume this is, at the very least, still flexible, and you simply need to convince the GeoExt community that letting you mooch off their code without contributing back is worthwhile for some reason :) > Is there room for another project that wants to achieve a similar goal > as GeoExt but uses a less restrictively licensed JS library (like > jQuery's dual GPL/MIT license) and would there be interest from the > OSGeo-minded community to join forces to achieve that goal? The Commercial Ext license is very open: I've not found *anything* I can't do once I've paid for it. If GPL restrictions are a problem, it's easy enough to make them go away. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] The state of WMS tile caching
On Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 07:37:54AM -0500, Christopher Schmidt wrote: > On Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 12:46:48PM +0100, Gilles Bassière wrote: > > I was recently confronted to the same problem. I needed a cached WMS, > > although on some occasion I would need to perform untiled map requests. > > Of course, it would have been much easier to send tiled and untiled > > request to a single front server. > > > > My idea was to hack TileCache. Indeed, TileCache already has WMS request > > support et grid calculation and cache and so on. When the requested > > extent/size does not match the tile grid, TileCache returns an error. I > > guess it would be possible to catch this error. Then, instead of > > returning the error to the client, it should be possible to forward the > > request to the rendering back-end and return the resulting image to the > > client (without storing it in the cache). I'm not sure whether this > > could be possible with all back-end. > > At this time, yes, in the future, no. I should qualify/explain this: one of my short term goals is to allow for requesting tiles in TileCache from a backend TMS service (making TIleCache a proxy, of sorts), which would mean that you could only request along the pre-built grid. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] The state of WMS tile caching
On Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 12:46:48PM +0100, Gilles Bassière wrote: > I was recently confronted to the same problem. I needed a cached WMS, > although on some occasion I would need to perform untiled map requests. > Of course, it would have been much easier to send tiled and untiled > request to a single front server. > > My idea was to hack TileCache. Indeed, TileCache already has WMS request > support et grid calculation and cache and so on. When the requested > extent/size does not match the tile grid, TileCache returns an error. I > guess it would be possible to catch this error. Then, instead of > returning the error to the client, it should be possible to forward the > request to the rendering back-end and return the resulting image to the > client (without storing it in the cache). I'm not sure whether this > could be possible with all back-end. At this time, yes, in the future, no. However, I would *never* be supportive of that change in the code. (There are other implementations I *would* be supportive of; just not that one.) Specifically, the problem with that is that there is no trivial way to communicate to the user "You are using non-cached tiles": the error is the way that we tell the user. Additionally, the default use of TileCache is that users *don't* want to allow non-cached hits: Take the openstreetmap example, where a single non-cached tile hit can take 3-4 minutes to render, and realize that if you got a half dozen f those at once, you'd kill most servers for minutes at a time. > I did not think of performance > either. But I think that could be a solution for someone needing > seamless map caching. As I said, there are other solutions. (Specifically, TileCache rendering could take a *set* of tiles to fetch, cache each of them, then put them together.) > For some reasons we did not implement this idea. The main problem was > the lack of support for GetFeatureInfo in TileCache. I'm now thinking of > some kind of integration of TileCache within the OGCserver (part of the > Mapnik project). It is still a rough idea and, unfortunately, I don't > have any time to work on it. Moreover, I doubt if it's reasonable to mix > WMS with TMS-based cache. Of course, TMS-based cache is incredibly > efficient but it also impose the grid parameters to the client. In my > opinion it is an important restriction that reduce interoperability. > With such restrictions, it may not be possible to feed OpenLayers with > WMS-C stream coming from different servers. I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. I've combined WMS-C with different servers many times. (There are limitations in OpenLayers with regard to using different grids at the moment, but none are unfixable, just awaiting interested people to invest the time or effort). WMS-C is reasonably well defined, well-understood, and well-supported within the tiled clients on the web. If you can't use tiles - or don't want to - I've already proposed ways to wrap TileCache in a 'real' WMS server. > I'm a bit surprised because standard-compliance is an important part of > this thread but the OGC discussion paper about tiled WMS was not > mentioned (see http://www.opengeospatial.org/standards/wms). I missed a mention of 'standards compliance' being an important part of this thread. Is there a specific reason that *OGC* standards are important? TMS and WMS-C are widely used in the community, are written as specifications, have supporting implementations, etc. These *are* community standards -- documented ones, even -- and I would highly recommend them over the current state of the art available from OGC to anyone who cares about solving problems (rather than meeting the terms of a contract). > The paper is more than 1-year old now, does anybody know if there is > ongoing work or if it could become an implement specification soon? The discussion paper indicated has already been replaced twice in internal OGC discussions. TileCache already implements the WMTS described in that discussion paper, but since it is going to be thrown out as soon as the next version of the spec is released, writing clients for it is silly. > An important > point discussed in the paper is about describing the tile grid so that > an arbitrary client can build a valid request. Huh? "The values for LAYER, STYLE, CRS, FORMAT, any mentioned dimensions and SCALE must exactly match the options that are specified in the WMS_DescribeTilesResponse document. TILEROW and TILECOL are integer indices indicating a particular tile in the tile matrix." This is no different from TileCache -- you have to request a tile that the cache knows about. the WMTS request format can be used with TileCache -- there is nothing you can get out of WMTS that you can&#x
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] The state of WMS tile caching
On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 09:30:35AM -0500, Alexandre Leroux wrote: > > Hi list, > > I have a rather simple question about the state of WMS tile caching. The > wiki pages content is mostly one or two years old now: > http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/WMS_Tile_Caching > http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/WMS_Tiling_Client_Recommendation > > I took a look at > http://www.tilecache.org/ and > http://geowebcache.org/trac > but wasn't able to confidently answer my question. > > Can WMS tiles be cached by the server for any WMS client and still serve > WMS according to the standard? TileCache does not support this. However, what some people (including myself) have done is: * Set up a Layer to be served via WMS (GeoServer, for example) * Set up a TileCache in front of it * Set up a MapServer in front of it, using GDAL's WMS-C support: http://gdal.org/frmt_wms.html Then, a request from a client like OpenLayers can go directly to the TileCache, while a request from a 'normal' WMS client can go to the MapServer layer which pulls from the cache. However, I would not recommend this technique if you expect heavy load -- the restriction of tilecache to not do stitching is somewhat intentional. (Enough people complain about it being slow without ading in intentional slowdowns!) Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Language Specific Lists Summary
On Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 10:51:44PM +0100, Markus Neteler wrote: > On Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 8:07 PM, Christopher Schmidt > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > ... > > * Germany > > ... is here: > https://lists.fossgis.de/mailman/listinfo/GAV-talk > > Italy: > http://www.faunalia.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gfoss That's the same as the one in my original list, right? Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Language Specific Lists Summary
On Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 09:32:17PM +0100, Bart van den Eijnden (OSGIS) wrote: > luckily the Dutch are pretty English-minded, so 99,9% of the people will > be able to ask the question in English, which would be my preferred way. > If people really can't speak English, yeah they can come to the Dutch > osgeo list, no problem. I would really discourage the use for the > exception of language handicapped people. Bart, I'll take that into account. The intention is to translate our "Getting Foreign Language Support" page into as many langauges as possible, so in the Dutch translatin, we'll just mention that the Dutch mailing list should be reserved for cases of real "lack of English", I guess :) Thanks for the feedback, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Language Specific Lists Summary
On Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 10:26:47PM +0200, Ari Jolma wrote: > In general, Finns, if they can use a computer, can be expected to > understand and write english. Of course the barrier might be lower to > ask questions in Finnish. Or Swedish for that matter as it is our second > official language. Ari, Understood. I think that having some text informing people of what the expectations are, and pointing them to possible more 'friendly' locations to their languages will be helpful to enhancing these communities. Personally, I find working in foreign language-centric lists scary -- and I think the lower the level of English knowledge, the truer this is. > I'm not very aware of how much OpenLayers is used in Finland but my > guess is that it's or will be growing in the future so I'd welcome > discussions and questions about OpenLayers in Finnish. Thanks! Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
[OSGeo-Discuss] Language Specific Lists Summary
All, >From my previous thread, I've come up with the following list of foreign langauge OSGeo discussion lists: * French: http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/francophone * Japanese: http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/osgeojapan-discuss * Italian: http://www.faunalia.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gfoss * Spanish: http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/spanish My understanding is that each of these lists would be supportive of users who, for example, were having a problem with OpenLayers and needed help getting more help due to their inability to speak English. It appears that there are also the following language lists on the lists.osgeo.org server: Dutch -- http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/dutch Portugese -- http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/brasil Finnish/Swedish -- http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/finland Would these lists be open to the above? Also, from the AGM, there were local chapters for: * Korea * India * Germany Which are not represented in these lists. Are there lists for these chapters hosted elsewhere? Would they be open to such questions? Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Foreign Language Community Support
On Sun, Nov 09, 2008 at 08:21:04PM +0100, Lorenzo Becchi wrote: > > > Christopher Schmidt wrote: > > > > does > >http://trac.openlayers.org/wiki/GettingHelp/ForeignLanguageSupport seem > >like an appropriate way to enocurage people to seek help? Does my > >suggestions for how to handle lack of speaking a language make some > >sense? > > > > I think this is a good initiative. > trying to be a bit critic, it is the kind of page that a person who > knows a little of English doesn't need because they can write to the > international list. > a person who knows nothing of English cannot understand all that text, > probably. Yes, I understand that. I didn't want to encourage people to futz with the international pages until I had some basic agreeement on the text of the English, since translating something and then translating it again when I heard that the existing page was bad seemed somewhat of a waste :) > To make it easy, we can maybe add links to the automatic translation to > many different languages, ex: > -- > Version en Español, linking to: > http://translate.google.es/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftrac.openlayers.org%2Fwiki%2FGettingHelp%2FForeignLanguageSupport&sl=en&tl=es&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 > -- > better would be to create human translations of your text but it will > take more time. Automatic translations are good in some languages, but (as I've found by staying here in Japan) *terrible* for others. It is my goal to seek out translations from any communities that I can find, and getting them involved on ading foreign langauge translations of the text -- once it's decent :) > I think that using the language chapters as reference is a good idea. I > would put a bigger emphasis on them. > Talking about the Spanish Language Chapter List, I can say that there > are already some good expert on OpenLayers (and not only). > I would suggest other projects with small/medium communities to do the same. I'm still not sre I'd rather have these converesations on project mailing lists rather than on the OpenLayers Users mailing list. In the spanish local chapter list, the likelihood that someone is going to be able to find the answer that was given on an OpenLayers issue is low. Er, sorry, half asleep, not typing right: What I mean is, someone looking for help with an OpenLayers bug is not going to look in the Spanish list archives. But if someone has done a translation into English, or heck, even sent the message entirely in Spanish there's still a fair chance that it will be findable in the OpenLayers mailing list. Also, I've seen too many cases where people have fixed bugs and never mentioned anything about the bugfixes back to the OpenLayers community to trust that the same wouldn't happen with local chapters. > A little note about "Interested in English Language List". I would avoid > to live this part here. If a lot of people starts to add his name there, > that page will convert soon in a mess, loosing the target of the message. > I would leave to local chapters the organizations of list request if the > traffic on a single project (ex: OpenLayers) starts to be aggressive. I'm not sure what you mean by this. Essentially, this is a way to gaurge the interest and abilities of people to pariticipate in a local language list for the project> I don't see a way that can be gauged without *some* kind of list -- most people will always be quiet if something requires activve participation with an existing community. (The barrier is simply too high.) Editing a wikipage is lower cost, and gives a record of people interested in a particular language community for a project -- that 'hard copy', so to speak, seems valuable to me, especially in comparison to something which (to me) seems more transient, like sending an email to the italian or spanish mailing list. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Foreign Language Community Support
On Sun, Nov 09, 2008 at 06:18:35PM +0100, Yves Jacolin (free) wrote: > This is an interesting question (How manage I18n content in website). I think > there are three ways (at least): > * a two letters word put it in the URL, as we did at the begining in the > wiki > osgeo [1], [2], [3] and like you did in your example ; Yves, Though I appreciate your technical feedback on my translation question, what I'm more interested in at the moment is just the *contents* of the English page -- especialy from the point of view of someone who might end up working with the results of it :) It is my hope that local language communities can take a role in helping users to pose their questions to the OpeNLayers list -- or at least giving some advice to beginners, when English-only communications aren't enough. WIth that in mind, does http://trac.openlayers.org/wiki/GettingHelp/ForeignLanguageSupport seem like an appropriate way to enocurage people to seek help? Does my suggestions for how to handle lack of speaking a language make some sense? Thanks in advance, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Foreign Language Community Support
On Sun, Nov 09, 2008 at 04:15:38PM +0100, Yves Jacolin (free) wrote: > (Hum after reading again your mail, it seems I a little bit > misunderstood). So yes all Local chapter are often a good starting > point for asking general questions in native langage. There are a lot > of local ML for that. Yves, Yes, I'm writing text like this (which I intend to request help of various local chapters in translating into other languages): http://trac.openlayers.org/wiki/GettingHelp/ForeignLanguageSupport Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding easy in-wiki multi-langauge support. At the moment, I'm simply putting 'fr:' in front of the page title to indicate it is a translation of an English page of the same name: http://trac.openlayers.org/wiki/fr:GettingHelp/ForeignLanguageSupport I'm hopeful that I can find a Trac plugin which does this for me, as well as showing when pages that are in different langauges are 'out of date' with regard to each other. However, from what I've seen so ar, I'm not particularly hopeful on either of these points, so I may need to write a plugin myself. I'm assuming that the Wikipedia-style 'fr:OtherTitle' links are probably a preferred way of handling this situation (so that the Page *link* can also be in a different language) but I think that would likely be harder to handle initially, so I'm not sure I'm going to actually go to the extent of tackling that (depending, in part, on what feedback I get from the community) -- the URL itself is (I would hope) not the most important part of the page, and bad titles can hopefully be resolved with adequate linking. Anyway, feedback on the text of the English page (the french is just an earlier machine translation) is welcome. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
[OSGeo-Discuss] Foreign Language Community Support
Projects like OpenLayers are, at this time, too small to have seperate lists for different langauges. (Or at least, that's been the theory; it's possible we're bigger than that now, but we'll pretend for a moment.) I would like to create a resource that tells users of OpenLayers where they can go to find support for their native langauge, if such a community is available. Specifically, I'm not looking to find comunities are willing to actually answer the OpenLayers question, just to, for example, help the user find out how to ask the question, or search for the problem, etc. As I see it, it looks right now like: * Japanese: http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/osgeojapan-discuss * French: http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/francophone I'm curious if members of these lists believe that an email from a French speaker asking, for example, for help translating a question or answer regarding OpenLayers would be welcomed or not. Also, I'm curious if there are other langauge lists that would also be able to help solve problems like this. Of coures, if you think that pointing people to local mailing lists is a silly idea, you're also welcome to say that :) Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Raster data on a DBMS
On Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 08:57:53PM -0200, Gilberto Camara wrote: > Jim Gray´s paper and much more on > this issue is on his site at MS Research. Gray has hundreds of papers listed on his Microsoft Research page. As I said, I'm not claiming that Gray's paper said or did not say something, merely that the section you quoted did not. > Allow me to reiterate my earlier argument, which is > that FOSS4G should **allow** users the option of storing > raster data in a database. Storing images in a database > is not recommended in each and every situation. > The user should have the option, according to his needs. I'm not sure if you feel that someone is preventing this from happening in some way. It sounds like you think that there is some blocker here other than someone investing the time and effort to make this happen. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Benefits raster data on RDBMS
On Mon, Nov 03, 2008 at 10:13:49AM -0200, Gilberto Camara wrote:
> Dear all
>
> Concerning the benefits of having raster data
> stored together with vector data in a spatial
> database, let me first quote from an excellent
> paper from the late Jim Gray
> ("Scientific Data Management in the Coming Decade"):
>
> "What’s wrong with files?
>Everything builds from files as a base. HDF uses files.
>Database systems use files. But, file systems have no
>metadata beyond a hierarchical directory structure and file
>names. They encourage a do-it-yourself- data-model that
>will not benefit from the growing suite of data analysis
>tools. They encourage do-it-yourself-access-methods that
>will not do parallel, associative, temporal, or spatial
>search. They also lack a high-level query language.
>Lastly, most file systems can manage millions of files, but
>by the time a file system can deal with billions of files, it
>has become a database system."
>
> In other words, if you have substantial amounts of raster
> data (as is increasingly the case in geospatial application),
> you will need to develop a significant amount of software
> to manage your files. Unless... your data is handled by a
> raster-enabled spatial database.
I don't see anything in that paragraph that indicates that storing the
*image data* in the database is important. (A link to the paper online
or something could change that, of course.) Specifically, I don't think
there's any doubt that if you have many-many files, it makes sense to
store the *queryable image information* -- things like spatial extent,
temporal extent, etc. -- belong in a database. The question is, in the
"data" column, do you store a File Path, or the Image Data? Until/Unless
databases get/have image manipulation tools directly, I can't see the
value of storing the image data itself in the database.
The points above argue against file-system based metadata
storage/retrieval: sorting files by date, searching through index files,
etc., so far as I can tell, but I don't see a compelling argument for
image data in the database above.
Of course, this is assuming that the image data access pattern is the
same "in the database" and "on disk": for example, storing GeoTIFF data,
then using GDAL to parse the string from the database as a GeoTIFF file.
If the database you're using has a different (faster) Image access
algorithm, then of course there can be benefits. However, those same
benefits could presumably be realized with sufficiently complete
libraries for accessing the image externally: If Oracles' Database
product, for example, internally tiles the image, and they had a library
to access the image in the same way, presumably you could store those
bits on disk as well. However, if that library depends internally on a
database, then integration of all points into the same database might
help in some ways.
In any case, I think there's obvious reasons to store your image
metadata in a database -- and *using the same tools for accessing the
images*, I don't think we've yet seen a compelling argument for storing
image blobs in the database. Of course, all things are not equal :)
If your database has built in MrSID support, for example, you could
imagine using Database Storage for Images, because you'd get the
automatic compression combined with the querying -- but that's not about
the Database Specifically, just the image storage/reading library that
comes along with it.
Regards,
--
Christopher Schmidt
Web Developer
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Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] defining a Geospatial Integration Showcase to be launched at FOSS4G 2009
On Fri, Oct 24, 2008 at 10:22:59AM +1000, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Please do not encourage new data releasers to release geodata under > > creative commons licenses. It has ben a source of major disagreements > > with regard to openstreetmap, and I don't think it's any better for > > anyone else. > > > Geodata is not creative. Creative Commons licenses are written for > > creative works. Even the Creative Commons people I've talked to don't > > think geodata should be covered under anything other than 'CC Zero'. > > > http://www.opengeodata.org/?p=262 sums this up quite well: if you > > haven't read it, *Please do* before advising anyone who has not already > > released data on license issues. > > Creative commons licences rest upon copyright law. > If a legal juridstiction determines that copyright is not applicable > to geodata, then both copyright and the creative commons license > go away. But contract law doesn't. The Open Database License rests in part on Contract Law, Database Protections, etc. Copyright law isn't all there is. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] defining a Geospatial Integration Showcase to be launched at FOSS4G 2009
On Fri, Oct 24, 2008 at 06:22:50AM +1100, Cameron Shorter wrote: > Chris, and the geodata list, > Your comments are valid. > > Does OSGeo have an official stance on data licencing? If not, I think we > should. > Currently, the Australian government is moving licencing the majority of > their data (including geospatial) under Creative Commons. I've been waiting for the Open Database License to move forward, since at the moment, I see no licenses that make sense to license new geodata under. OSGeo/Geodata committe has not expressed an opinion at this time. > The responses I've heard from Australian government about Zero Commons > is that the license is still in draft, and that a government will need > the license to move out of draft before a government can recommend > government agencies use it. If the reason they're concerned is the CC0 license isn't actually 'done', would they really be willing to release their data with no legal restrictions? If so, then the Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/) seems sufficient, simple, and not to offer any more or less legal protection than CCZero seems intended to. My expectation is that neither CCZero nor Public Domain dedications are sufficient for most organizations, who would rather maintain Attribution and Share Alike requirements (sometimes just the former). For those cases, the Open Database License (http://www.opencontentlawyer.com/open-data/open-database-licence/) is probably what most people want, but it also is incomplete: Jordan (who was the primary lawyer behind the license) has not done any work on it in a long time, and I don't see any evidence that it will ever be completed at this point, which is a shame, since I've been pinning my hopes and dreams for licensing on it for more than a year. In any case, in the US, CC-By-SA has no practical meaning for factual information, so any organization which actually seeks to protect their databases of information via copyright (rather than just make them available regardless of the things that will be done with them) should be made aware that at least in some jurisdictions, the lack of creativity (depending, of course, on the type of data) means that their data can't be protected that way. (In other countries, database effects kick in, and may have a different interaction with the CC licenses: in the US, even collections of pure facts are not protected.) Encouraging users to 'protect' their data with CC this way is a mistake -- and if they don't actually care, then encouraging Public Domain dedications of data seems like the right way to go. > I assume this is the license being referred: > http://wiki.creativecommons.org/CCZero > ddi > Christopher Schmidt wrote: > >On Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 08:21:03PM +0900, Venkatesh Raghavan wrote: > > > >>Cameron Shorter wrote: > >> > >>>If we find a data custodian who is keen to get their data into the > >>>Integration Showcase, what sort of criteria should we be specifying > >>>for that dataset? > >>>What license? > >>> > >>Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 > >>Same as OpenStreetMap > >> > > > >Please do not encourage new data releasers to release geodata under > >creative commons licenses. It has ben a source of major disagreements > >with regard to openstreetmap, and I don't think it's any better for > >anyone else. > > > >Geodata is not creative. Creative Commons licenses are written for > >creative works. Even the Creative Commons people I've talked to don't > >think geodata should be covered under anything other than 'CC Zero'. > > > >http://www.opengeodata.org/?p=262 sums this up quite well: if you > >haven't read it, *Please do* before advising anyone who has not already > >released data on license issues. > > > >Regards, > > > > > -- > Cameron Shorter > Geospatial Systems Architect > Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050 > Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254 > > Think Globally, Fix Locally > Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source > http://www.lisasoft.com > > ___ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] defining a Geospatial Integration Showcase to be launched at FOSS4G 2009
On Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 08:21:03PM +0900, Venkatesh Raghavan wrote: > Cameron Shorter wrote: > >If we find a data custodian who is keen to get their data into the > >Integration Showcase, what sort of criteria should we be specifying for > >that dataset? > >What license? > Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 > Same as OpenStreetMap Please do not encourage new data releasers to release geodata under creative commons licenses. It has ben a source of major disagreements with regard to openstreetmap, and I don't think it's any better for anyone else. Geodata is not creative. Creative Commons licenses are written for creative works. Even the Creative Commons people I've talked to don't think geodata should be covered under anything other than 'CC Zero'. http://www.opengeodata.org/?p=262 sums this up quite well: if you haven't read it, *Please do* before advising anyone who has not already released data on license issues. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Can we use a LiveDVD for workshops and labs at FOSS4G 2009?
On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 07:25:01AM +0100, Chris Puttick wrote: > > - "Daniel P. Ames" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi folks. As you all know, there is a growing interest in open source > > for Windows. Especially with Microsoft's release of its developer > > tools in free "express" editions and the availability of such tools as > > SharpDevelop and Mono. > > > > MapWindow is .NET based and the bulk of our developers and users are > > strictly MS based. I don't think this makes them any less human, it > > just says that their threshold for open source is set such that a $90 > > Windows operating system is considered acceptable but a $1 GIS is > > not. > > But to split hairs, if MapWindow is .NET based it is not entirely open > source as it is dependent on a closed source platform. That's like saying "OpenLayers is not open source when used with Google Maps" -- OpenLayers (and correspondingly, MapWindow) is (or can be) still Open Source, regardless of the libraries it depends on. Let's not play the "My software is more open than your software" game; Stallman is good enough at that. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G 2009 Code sprint
On Sun, Oct 12, 2008 at 10:18:46PM +1100, Cameron Shorter wrote: > Could someone who was at the 2008 sprint give us a summary about what > went on, specifically with details like which projects were represented? > how many people attended? OpenLayers had about 8 people. > how long did people attend for? >From whatever time they showed up -- ranging from 8:30 to 12:30 -- til we had to leave at 5. > did everyone stay for the full 3 days or did some leave early? There was only one day of the sprint. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G 2009 Code sprint
On Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 01:10:47PM -0700, Dave Patton wrote: > On 2008/10/11 12:42 PM, Tim Sutton wrote: > > >Another point to make is that the turn out to the sprint was 3.5 x the > >number of people who said they would come so getting attendance of the > >sprint as part of the registration process will help you plan better. > > Were there people who attended the FOSS4G 2008 Code Sprint > who were not registered delegates to the FOSS4G conference? > In other words, does the "code sprint registration" need > to be distinct from the "conference registration" in order > to capture everyone who is wanting to attend? I don't think we've had anything ike that happen in either 2007 or 2008... not to my memory, anyway. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G 2009 Code sprint
On Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 04:45:49PM +0800, Tim Bowden wrote: > The FOSS4G 2009 team are planning a 3 day code sprint. The conference > itself will be starting with workshops on Tuesday 20 Oct and finishing > on Friday 23rd Oct. > > The possibilities for the code sprint are for the preceding Wednesday- > Friday giving a long weekend in between (giving time for touring, more > coding or whatever) or Sat - Monday with no break between the code > sprint and the conference. What would people prefer? I'm strongly in favor of the former. For one, like Cape Town, Sydney is too long of a flight to make it just a trip about the conference, in my opinion. We had an organized group do a two day trip down the cape after the Code Sprint in Cape Town, and I think it was a really successful bonding experience for those of us who came along, allowing some non-coding social time where we all go to hang out and know each other a little better, which I expect will help develop better communications in the coming months within the project. Also, having a break between the conference after the code sprint keeps the possibility of having a 'finished' result of something by the conference more likely as well. In general, code sprints are good at producing a lot of unpolished code: a couple days can help to get the code a bit more polished in order to present it as a new development during the conference, if people so choose. Lastly, I think that having a break before the conference gives people a bit of time to unwind: code sprints tend to be exhausting if you do them right (taking full advantage of shared physical location with long hours, for example), and going directly from that into a conference (described by one attendee as being similar to 'a 5 day long rave' due to the amount of energy it consumes) feels dangerous. :) Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Conference Photos
On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 06:09:20AM -0400, Christopher Schmidt wrote: > I finally finished uploading all the photos I took at/around the FOSS4G > conference. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/crschmidt/sets/72157607549536663/ An additional point: All of these photos are CC-By, which means that they can be reused according to the Creative Commons Attribution license. "Photo courtesy Christopher Schmidt" or something similar meets the requirements of the attribution requirement as far as I'm concerned. I'd also love to see where/how people are using the photos, so dropping me a line is (though not legally required) totally awesome. Also, if there is a picture of you that you don't like included in this set, or you don't want your name/a tag associated with your pictures, please let me know. I've tried to be respectful of people's wishes in this regard, but I realize that not everyone has the same expectation of privacy (or lack thereof) that I do. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
[OSGeo-Discuss] Conference Photos
I finally finished uploading all the photos I took at/around the FOSS4G conference. http://www.flickr.com/photos/crschmidt/sets/72157607549536663/ Includes photos from: * Various nights hanging out at the bars/hotels during the conference * A trip up Table Mountain with OpenLayers/OpenGeo folks * GeoDjango Workshop * Sessions, exhibition hall, etc. * PIctures from the Gala Dinner at Moyo * Closing Session * OSGeo AGM * OpenLayers Workshop * GeoServer Workshop Photos that are taken at the conference center/of conference proceedings are also tagged with foss4g2008: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crschmidt/tags/foss4g2008/ And most photos of people who I recognized are tagged with first name in the title, and with a username (as used on IRC or other unique identifier) attached as a tag: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crschmidt/tags/seven/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/crschmidt/tags/stvn/ Photos of the AGM are also tagged as such: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crschmidt/tags/osgeo,agm/ I've made my tagging settings as open as possible, but I believe you still need to be a contact on flickr in order to add notes/tags to photos: simply add me as a contact, and I'll add you back. Any names I got wrong, please let me know, either via email or by simply commenting on the flickr photo. Thanks to all for helping to create such a photogenic conference. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Questions about CS-Map, ArcSDE 9.3, buffer operations
On Fri, Oct 03, 2008 at 07:48:02AM -0700, surrounded wrote: > > Excuse my ignorance - here goes, > > I am building a GIS web application using FDO 3.3.1, C#.net, MS Virtual > Earth, and Silverlight. As I am not sure of the relationship between OSGeo > and FDO, I will post these questions here: > > 1) I need to project coordinate systems (ex. WGS 1984 to state plane) and > cannot find a way to do this using FDO. WHAT TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE UNDER THE > OSGeo UMBRELLA TO MAKE PROJECTIONS. IF CS-MAP (recent donation from > AutoDesk) IS THE TOOL TO USE FOR PROJECTING COODINATE SYSTEMS, WHERE DO I > DOWNLOAD IT FROM? http://trac.osgeo.org/csmap/ points to http://trac.osgeo.org/csmap/wiki/HowToGetTheSourceCode which seems to indicate there is no release of the CS-Map code, so you'll be building/installing from SVN. However, like the previous poster, I agree that you may be better off *not* using CS-Map, and using poj.4 at this time. CS-Map is a recently open sourced project, and thus is still (in my estimation) in a relative untested state of its current incarnation. proj.4, has been a relatively stable project over the past long while, and is probably slighly more tested in its current state. (And it has releases and binaries for many packages due to this...) > 2) FDO 3.3.1 currently supports ArcSDE 9.2. DOES FDO 3.3.1 ALSO SUPPORT > ArcSDE 9.3? IF NOT WHEN WILL THAT HAPPEN? I'd recommend this question isbest directed to the DO list rather than included along with these other questions on this list. > 2) I need the ability to buffer features and cannot find a way to do this > using FDO. WHAT OSGeo TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE FOR BUFFERING FEATURES WHOSE > OBJECTS ARE COMPATABLE WITH FDO? I would typically use GEOS/OGR for that. I have no idea aabout its compatibility with FDO, but I wouldn't be that hopeful. Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] The existence (and value of) "clean" geocoding tools?
On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 01:53:34PM -0700, David Dearing wrote: > Hi. I just recently stumbled across OSGeo and have poked around to try > and get a feel for the different projects, but still have a lingering > question. Forgive me if this isn't the appropriate channel to be asking > this. > > It seems that there is a solid focus on mapping, image manipulation, and > geometric processing at OSGeo. And, in the more broad world including > non-open source projects, there are a lot of tools available for the > mass production of geotagged or geocoded documents. However, the > accuracy of these systems, while good, doesn't seem sufficient when > accuracy is at a premium (from what I've seen they tend to focus on volume). > > Are there any existing tools that can be used to tag/code documents, > perhaps sacrificing the mass-produced aspect for better accuracy? Have > I just missed/overlooked some existing tool(s) that meet this > description? Or, am I in the minority in wanting to produce fewer > "clean" geocoded/tagged documents rather than many "pretty good" documents? I'm not aware of many/any open source solutions for "geotagging" documents. The solutions that exist tend to be proprietary, so far as I'm aware. In general, if you're looking for a tool to tag natural langauge placenames in documents to lat/lon locations, the 'best' solution I'm aware of is MetaCarta's GeoTagger (which we can discuss more offlist, if you're interested). However, I'm not aware of anything that does this kind of analysis that isn't statistical in nature -- and statistical-based things are subject to the same types of flaws in this field, so you just tend to look for the people who are doing statistics the best. (Given that I work for MetaCarta, I won't offer an opinion on how much better we are than everyone else at this. ;)) Is this what you're looking for? Are there open source related solutions that you've found? Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] OSGeo and use of freenode for IRC
On Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 07:13:22AM +0200, Mateusz Loskot wrote: > Tyler, > > I also that main benfit of registration is to prevent hijacking of IRC > channel. Er, but that's not the same as *group* registration: channel registration is technical (creating/registering the channel through chanserv), group registration is social (filling out paperwork with network admins) right? Regards, -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
