Introduction to the Open Source GeoSpatial (OSGeo) Foundation Presentation to Natural Resources Canada

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Introduction to the Open Source GeoSpatial
(OSGeo) FoundationPresentation to Natural
Resources Canada

• June 1st, 2006
• Dave McIlhagga
• OSGeo Board Member

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OSGeo in Brief

• OSGeo was formed February 4th, 2006 at the
  inaugural meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
• Mission - To support the development of open
  source geospatial software, and promote its
  widespread use.
• Consists of 21 Founding members which has been
  broadened to an initial 45 members.
• Founding Board of 9 members, President is Frank
  Warmerdam

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OSGeo Founding Projects

• Eight Founding Projects will define the
  incubation process for future projects to join
  the foundation. These include
• GDAL (Raster Vector Data Access Library)
• GeoTools
• GRASS
• Mapbender
• MapBuilder
• MapGuide Open Source
• MapServer
• OSSIM

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Key OSGeo Goals of Interest

• To provide resources for foundation projects to
  cover infrastructure, legal, funding activities
  and more
• To promote the use of open source software in the
  geospatial industry
• To promote freely available geodata through the
  Public Geospatial Data Project
• To encourage the implementation of open standards
  and standards-based interoperability in
  foundation projects
• To provide support for the use of OSGeo software
  in education via curriculum development,
  outreach, and support

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Oh(SGeo) Canada!

• Canadians are a big part of the OSGeo Story
• 2 of 9 Board Members are Canadian - Frank
  Warmerdam Dave McIlhagga
• 12 of 45 OSGeo Members are Canadian - Bob Bray,
  Daniel Morissette, Dave McIlhagga, Dave Blasby,
  Frank Warmerdam, Jason Birch, Jeff McKenna, Jody
  Garnett, Mike Adair, Paul Ramsey, Paul Spencer
  Tyler Mitchell
• Canadian Organizations include - Autodesk Canada
  (1), City of Nanaimo (1), DM Solutions Group (3),
  MapGears (1), Refractions Research (2), Natural
  Resources Canada (1)
• Its Not Just Hockey Canada dominates (Go
  Oilers Go)

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Active Committees at OSGeo

• Board of Directors
• Website Committee
• Fundraising Committee
• Incubation Committee
• Promotion and Visibility Committee
• Public Geospatial Data Committee
• Education and Curriculum Committee
• System Administration Committee
• Certification Committee

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Local OSGeo Chapter

• Currently in discussion how to form a local OSGeo
  Chapter
• Ottawa likely to be the first local OSGeo
  Chapter, born from the Ottawa MapServer Users
  Group (OMSUG) who hosted the OSGIS 2004
  Conference in Ottawa
• Expected Launch by end of summer, 2006

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Working with OSGeo

• Mechanisms for organizations to formally work
  with OSGeo are currently being determined
• The Foundation is very Open to work with anyone
  who can help further the organizations mission
  and goals
• OSGeo is interested in defining the mechanism for
  working with the organization with potential
  partners
• Strong local presence will facilitate future
  potential discussions if of interest within
  GeoConnections and Natural Resources Canada.

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Todays GeoSpatial Divide
First Generation Web Delivery
Traditional GIS
The gap between Traditional GIS and MapQuest
style mapping exists today as the web disrupter
begins to change the space.
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Thank you!

• Contact Information
• Dave McIlhagga
• Email dmcilhagga_at_dmsolutions.ca
• Phone [phone] x15
• http//www.dmsolutions.ca
• http//www.osgeo.org