Post on 04-Jan-2016
Using Open Source GISTechnology overview
Presented by Aaron Racicot – GIS Programmer
aaronr@ecotrust.org January 25, 2006
A Citizen of Salmon Nation
Outline
Introduction Benefits/Limitations of Open Source Technology Overview
OS GIS – Desktop Environments OS GIS – Server Tools
Workflows of interest Desktop “paper map” publishing Web map publishing Web-Based real-time decision support
Where is it all going? Where to go for more info
Who am I…B.S. Computer
Science
Split Personality
Telemark/BC SkiingRafting Guide Mountain Rescue
M.S. Environmental Science
Open Source User/Developer
GIS Programmer
Ecotrust - Salmon Nation
Why Open Source?
“Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price.
Free Software!
Freedom
Four basic freedoms (The Free Software Foundation):
The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
The freedom to study how the program works, and
adapt
it to your needs. Access to the source code is a precondition for
this.
The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help
your
neighbor.
The freedom to improve the program, and release
your
improvements to the public, so that the whole
community
benefits. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
Benefits/Limitations of Open SourceBenefits:
– Software cost = $0– Source code is available and modifiable– User and development communities flourish– Development cycles are VERY fast
Limitations:– Total cost is NOT = $0– Many applications are not as polished as the
proprietary counterparts– Compatibility with proprietary software can be an
issue
OS GIS – Desktop Environments
GRASS GIS
OS GIS - Server Tools
GRASS GIS
GDAL/OGR
R-Statistics
OS GIS – Server Tools
• Pro’s:– Wide variety of platforms supported (i.e. UNIX, Linux,
Windows, Mac OS)– Often very fast and efficient for the job– Many formats supported– You can pick the best tool for the job– Most conform to the OGC standards for interoperability
• Con’s:– Linking them together is often hard– Write support is often not supported for proprietary formats– Ability to integrate into proprietary systems is limited (i.e.
can not link PostGIS database to ArcMap…yet) – Separate packages all with their own strengths– Requires multiple installs and maintenance– User interfaces are often the last part of development– Harder to produce traditional “paper maps”
Workflows of Interest
Most GIS applications have a similar work flow pattern…
Gather spatially explicit data
Process that data to suit the user
needs
Produce outputs useful to the end
user
Work Flow – Paper Map Publishing
Data Gathering
Data Formatting
Data Processing
Map Formatting
Map Production
User Request
User Response
Workflow – What OSGIS is good at
Data Gathering
Data Formatting
Data Processing
Map Formatting
Map Production
User Request
User Response
Great at data processing but
poor at formatting and creating paper maps
Paper Map Publishing
Example – Paper Map Publishing QGIS ArcMap
Work Flow – Web Map Publishing
Map Formatting
Map Production
Web User Request
Web User Response
StaticData Storage
WebService
s
Work Flow – What OSGIS is good at
Map Formatting
Map Production
Web User Request
Web User Response
StaticData Storage
WebService
s
Great at all aspects of traditional web-based
mapping
Web Map Publishing
Examples – Web Map Publishing
CustomDHTML/JavaScript
Chameleon
Examples – Web Map Publishing
Ka-MapDM Solutions
Cartoweb3CampToCamp
Work Flow – Real-Time Web DST
Web User Request
Web User Response
StaticData Storage
WebService
sData Gathering
Data Formatting
Data Processing
Map Formatting
Map Production
Real-Time Web Decision Support Tools
Work Flow – What OSGIS is good at
Web User Request
Web User Response
StaticData Storage
WebService
sData Gathering
Data Formatting
Data Processing
Map Formatting
Map Production
The Problem Is The Arrows! Connecting a web request to server side GIS analysis is tricky
Real-Time Web Decision Support Tools
Example – Real-Time Web DSTSiuslaw Watershed Restoration Initiative
Work Flow – Real-Time Web DST
Data Gathering
Data Formatting
Data Processing
GRASS
Mapserver
Mapserver on the front end… GRASS on the back end…
Ecotrust Example
At Ecotrust we are trying to help pull it all together in an Open Source context
- QGIS and GRASS as a desktop supplement- QT as an application development framework- PostGIS to store vector data layers- Mapserver as a web-based front end- Chameleon/Custom Interface as a client user interface- GRASS as a server side GIS for DST development- OGR/GDAL to pre-process all of the vector and raster data- R-Statistics and GMT for graphing and statistical work
Ecotrust Example - OCEANSystem
Chameleon
Mapserver
R-StatisticsUser driven… Web interactive tools… GIS analytical computing…
PostGIS GRASS
Ecotrust Example - OCEANSystem
QGIS/GRASS
Where is it all going?
• Real-Time Decision Support Tools• Integration of OS software across
organizations• “Google” type interfaces (smooth user
experience)– AJAX driven– Streaming media– Seamless datasets
• Large datasets require more pre-processing• Pressure on large private companies to
become more responsive to end user needs• Integration of OSGIS with proprietary
software – required for migration path…• Start of services based business…
The Future of GIS in Salmon Nation
QGIS/GRASSGIS
Web-BasedMapserver
R-StatisticsGMT
Fully Integrated Open-Source GISQGIS/GRASS GIS – Fully
functional server GIS doing the heavy lifting. Runs on the server located at Ecotrust.
UMN Mapserver – Making data accessible via the web. Geo-spatial server viewed through a web browser. Taking our vision to a growing audience.
Adding the analytical glue to make smart decisions based upon sound GIS analysis.
Making GIS analysis
accessible and affordable for Salmon Nation
Where to go for more info
OSGIS Maptools - http://www.maptools.org FreeGIS - http://freegis.org/ Open Source GIS - http://opensourcegis.org/
Standards OGC - http://www.opengeospatial.org/
Desktop GRASS - http://grass.itc.it/ QGIS - http://qgis.org/ UDIG - http://udig.refractions.net/confluence/display/UDIG/Home JUMP – http://jump-project.org/ OpenEV - http://openev.sourceforge.net/
Server/Web Mapserver - http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/ GRASS - http://grass.itc.it/ PostGIS - http://postgis.refractions.net/
Tools Remote Sensing - http://remotesensing.org/tiki-index.php GDAL/OGR - http://gdal.maptools.org/index.html PROJ.4 - http://proj.maptools.org/
The End
Tool Screen Shots Follow
Backup - GRASS
Backup - QGIS
Backup - OSSIM
Backup - UDIG
Backup - JUMP
Backup – R-Statistics
Backup – PostGIS
Geometry
WKT Geometry