Introduction to the Open Source GeoSpatial (OSGeo) Foundation

Presentation to Natural Resources Canada

June 1st, 2006

Dave McIlhagga

OSGeo Board Member

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

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

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

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)

It’s Not Just Hockey Canada dominates … (Go Oilers Go)

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

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

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 organization’s 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.

Today’s GeoSpatial Divide N

S

EW

15 mi to MyStore

Traditional GIS

First Generation Web Delivery

The gap between Traditional GIS and ‘MapQuest style mapping’ exists today as the web disrupter begins to change the space.

Thank you!

Contact Information:

Dave McIlhagga

Email: dmcilhagga@dmsolutions.ca

Phone: 613-565-5056 x15

http://www.dmsolutions.ca

http://www.osgeo.org