Introduction to Open Source GIS David McIlhagga, President DM

Introduction to Open Source GIS David McIlhagga, President DM Solutions Group

What is Open Source and How Does it Work Freely available software and source code with limited licensing restrictions on distribution Collaborative, community-based software development process Proactively engages software users with software developers The Internet provides the backbone for a virtual software development team

Benefits of the Open Source Model No licensing fees Resources are allocated to building applications and enhancing software, not licensing multiple machines Enables development of highly customized applications based on client’s needs Vibrant user community Development priorities are driven by end-user needs Issues can be resolved in-house

Making Open Source a Reality in Your Organization Before purchasing commercial software, consider the full requirements of your organization and total costs of a commercial vs. open source approach Engage software experts early in the process of adopting technology to assess it’s potential for your organization Identify the capabilities of your staff and contractors who will be available to you. Ensure you have adequate support internally or from contractors for the technology you are adopting Monitor the activity within the open source community for the software you are considering adopting

Fertile Environments for Open Source Distributed data environments Widespread deployment of custom software Strong in-house skills or access to skilled contractors Need for highly customized applications with unique requirements

Case Study – Open Source technologies for the Oceanographic Community

The Oceans Community - Ripe for Open Source Highly Distributed Community Community has common technical needs and requirements Some of these stakeholders have little or no access to funding for purchasing software This community that has not been well served by traditional “land-oriented” GIS Community that is willing to work together, share and learn from each others experiences

Building the Integrated Ocean Observing System - The Open Source Way Collective community funds are used to support enhancements to shared software. Pay once, and everyone gains. Through Collaborative technologies such as Twikis and online bug tracking software -- information on best practices, software problems and next steps can be shared and communicated An engaged community provides superior feedback, documentation and testing within the community, keeping overall costs of software development down As other communities leverage the enhancements funded by the community, cost of maintenance is shared with other like-minded communities.

MapServer – An Open Source Success Story Embodies the open source philosophy Strong set of efficient and reliable capabilities Built with proven open source technologies Active and open development and user communities Developed on client needs, not commercial interests

The Future for Open Source Technologies More accessible Internet Adoption of open standards Tighter integration among open source technologies More demanding applications Rapidly maturing and growing user and developer communities