[OSGeo-Discuss] UN-GGIM The Future Trends in geospatial information management: the five to ten year vision

Peter Baumann p.baumann at jacobs-university.de
Sun Nov 8 03:07:28 PST 2020


Hi Suchith,

thank you for responding, and as well for your patience - weekends allow me to
catch up.

I respectfully disagree with your view - the report implies to operate on some
high standard which however it fails to fulfil.
Thank you for the kind invitation to participate, I will see that I find time
once I learn about it. Looking at the list archives actually I could find one
single invitation [1] (as we all know normally you would send several), and that
was quite indirect: "share your inputs for the digital divide sub theme". Not
sufficiently open and transparent.
As you know from science: when you submit an article and reviewers criticize it
saying "next time join us to make it better" is not going to be instrumental. As
professionals we know our business.
And indeed the document does grossly violate basic principles of open science,
including (but not limited to) not clearly disclosing persons responsible; not
disclosing the methodology; strong unilateral bias; completely ignoring the
state of the art; etc.

Let's do a thought experiment for a crosscheck: think of ESRI sending this
report, only mentioning ESRI; and think of your response coming from ESRI
instead - would the community enjoy that?

Some Sunday thoughts,
Peter

[1]
http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Third-Edition-of-UN-GGIM-Future-Trends-report-Inputs-for-Bridging-the-digital-divide-td5409578.html

On 25.10.20 16:19, Suchith Anand wrote:
>
> Hi Peter,
>
>
> Thank you for sharing the RDA Array databases report. That is very useful.
>
>
> The UNGGIM future trends report  (third edition) was produced by the hardwork
> and efforts of many colleagues and organisations over a  year. There was an
> open call inviting all interested to contribute on all areas of future
> developments , so  it would have been great if you could contribute your
> expertise in data cubes for this. The call inviting contributions was open to
> all and was shared in UN-GGIM website,  all key GIS/EO networks and mail
> lists.  I request you to please consider sharing your expertise for this topic
> for the next edition.
>
>
> I think there is always room for improvement for any work, so I hope UNGGIM in
> their next edition will be able to improve based on the feedbacks and include
> more ideas/inputs. I think it is important to thank and acknowledge the good
> work done by all colleagues in UN GGIM and all colleagues and organisations
> who responded to the open call and contributed thier time and expertise for
> this report.
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
> Suchith
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Peter Baumann <p.baumann at jacobs-university.de>
> *Sent:* 25 October 2020 12:53
> *To:* Suchith Anand <ezasa7 at exmail.nottingham.ac.uk>; discuss at lists.osgeo.org
> <discuss at lists.osgeo.org>; GeoForAll <GeoForAll at lists.osgeo.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] UN-GGIM The Future Trends in geospatial
> information management: the five to ten year vision
>  
> thanks for sharing this, Suchith!
>
> While the report overall makes a very good impression it violates the
> principles of both open + science in at least one place, the one I checked:
> datacubes, for my personal curiosity. What I find is that only one tool, ODC,
> gets described, leaving the impression to the innocent reader that this is the
> only technology relevant/existing.
>
> Why this is problematic:
>
> - Science: Science is all about reproducibility. A scientific report would
> reflect on the state of the art; for example, in the RDA report [1] 19 tools
> have been investigated, and meantime for sure there are more. Further,
> objective criteria would get established along which the tools would get
> assessed. Science requires (i) listing tools and (ii) assessing them for
> adequate criteria, such as power, performance, standards adherence, etc. Hard
> work? Yes, of course, who said science is one lazy afternoon's work? The RDA
> report took over 1.5 years to compile, devise and run benchmarks, etc.
>
> - Open: would require that the collection process is documented, the community
> at large can contribute before publishing. I could not find any earlier
> invitation to contribute on the topics of datacubes. Bottom line, the
> procedure is all but open and transparent.
>
> Bottom line, this report is in contrast to openness, transparency, and good
> science, it rather represents subliminal advertisement for a single tool
> lobbied. That the name of the UN is (mis)used here makes it even more problematic.
>
> Not a shining example for the principles this community is striving for.
>
> Disappointedly,
> Peter
>
> [1] https://rd-alliance.org/system/files/Array-Databases_final-report.pdf
>
> On 23.10.20 12:05, Suchith Anand wrote:
>>
>> The United Nations initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management
>> (UN-GGIM) aims at playing a leading role in setting the agenda for the
>> development of global geospatial information and to promote its use to
>> address key global challenges. It provides a forum to liaise and coordinate
>> among Member States, and between Member States and international
>> organizations. Details at https://ggim.un.org <https://ggim.un.org/>
>>
>>
>> 'The Future Trends in geospatial information management: the five to ten year
>> vision – Third Edition, August 2020’  by the United Nations Committee of
>> Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management is now published at 
>>
>>
>> https://ggim.un.org/meetings/GGIM-committee/10th-Session/documents/Future_Trends_Report_THIRD_EDITION_digital_accessible.pdf
>>
>>  
>>
>>
>> The section on Open Science might be of interest. I wish to thank all
>> colleagues who contribute to open education and open geospatial science [1]
>> for bridging the geospatial digital divide. [2],[3],[4]
>>
>>  
>>
>> I am grateful to everyone working to make geoeducation and digital economy
>> opportunities available for everyone.
>>
>>  
>>
>> Best wishes,
>>
>>  
>>
>> Suchith
>>
>>
>>
>> Dr. Suchith Anand
>>
>> Chief Scientist
>>
>> Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition 
>>
>> https://www.godan.info <https://www.godan.info/>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [1] https://www.osgeo.org/foundation-news/open-geospatial-science/
>>
>>  
>>
>> [2]
>> https://www.osgeo.org/foundation-news/applying-open-principles-in-geospatial-education-to-enable-the-right-to-benefit-from-scientific-progress/
>>
>>  
>>
>> [3]
>> https://www.osgeo.org/foundation-news/sharing-the-digital-economy-with-everyone/
>>
>>  
>>
>> [4]
>> https://www.osgeo.org/foundation-news/please-share-geoforall-teaching-research-resources-colleagues-students/
>>
>>
>>  
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
> -- 
> Dr. Peter Baumann
>  - Professor of Computer Science, Jacobs University Bremen
>    www.faculty.jacobs-university.de/pbaumann <http://www.faculty.jacobs-university.de/pbaumann>
>    mail: p.baumann at jacobs-university.de <mailto:p.baumann at jacobs-university.de>
>    tel: +49-421-200-3178, fax: +49-421-200-493178
>  - Executive Director, rasdaman GmbH Bremen (HRB 26793)
>    www.rasdaman.com <http://www.rasdaman.com>, mail: baumann at rasdaman.com <mailto:baumann at rasdaman.com>
>    tel: 0800-rasdaman, fax: 0800-rasdafax, mobile: +49-173-5837882
> "Si forte in alienas manus oberraverit hec peregrina epistola incertis ventis dimissa, sed Deo commendata, precamur ut ei reddatur cui soli destinata, nec preripiat quisquam non sibi parata." (mail disclaimer, AD 1083)
>
>
> This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee
> and may contain confidential information. If you have received this
> message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and
> attachment. 
>
> Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not
> necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email
> communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored 
> where permitted by law.
>
>
>

-- 
Dr. Peter Baumann
 - Professor of Computer Science, Jacobs University Bremen
   www.faculty.jacobs-university.de/pbaumann
   mail: p.baumann at jacobs-university.de
   tel: +49-421-200-3178, fax: +49-421-200-493178
 - Executive Director, rasdaman GmbH Bremen (HRB 26793)
   www.rasdaman.com, mail: baumann at rasdaman.com
   tel: 0800-rasdaman, fax: 0800-rasdafax, mobile: +49-173-5837882
"Si forte in alienas manus oberraverit hec peregrina epistola incertis ventis dimissa, sed Deo commendata, precamur ut ei reddatur cui soli destinata, nec preripiat quisquam non sibi parata." (mail disclaimer, AD 1083)


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