[Ica-osgeo-labs] Open Letter: the need for Open Standards in LiDAR

[Hogan, Patrick (ARC-PX)]

Dear OSGeo Community,
Should this also be broadcast in the geospatial newsletters? Like MundoGeo, Sensors and Systems, etc.
I don't know how to get these online publications to run the story, but we should give them the opportunity.
The subject may not be endearing to corporate sponsors, but it is undoubtedly the right thing to do.
Our ability to communicate freely, data exchange included, seems an essential element to the life.
And why Martin Isenburg has worked so beautifully for so long! The classic David vs Goliath story!
It is now time for us to stand with him and stand strong, decidedly in the interest of all.
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR_Format_Letter
-Patrick

From: ica-osgeo-labs-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:ica-osgeo-labs-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Suchith Anand
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 10:30 AM
To: discuss at lists.osgeo.org; ica-osgeo-labs at lists.osgeo.org; tc-discuss at lists.opengeospatial.org
Subject: [Ica-osgeo-labs] Open Letter for the need for Open Standards in LiDAR

To all colleagues in Academia, Government and Industry who have interest in maintaining Open Standards:


On behalf of "Geo for All" community, http://www.geoforall.org<http://www.geoforall.org/>, I would like to bring to your kind attention a significant development that can lead to undermining our principle for Open Geospatial Standards. I request you review the wikipage http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR_Format_Letter   that is meant to represent our concern and allow for ongoing input and expression by our geospatial community.

We specifically thank Martin Isenburg (author of LASzip and LAStools, http://laszip.org<http://laszip.org/> and http://lastools.org<http://lastools.org/>) for  bringing this matter to our attention (email below) and an email thread of our initial discussion of this subject that highlight the wider implication of this issue http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/ica-osgeo-labs/2015-March/001225.html
We request all who wish to support this effort to protect Open Standards for Geospatial data to kindly add your name , email, affiliation details to the wikipage directly or email  Patrick Hogan (Email - patrick.hogan at nasa.gov<mailto:patrick.hogan at nasa.gov> ) with the subject heading "Support for Open Geo Standards" and the following fields (Name, Email, Affiliation ) and we will gladly add this to the wiki.

There is current interest by the OGC in pursuing point cloud encoding standards, including a member-initiated mechanism to extend LAS data with OGC-standard XML content. The OGC invites interested members who wish to  work on this effort to please contact Scott Simmons (Executive Director, Standards Program  E-mail : ssimmons at opengeospatial.org<mailto:ssimmons at opengeospatial.org>  ) to register their interest and discuss details.  OGC will also be holding an ad hoc session at our next Technical Committee meeting in Boulder, CO, USA in June 1st (more details will be send soon) to bring together all interested from all sectors (government, industry, academia) for this and plan next steps. We welcome feedback and input from Esri and invite them to join this effort to  support open LIDAR formats.

I thank you all again for your attention and support for this important matter.

Best wishes,

Suchith Anand
Founder, GeoForAll
http://www.geoforall.org<http://www.geoforall.org/>




-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject:

Please review: Open Letter asking to avoid format fragmentation in LiDAR standards

Date:

Sat, 11 Apr 2015 12:14:51 +1000

From:

Cameron Shorter <cameron.shorter at gmail.com><mailto:cameron.shorter at gmail.com>

To:

standards at lists.osgeo.org<mailto:standards at lists.osgeo.org> <standards at lists.osgeo.org><mailto:standards at lists.osgeo.org>



Hi all,
A number of us have been collaboratively developing an Open Letter asking key stakeholders to avoid fragmentation in LiDAR standards.

It starts:
We, the undersigned, are concerned that the current interoperability between LiDAR applications, through use of the open "LAS" format, is being threatened by ESRI's introduction and promotion of an alternative "Optimized LAS" proprietary format. This is of concern since the fragmentation of the LAS format will lead to reduced interoperability between applications and organisations, and introduce vendor lock-in.

Could all interested please:
1. Review and provide feedback to this standards email list
2. If you agree with the letter, please add your name to the "Signed" section

--

Cameron Shorter,

Software and Data Solutions Manager

LISAsoft

Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,

26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009



P +61 2 9009 5000,  W www.lisasoft.com<http://www.lisasoft.com>,  F +61 2 9009 5099









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