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    Hi Patrick,<br>
    I've asked the OSGeo board to officially support this letter. Once
    board support is provided, and we have collated signatures from all
    who wish to add their support, then I suggest we approach the media.<br>
    <br>
    This should be ~ mid next week.<br>
    <br>
    Cameron.<br>
    <br>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 16/04/2015 9:57 am, Hogan, Patrick
      (ARC-PX) wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote
cite="mid:79D76AA488C4C24B8883181318DBB4D410118FB5@NDJSMBX203.ndc.nasa.gov"
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        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Dear
            OSGeo Community,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Should
            this also be broadcast in the geospatial newsletters? Like
            MundoGeo, Sensors and Systems, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I
            don’t know how to get these online publications to run the
            story, but we should give them the opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">The
            subject may not be
          </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">endearing
            to corporate sponsors, but it is undoubtedly the right thing
            to do.
            <o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <div>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Our
              ability to communicate freely, data exchange included,
              seems an essential element to the life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">And
              why Martin Isenburg has worked so beautifully for so long!
              The classic David vs Goliath story!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">It
              is now time for us to stand with him and stand strong,
              decidedly in the interest of all.
              <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a
                moz-do-not-send="true"
                href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR_Format_Letter">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR_Format_Letter</a>
              <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">-Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        </div>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <div>
          <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF
            1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
            <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">
                <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:ica-osgeo-labs-bounces@lists.osgeo.org">ica-osgeo-labs-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</a>
                [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:ica-osgeo-labs-bounces@lists.osgeo.org">mailto:ica-osgeo-labs-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</a>]
                <b>On Behalf Of </b>Suchith Anand<br>
                <b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 13, 2015 10:30 AM<br>
                <b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:discuss@lists.osgeo.org">discuss@lists.osgeo.org</a>;
                <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:ica-osgeo-labs@lists.osgeo.org">ica-osgeo-labs@lists.osgeo.org</a>;
                <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:tc-discuss@lists.opengeospatial.org">tc-discuss@lists.opengeospatial.org</a><br>
                <b>Subject:</b> [Ica-osgeo-labs] Open Letter for the
                need for Open Standards in LiDAR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
        </div>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <div>
          <div id="divRpF57140">
            <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">To
                  all colleagues in Academia, Government and Industry
                  who have interest in maintaining Open Standards:</span></strong><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">On
                behalf of
                <strong><span
                    style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">"Geo
                    for All"</span></strong> community,
                <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://www.geoforall.org/">http://www.geoforall.org</a>,
                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
                <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR_Format_Letter">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR_Format_Letter</a>  
                that is meant to represent our concern and allow for
                ongoing input and expression by our geospatial
                community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">We
                specifically thank Martin Isenburg (author of LASzip and
                LAStools,
                <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://laszip.org/">http://laszip.org</a>
                and <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://lastools.org/">
                  http://lastools.org</a>) 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
                <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/ica-osgeo-labs/2015-March/001225.html">http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/ica-osgeo-labs/2015-March/001225.html</a>
                <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">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  <strong><span
                    style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">Patrick
                    Hogan</span></strong> (Email -
                <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="mailto:patrick.hogan@nasa.gov">patrick.hogan@nasa.gov</a>
                ) with the subject heading
                <strong><span
                    style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">"Support
                    for Open Geo Standards"</span></strong> and the
                following fields (Name, Email, Affiliation ) and we will
                gladly add this to the wiki.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">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
                <strong><span
                    style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">Scott
                    Simmons</span></strong> (Executive Director,
                Standards Program  E-mail :
                <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="mailto:ssimmons@opengeospatial.org">ssimmons@opengeospatial.org</a> 
                ) 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">I
                thank you all again for your attention and support for
                this important matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">Best
                wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">Suchith
                Anand<br>
                Founder, GeoForAll<br>
                <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                  href="http://www.geoforall.org/">http://www.geoforall.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
                <br>
                -------- Forwarded Message -------- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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              cellspacing="0">
              <tbody>
                <tr>
                  <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in" nowrap="nowrap"
                    valign="top">
                    <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right"
                      align="right"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Subject:
                          <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
                  </td>
                  <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Please
                        review: Open Letter asking to avoid format
                        fragmentation in LiDAR standards<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in" nowrap="nowrap"
                    valign="top">
                    <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right"
                      align="right"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Date:
                          <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
                  </td>
                  <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sat,
                        11 Apr 2015 12:14:51 +1000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in" nowrap="nowrap"
                    valign="top">
                    <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right"
                      align="right"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">From:
                          <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
                  </td>
                  <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Cameron
                        Shorter <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                          href="mailto:cameron.shorter@gmail.com">
                          <cameron.shorter@gmail.com></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in" nowrap="nowrap"
                    valign="top">
                    <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:right"
                      align="right"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">To:
                          <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
                  </td>
                  <td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a
                          moz-do-not-send="true"
                          href="mailto:standards@lists.osgeo.org">standards@lists.osgeo.org</a>
                        <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                          href="mailto:standards@lists.osgeo.org"><standards@lists.osgeo.org></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                  </td>
                </tr>
              </tbody>
            </table>
            <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
                <br>
                Hi all,<br>
                A number of us have been collaboratively developing an
                Open Letter asking key stakeholders to avoid
                fragmentation in LiDAR standards.<br>
                <br>
                It starts:<br>
                <i>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.</i><br>
                <br>
                Could all interested please:<br>
                1. Review and provide feedback to this standards email
                list<br>
                2. If you agree with the letter, please add your name to
                the "Signed" section<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div>
              <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">-- <o:p></o:p></span></pre>
              <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Cameron Shorter,<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
              <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Software and Data Solutions Manager<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
              <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">LISAsoft<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
              <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
              <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
              <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre>
              <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">P +61 2 9009 5000,  W <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.lisasoft.com" target="_blank">www.lisasoft.com</a>,  F +61 2 9009 5099<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
              <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
            </div>
            <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
          </div>
        </div>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">and may contain confidential information. If you have received this<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">message in error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it. <o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Please do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">message or in any attachment.  Any views or opinions expressed by the<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">University of Nottingham.<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">attachment may still contain software viruses which could damage your<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">computer system, you are advised to perform your own checks. Email<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
        <pre><span style="font-size:11.0pt">permitted by UK legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
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    </blockquote>
    <br>
    <pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">-- 
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 <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.lisasoft.com">www.lisasoft.com</a>,  F +61 2 9009 5099</pre>
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