[OSGeo Africa] ILWIS 3.5 Open Released + OSGeo news

[Gavin Fleming]

Many of you have used ILWIS. Most GIS graduates of RAU / UJ know it
well. 

 

A year ago, ITC's Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS)
successfully migrated to the open source scene with ILWIS 3.4 Open.
Since then 

it has enjoyed increasing use in the open source community. We have
registered 20,000 hits in one year! An increasingly active community has
just brought out a new release - ILWIS 3.5 Open. This release provides a
more flexible, easy to install, powerful, PC-based GIS and Remote
Sensing software package.

 

ILWIS is featured at FOSS4G 2008 (Register now at www.foss4g2008.org
<http://www.foss4g2008.org/> ): 

 

1) 90min hands-on lab: Using and extending ILWIS open source GIS
software together with GEONETCast services for web-based satellite image
analysis  

2) Presentation: Web processing and spatial analysis with the ILWIS open
source GIS software and GEOSS data    

3) Presentation: Modus Operandi of a FOSS GIS project in India    

 

See the 52North Newsletter for details of the ILWIS 3.5 release:

 

http://52north.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=243&Itemid=
148 

 

Newsletter topics:

 

1. ILWIS 3.5 Open

2. SOS passes OGC compliancy test

3. SPS is OGC compliant

4. OX-Framework supports new OGC Web Service types

5. new WPS release candidates

6. new cooperation partners

7. new repositories

 

OSGeo news:

 

The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) recently added two new
directors to its board and updated its officer positions, including a
new President.

 

New President

 

The OSGeo Board of Directors selected Arnulf Christl as its new
President. Mr. Christl brings years of experience in the geospatial
industry, including a strong perspective on the use of free and open
source software within a business context through his company WhereGroup
in Bonn, Germany. He has served on OSGeo's Board from its inception and
been involved in several aspects from Marketing to Web management as
well as in leading the Mapbender web mapping project.  

He is committed to seeing OSGeo continue its global advocacy efforts to
help organizations continue to adopt free and open source solutions
across all domains.

 

He explains, "I'm pleased to be able to help in my new role as OSGeo
President. I have three main goals on my personal agenda. First, further
support for emerging local chapters, encouraging them to develop
meetings/conferences that complement our global FOSS4G effort. Second,
improve our support for businesses using and supporting Open Source
Geospatial software. Our organization is now so strong and healthy that
we need to tell the world about it in the press and at conferences.
Third, and most challenging, bridging the extremes of proprietary
businesses and thorough grassroots volunteerism. If it is possible, then
OSGeo is the organization capable of bridging this gap."

 

 

New Treasurer

 

After two years in the position, Frank Warmerdam stepped down as
President to focus on others aspects of the organization and to make
space for new ideas and vision in the leadership role. He was chosen as
the new Treasurer of OSGeo, taking over from Dave McIlhagga who held the
position previously.

 

Mr. Warmerdam describes the change, "I really enjoyed being President
and am thrilled with the progress we've made. Arnulf's enthusiasm and
experience make him a ideal President. I have been interested in helping
more on the financial management side of the organisation, so it's great
to be able to do so in the official role as Treasurer."

 

As a leader of the GDAL/OGR Project, Mr. Warmerdam has been closely tied
to the finances of OSGeo, collecting over $30,000 (USD) in sponsorships
for that project. He will help to streamline financial processes and
oversee financial reporting, while working alongside the current Finance
Committee.

 

 

New Board

 

In July, 2008, elections for 4 (out of 9) Board of Director positions
were completed. The results saw two new directors join and two others
re-elected to previously expired positions. The new board consists of:

 

Robert (Bob) Bray (USA)

Howard Butler (USA) - New director

Arnulf Christl (Germany) - Re-elected

Ari Jolma (Finland) - New director

Markus Neteler (Italy)

Paul Ramsey (Canada)

Jeroen Ticheler (The Netherlands)

Jo Walsh (Spain)

Frank Warmerdam (Canada) - Re-elected

 

About the Open Source Geospatial Foundation

 

The Open Source Geospatial Foundation, or OSGeo, is a not-for-profit
organization whose mission is to support and promote the collaborative
development of open geospatial technologies and data.  

The Foundation provides financial, organizational and legal support to
the broader open source geospatial community. It also serves as an
independent legal entity to which community members can contribute code,
funding and other resources, secure in the knowledge that their
contributions will be maintained for public benefit.

 

OSGeo also serves as an outreach and advocacy organization for the open
source geospatial community, and provides a common forum and shared
infrastructure for improving cross-project collaboration. The
Foundation's projects are all freely available and useable under an
OSI-certified open source license.

------

Contact: Tyler Mitchell, Executive Director, OSGeo Email:  

tmitchell at osgeo.org

 

 

Register now for FOSS4G 2008: www.foss4g2008.org
<http://www.foss4g2008.org/>  

 

 

 

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