From alexander.hagg at h-brs.de Fri Jun 6 05:36:53 2025 From: alexander.hagg at h-brs.de (Hagg, Alexander) Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2025 12:36:53 +0000 Subject: [Board] Request for Letter of Support: OpenSKIZZE-Praxis Project Message-ID: Dear OSGeo Board / OSGeo Community, My name is Dr. Alexander Hagg from the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Germany. I am currently leading the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) funded project "OpenSKIZZE," which has successfully developed a prototype of an innovative AI assistant for climate-optimized urban neighborhood planning. We are now preparing a follow-up proposal to the DBU titled "OpenSKIZZE-Praxis: Integration and Operationalization of an AI Tool in Municipal Planning Processes for Climate Adaptation." The core idea of OpenSKIZZE-Praxis is to bridge the gap between our AI-driven planning tool and its practical application in formal municipal planning procedures. A key component of this project is the development of the core functionalities as open-source add-ons for GRASS GIS/QGIS, ensuring wide accessibility, sustainability, and independence from proprietary platforms. This aligns perfectly with the mission and values of OSGeo. We believe that OSGeo's endorsement would significantly strengthen our proposal and underscore our commitment to open-source principles and community engagement. Through our cooperation with Markus Neteler, we have come to a deep respect for OSGeo's mission. We envision OSGeo's role primarily as a values-aligned partner, helping to disseminate the project's results through its established channels and connecting us with the broader open-source geospatial community. We are committed to ensuring that any developed software adheres to high-quality standards suitable for the OSGeo ecosystem. The project team at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences itself will handle all development and resource needs; we are seeking your valuable support in terms of endorsement and visibility. Below, I have drafted an abstract for the project and a template for a Letter of Support, similar to what we understand is common practice. We would be very grateful if OSGeo would consider supporting OpenSKIZZE-Praxis. Please let me know if you require any further information from our side. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Dr. Alexander Hagg Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences # ABSTRACT OpenSKIZZE-Praxis ? Integration and Operationalization of an AI Tool in Municipal Planning Processes for Climate Adaptation builds upon the successful OpenSKIZZE project. Its primary goal is the development of a practical "Climate Resilience Module" comprising the AI-based OpenSKIZZE tool, practical guidelines, and standardized text modules. This module aims to enable the systematic integration of climate adaptation measures into the formal urban development planning processes of German municipalities, particularly small and medium-sized ones. By developing the core components as open-source modules for GRASS GIS and QGIS, the project strives for broad, free, sustainable and global usability. OpenSKIZZE-Praxis aims to close the critical gap between innovative technology and applicable administrative practice, thereby effectively strengthening climate resilience in urban areas. # Letter of Support template To whom it may concern, We would like to express our support for the project proposal titled: "OpenSKIZZE-Praxis: Integration and Operationalization of an AI Tool in Municipal Planning Processes for Climate Adaptation". We consider the project highly relevant to the advancement of practical, open, and sustainable solutions for climate adaptation in urban planning using Open Source Geospatial Software and Open Standards. Its focus on developing an operational "Climate Resilience Module", including software components as add-ons for widely used OSGeo-affiliated projects like GRASS GIS and QGIS, directly addresses the need for accessible and effective tools for municipalities to integrate climate resilience into their formal planning processes. The project?s commitment to leveraging AI for environmental benefit and making these tools available as Open Source aligns strongly with OSGeo's mission to support and promote the collaborative development of open geospatial technologies and data. We welcome initiatives such as OpenSKIZZE-Praxis that aim to bridge the gap between research, technological innovation (like AI-driven planning assistants), and their practical, widespread adoption by public administrations and planning professionals. OSGeo is pleased to support the OpenSKIZZE-Praxis project in its efforts to enhance urban climate resilience through open-source tools and methodologies. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of this project and will be happy to help disseminate its results within the global open-source geospatial community. Sincerely,