[OSGeo-Discuss] Next 5 years for OSGeo

["René A. Enguehard"]

What I'd like to see within the next 5 years would be more analytical 
tools. Most of the projects in OSGeo are very much enablers: they put 
the facilities in place for people to program their own tools. However, 
as I have noticed over the years, people are reluctant to move to open 
source implementations of geospatial software because they are, in 
effect, losing capabilities. Yes, there is still the potential for the 
same capabilities to be put back in, but the fact remains they just 
aren't there. For example, I have never seen any MCDA, PCA, HotSpot 
Analysis, CART or neural network tools in open source packages. If we 
were to produce a comprehensive suite of tools offering the standard 
analytical tools as well as some more advanced ones, then these 
proprietary offerings wouldn't look as appealing. Moreover, if we had a 
consolidated toolset which could be used on a multitude of project we 
would not have to re-invent the wheel for each separate project. 
Currently, proprietary software generally offers advanced analytic 
capability out-of-the-box and open source software does not. I see this 
as a bit of a stumbling block.

Another thing, and I was chatting about this in the lab today, is that 
for particular needs, open source implementations of geospatial software 
generally don't have much to offer. The generic capabilities are there, 
or at least enabled for others to program, but special-needs cases there 
is not much. The example used today in the lab was CARIS HIPS or SIPS. 
What, if anything, exists in the open source community that could come 
close to the processing capabilities of this?

Still another area with a lack of development is 3D and 4D modeling / 
rendering / analysis, something like ESRI ArcGlobe with the 3D Analyst 
package or Myriax Eonfusion. There has been very little work in these 
domains which are of particular interest to me. Perhaps the amount of 
people working in these areas is much smaller than the amount of people 
using something more like general analytic capabilities, but it is an 
area that "needs work" nonetheless.

The point, and I'd like to make this clear, is not the I'm bemoaning the 
lack of features and projects in the open source community. I think 
OSGeo and the open source community have done a tremendous job and 
should feel, rightfully, proud at what they have accomplished. However, 
when asked what I'd like to see on the agenda for OSGeo, this is it. I'd 
like to see a hard push towards analytics to make the various projects 
we have to offer more directly useful to the average GIS user. In the 
end, it's really about market penetration. The more useful open source 
software is, the better a "deal" it looks like to outsiders and the more 
people we'll attract.

Please note: I don't presume to speak for anyone but myself, IANAL, just 
my two cents, your mileage may vary, et cetera, et cetera, ad nauseam.

Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
> Hi everyone, a recent chat I was asked about our vision for OSGeo over
> the next 3 and 5 years.  I'd really like to hear thoughts on the matter
> and pool a few of the ideas together for further discussions amongst
> committees, projects, chapters and the board.  
>
> It's also a good way for the board nominees in the upcoming election to
> get a sense of where other members are thinking these days.
>
> Best wishes,
> Tyler
>
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>