[Foss4g2009] Re: Geospatial Integration Showcase - meeting notes [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[mapbutcher]

Folks,

I have a couple of concerns:

1. Within the context of the conference next year we have a small amount of
people at this stage and a growing set of tasks to complete. From comments
made by Gavin, Paul, Jeff, Dave etc to this list and from my conversations
with others who are regularly involved with running conferences - it will be
a significant amount of work - which we shouldn't under-estimate. I don't
want to rain on this as I agree with Cameron - a successful integration
showcase is a draw card, but given our very tight resources is it going to
be realistically achievable?
2. What is it we are actually talking about  - I'm keen to avoid discussions
about servers/platforms/who owns what etc etc until we are clear on what we
are proposing

So I would like to propose that we direct discussions in the direction of
scope - this will hopefully provide us all with a common understanding of
what we are trying to achieve, and it provides us with a clear definition
which we can take out to a wider community to canvas interest.

The GeoSpatial Integration Showcase might be an event which is

:supported by permanent or temporary infrastructure?
:supported by an environment which can host multiple operating
systems\configurations?
:is open to open source projects and proprietary vendors?
:can support some kind of benchmarking of system to system performance?
:promotes the use of OGC standards as a means to integrate technology?
:demonstrates a purpose which is beyond pure demonstration of component
integration?
:has a common theme which can be conveyed to all participants?
:has a common set of data which can be shared by all participants?

One approach is to focus on developing a framework which is transferable and
continues to be attractive to participants. Where participants can integrate
on a level playing field, with a known set of constants (infrastructure,
environment, data, scenario)? What are the outputs of this repeatable event?
Perhaps the big picture is a project which supports the continuing
development of these showcase events, with a website supporting the
publication of the annual theme/scenario and data, where the *rules of
engagement* are clear for all participants to see, where interested parties
can find out information on the purpose of the annual integration showcase
and see the results of previous years event? A facility which provides
organisations with a set of use cases and demonstrated technology solutions
- this is where i think the real value is.

On a practical level what might this involve?

At FOSS4G 2009 we aim to prove the concept. We do not invest on a permanent
basis but rather lay out a simple set of principles and aim to get a number
of committed participants (I think even this is ambitious given our time
frames, commitments etc). We aim primarily at proving and understanding the
process so we can pass it on, the results should change from event to event?

My feeling is that these larger questions need to be clear before we go and
think about formalising things?

Simon




2008/10/30 Cameron Shorter <cameron.shorter at gmail.com>

> Read from bottom to top: discussion between OGC and OSGeo about a
> Geospatial Integration Showcase:
>
> I'm +1 for server installed with Virtual Machines as suggested by Raj and
> Bruce.
>
> In answer to Raj's question, I believe the OGC should be custodian of the
> Showcase VM/Server. To attract vendors, the Showcase should not be locked
> into one vendor, or open source solution.
>
> CCed to the foss4g list with permission from Bruce, Raj and myself.
>
> Greg, it would be good to move over to an OGC email list soon if you are
> able to provide that infrastructure.
>
>
> Bruce Bannerman wrote:
>
>> Cameron,
>>
>> We still need a better definition of what this 'thing' is that we are
>> trying to put together.
>>
>> You have provided a good start with your example, however I find it
>> difficult to believe that all vendors would like their products mastered
>> on an Open Source DVD.
>>
>> Ideally, I'd like to see this run, managed and maintained by the OGC to
>> ensure that the perception of a Level Playing Field is maintained. We
>> can and should help to drive 'it'.
>>
>>
>> For another suggestion as to what 'it' might be:
>>
>> I agree with the need for a scenario driven approach, however this
>> should be portable. We'll want to allow additional scenarios in the
>> future if this 'thing' is to be portable.
>>
>>
>> We could look at sourcing a high performance server and run something
>> like VMWare ESX Server as the host platform. OGC would be responsible
>> for administering the ESX server.
>>
>>
>> We could then offer each vendor the opportunity to configure a virtual
>> server using their Operating System of choice, configured and tuned to
>> ensure optimal performance for their products. The vendor would be
>> responsible for maintaining 'their' virtual server.
>>
>>
>> During the event, ESX Admin consoles would need to be made public to
>> ensure that all participants to see that all virtual servers were
>> allocated equal resources.
>>
>>
>> This would then give us a level playing field with which to compare
>> product performance on the same set of data.
>>
>>
>> This is another take on an 'Integration Showcase'.
>>
>>
>> Bruce
>>
>>   --
>>   Bruce Bannerman
>>   Supervisor, Climate Centre Computing Support
>>   National Climate Centre
>>   Bureau of Meteorology
>>   700 Collins Street, Melbourne, Vic 3001
>>   Australia
>>   Tel: +61 3 9669 4093
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Raj Singh [mailto:rsingh at opengeospatial.org] Sent: Thursday, 30
>>> October 2008 8:04 AM
>>> To: Cameron Shorter
>>> Cc: Greg Buehler; Simon Hope; Bruce Bannerman; Jeff McKenna
>>> Subject: Re: Geospatial Integration Showcase - meeting notes
>>>
>>> You talk about creating a server that moves around to different venues. I
>>> like this idea as it would do a few things:
>>> - deployable on a LAN, avoiding exploitative Internet access costs at
>>> conferences
>>> - take the speed vagaries of the general Internet out of the equation
>>> when examining performance
>>> - easier to tweak and administer as it wouldn't be behind a firewall or
>>> subject to some rigid sys admin
>>>
>>> However, who would own it or at least be the caretaker? OGF? OGC?  Would
>>> it be passed down to FOSS4G conference committees?
>>> ---
>>> Raj
>>>
>>>
>>> On Oct 29, at 3:57 AM, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Raj, Greg, Simon, Bruce, Jeff,
>>>> I'd like to CC this email to the foss4g email list for transparency and
>>>> archiving. Could you please confirm to me that it is ok.
>>>> I have ACTION items listed below.
>>>>
>>>> =Geospatial Integration Showcase Teleconference=
>>>>
>>>> 29 October 2008
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?month=10&day=29&y
>>>
>>>
>>>> ear=2008&hour=8&min=0&sec=0&p1=240
>>>>
>>>> Next meeting in 2 weeks:
>>>> Tu/We 11 or 12 November 2008. 5pm in New York. 8am in Sydney.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?month=11&day=12&y
>>>
>>>
>>>> ear=2008&hour=8&min=0&sec=0&p1=240
>>>>
>>>> Present:
>>>> * Greg Buehler OGC,
>>>> * Raj Singh OGC,
>>>> * Cameron Shorter LISAsoft, FOSS4G Australia,
>>>> * Bruce Bannerman Bureau of Meteorology, FOSS4G Australia,
>>>> * Simon Hope, ESRI Australia, FOSS4G Australia,
>>>> * Jeff McKenna, OSGeo Conference/FOSS4G Committees
>>>>
>>>> Agenda:
>>>> * Define Integration Showcase
>>>> * Identify action items to achieve showcase
>>>>
>>>> Wiki:
>>>> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Geospatial_Integration_Showcase
>>>>
>>>> ==Discussion==
>>>> Cameron's definition of showcase:
>>>> # The Geospatial Integration Showcase provides an easily
>>>>
>>> deployable,
>>>
>>>> practical demonstration of standards based interoperability between
>>>> geospatial applications.
>>>> # Easily redeployed between conferences # Install software on one server
>>>> with numerous virtual machines.
>>>> # Client software on another computer
>>>> # Open Source LiveDVD will provide core functionality
>>>>
>>>> ==Discussion==
>>>> Over email for the next 2 weeks we need to define the Integration
>>>> Showcase. Elements that we need to define are:
>>>>
>>>> === Scenario ===
>>>> * What scenario should we use?
>>>> * Scenario needs to satisfy sponsors
>>>> * Should be Australian based in order to interest local FOSS4G attendees
>>>> * Noted that Australia is interested in Climate Change and
>>>>
>>> water (lack
>>>
>>>> of it)
>>>> * Noted that GEOSS have scenarios (from FOSS4G2008?) that may be
>>>> applicable.
>>>> ** ACTION: Greg/Raj to source GEOSS scenarios
>>>> * CSIRO/BOM have mandate and budget to address Climate
>>>>
>>> change and will
>>>
>>>> likely be interested.
>>>>
>>>> === Data ===
>>>> * Need to source data suppliers
>>>> * Bruce doesn't see a problem sourcing data from Australian
>>>>
>>> government
>>>
>>>> agencies
>>>>
>>>> === Marketing/Sponsorship ===
>>>> * OGC to use their channels to attract vendors and sponsors
>>>> * OGC to add name and take a coordinating role so that the
>>>>
>>> showcase is
>>>
>>>> seen as a Standards based showcase, not an Open Source showcase.
>>>> This is important for attracting proprietary vendors.
>>>> * OGC likely will be able to provide OGC twiki for collaboration,
>>>> including twiki, issue tracker, email lists. This is better
>>>>
>>> provided
>>>
>>>> by OGC than OSGeo in order to attract proprietary vendors.
>>>> * Marketing material should be created, which will likely
>>>>
>>> include some
>>>
>>>> of:
>>>> ** Recorded webinar presentation
>>>> ** Professionally created movie including screen captures, anchor voice
>>>> over, related images, etc
>>>> * ACTION: Greg to confirm what OGC can provide and costs (if any)
>>>> associated with OGC provided services.
>>>>
>>>> === Targeting Vendors ===
>>>> * Need to provide attractive value proposition for vendors
>>>> * Criteria for vendors is that they are Open Standards. Proprietary
>>>> vendors need to be attracted as well as Open Source. This has been iterated
>>>> on OSGeo email lists.
>>>>
>>>> === Targeting Geospatial Buyers ===
>>>> * Testbed needs to put capabilities in front of buyers
>>>>
>>>> === Collaborators on board ===
>>>> * Europeans are discussing a "Persistent testbed" which is very similar.
>>>> We need to engage these participants.
>>>> * ACTION: Greg/Raj to contact and invite collaboration with
>>>>
>>> Persistent
>>>
>>>> testbed stakeholders.
>>>>
>>>> === Infrastructure ===
>>>> * Still needs to be defined
>>>> * Potentially a server with multiple virtual machines in a
>>>>
>>> conference,
>>>
>>>> with participants connecting via their clients around the centre
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Cameron Shorter
>>>> Geospatial Systems Architect
>>>> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
>>>> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>>>>
>>>> Think Globally, Fix Locally
>>>> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
>>>> http://www.lisasoft.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
> --
> Cameron Shorter
> Geospatial Systems Architect
> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>
> Think Globally, Fix Locally
> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
> http://www.lisasoft.com
>
>
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