[GRASSLIST:503] Re: Shipping data with GNU/Linux distributions

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On Tue, 24 Jun 2003, Hal Mueller wrote:

> As it happens I've had some off-list conversations with Markus about 
> this topic in the last week or two.  What I'm beginning to work on is 
> to prepare some excerpts of the Digital Chart of the World (NIMA 
> VMAP) in Grass format.  The aim is to provide a general-purpose 
> global vector dataset that anyone can use immediately as a starter.
> 
> Let me ask the community in general:  what layers would you most like 
> to see?  Country boundaries and continents would rank high, 
> obviously.  But what else?  Roads?  Airports?  City locations? 
> Railroads?  Rivers/streams/lakes?

In a word, ``YES'' :)

More seriously, I think water bodies would be a first, at least for me---I 
imported the DCW e00s, but somehow could neer get the lakes right (I lose 
the islands!).  And it's a *lot* of work.

Isohypses and isobaths would also be very important.   Landuse and 
vegetation too---I know the DCW is poor on vegetation data.

I believe the Global Ecosystem Database would also be very useful.  And of 
course the GMT shorelines---I don't know why, but I could never make the 
areas be areas, only lines :(  

[I wanted these polygons to `trim' the STRM data; but I can only get 
the shorelines as lines, as well as never been able to get rid of inland 
water bodies]

I think this would dovetail nicely with the new capabilities of the 5.1, 
so perhaps the data could be included with GRASS next release.  [and 
include the database ready for PostgreSQL?]

There is a LOT of interest of people who want to do GIS but never could 
afford it (ESRI is a hemorrage) and now it's affordable and practical with 
fast PCs and Linux.  But GRASS is just too intimidating, and when to add 
to that you have to build your databases from scratch... oh my!  One size 
won't fit all, but it WILL fit many, at least at first, and would 
certainly lower the newbie barrier.  So some pre-built databases would be 
great (as RPMs and debs?).


Anyway, just some thoughts & ramblings :-)


-Gustavo

-- 

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