[GRASSLIST:7575] GRASS MAPS: Example Book of GRASS products (A Concept of Project)

[Dave Sampson]

*GRASS MAPS PROJECT
Samples of GRASS Products


*
Description:
------------
GRASS MAPS (proposed project name) is a project that hopes to gather 
samples of what GRASS users are producing around the world. We hope to 
collect these samples and produce a print quality PDF file available for 
print on demand. Our first milestone is to gather 10 samples (more if 
supply is aiavailable) including maps and information about them. A 
suggested timeline is to have a polished product at the next GRASS users 
meeting in Lausanne - Switzerland [http://www.foss4g2006.org/]. It is 
feasable to have it ready before then.

This project has a few motivations. First, to provide the GRASS 
community with promotional aids. Second, to showcase the capabilities of 
GRASS outside the imediate GRASS community. Third, to act as a 
networking resource for GRASS users to see who is using GRASS and how. 
These are only a few motivations.

At the last Open Geopspatial / MUM / GRASS meetings/conference 
(Minneapolis, Minn. USA), a few drinks were shared, and it was thought 
we should suggest the idea to the GRASS community (Thanks Markus).

Rationale:
---------
Similar products are produced by major proprietary GIS software 
companies used for promoting the capabilities of their product. The 
GRASS MAPS project will provide a means for the GRASS community to 
publish or present similar promo material in a colaborative environment. 
With print on demand services you don't have to worry about overhead 
costs as you print ONLY what you need. Also, you only pay for shipping 
once, from the printer to your client (or your office). With the GRASS 
community worldwide supporting GRASS MAPS you will have a large cross 
section of sample applications. As a networking tool, GRASS MAPS will 
provide example work and contact information of all contributors 
allowing for a qucik reference of who's who in GRASS production.

Promotional material such of the GRASS MAPS project will provide many 
opportunities for GRASS users and stakeholders. it can aid in providing 
a rationale to include GFOSS (Geographic Free and Open Source Software) 
such as GRASS in projects, it might be dificult to come up with easily 
available samples, especialy representing a large cross section of 
applications.

A copy of GRASS MAPS can provide the winning edge to close a business 
contract, receive research funding, and win your next geomatics 
proposal. With the increase of GIS software at the undergraduate level 
GRASS MAPS can provide the push to see GRASS working in educational 
institutes along side the growing selection of freely provided 
proprietary software (At least here in North America). Moreorver, it can 
be a tool to help convince managers to allow the installation of GRASS 
in a GIS workshop. And finaly it could provide a classy deliverable to 
project sponsors and funders.

A Typical Submission (one page):
-----------------------
One or more high quality print ready maps
Project Description including what the maps represent
Project Association (corporate, research, academic)
Project contacts (name, e-mail, web page)
Project date and duration
Project partner/funder logos (depending on what we want to flavour to be)
indication of MAJOR tools or functions used (eg r.flow)
Indication of CUSTOM tools developed for the production of said map and 
their source location (new or modified tools, scripts or moduals)

Getting involved
-----------------
To start with I am seeing what the interest level of such a project 
would be. At present I can act as a central point at 
(OGUG_at_sympatico.ca) until further infrastructure is ready. It would 
be nice to have a dedicated list server (mailman), a chunk of working 
webspace (wiki esque) and an FTP area for contribution management. If 
you can contribute any of these let me know.

proposed project outlineIncluding:
----------------------------------
* graphic specs
* word counts
* fonts schemes
* submission formats (LATEX? or simple text)
* print on demand provider (Markus had one in mind).
* Paper size, type
* Binding type, quality
* Cover design and content
* ISBN cataloging
* potential regular subscribers / buyers (eg. Libraries, schools, 
associations etc etc)
* publication frequency and date (eg. once a year in September)
* Maximum contributions (before they roll over to the next scheduled 
publication)

Challenges:
-------------
As with most start-up projects their will be a few hitches to overcome. 
I would like to make this project as wide reaching as possible, and 
language will be an obvious barrier. Logistics of colaborative projects 
are greatly aided through infrastructor, and we have none setup for the 
project yet. This project will require help from all areas of experience 
and expertise, we have to form that team.

With respects to communication it would be nice to have a dedicated 
representative from each of the international language groups 
[http://grass.itc.it/community/usergroups.php]. I see the initial 
project being english centric [personal bias], but with the support of 
others I hope the publication can represent submissions translated from 
many laguages to english. The next logical step is to translate the 
final product back to those language groups. I have never embarked on 
any laguage/border crossing projects so I would like to look to the 
international community for support.

For infrastructure I would like to see a dedicated list server, working 
web space, FTP and storage.

For the team, I believe in determining your goals, develop your 
infrastructure, find the right people for the right tasks, then divide 
and conquer. We have under a year to meet our first goal.

-- 
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|Dave Sampson: Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician   |
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|Centre for Sustainable Watersheds                   		|
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