[GRASS-user] About .mdb geo-data base file format... please some information about alternative file formats!

[Nikos Alexandris]

Some time ago I said that I will post a question in EEA about "...why only
shapefiles and mdb's". So I did.

It took some time but I received a reply. I posted back my feedback using
some CLC tiles and I was waiting (still waiting) for a second reply (this
second is of minor importance I think).

Reading again my questions I realise that they could have been formulated
better, from a more "correct" perspective. Anyhow, here they are (my
question and the reply). If anybody is interested about contact details just
give me a sign.

> > Dear Madams/ Sirs,
> > 
> > herewith I kindly request an answer to the following question:
> > 
> > Why are the geospatial data (available in EEA's data portal) provided
> > only in closed source geo-data file formats (e.g. ESRI shapefile, .mdb
> > geo-data base)?
> > 
> > Why not also in open-source file formats?
> > 
> > As a student, trying to satisfy my "experimental" needs, I am not in
> the
> > financial position to pay for proprietary softare.
> > 
> > The alternatives (Free and Open Source) for processing and analysing
> > geo-spatial data exist, and allow me to state, some of them
> demonstrate
> > superior performance and experience a continuous development.
> > 
> > Students and teachers and both the academic and the scientific
> community
> > worldwide can benefit if EEA's geo-data are available publicly (with a
> > subscription) in open source file formats.
> > 
> > 
> > Thank you for your time in advance.
> > 
> > Sincerely,
> > 
> > Nikos Alexandris.

and the reply:

 Dear Nikos Alexandris,
> 
> Thank you for contacting the European Environment Agency.
>  
> Based on your e-mail, I have consulted a colleague working with
> geospatial data. He has responded that shape files can be seen as an
> open industry format and can be read by many open source software today.
> Also DBF files also both have limitations such as support on
> multilingualism (UTF8, UTF16). EEA also provide, where possible,
> everything in textual or XML formats. We also provide other industrial
> formats to insure we have no loss of quality or information. Soon we
> will be able to provide GML, WFS formats once those formats have been
> better understood by us. The amount of formats provided depends on the
> cost producing them.
> 
> Please let me know if you have further questions that have not been
> answered by the explanation above.
> 
> 
> Kind regards,

...
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