[Live-demo] What common datasets do we need?

[Alex Mandel]

Bobb,

I think you're starting to get into the territory of another OSGeo
initiative http://www.osgeo.org/geodata . I don't know if that mailing
list/committee is interested working on a public data DVD but you can ask.

For the OSGeo Live we are focused on making sure it has the bare minimum
data needed to demonstrate the functionality of the software.
To that extent I think we really only need basics, a few point, line,
polygon, raster, elevation, lidar data sets covers most of the apps.
I'm trying to make sure we cover that, hence the discussion that some
projects are looking for inclusion of small area, high resolution raster
data sets for inclusion. We already have a matching vector set in the
OSM data which includes plenty of points, lines, polygons and if you ran
the right queries could be split into many thematic layers similar to
the municipality type layers.

You are always welcome to make a custom version, it takes a few hours to
get the hang of it or there are some alternate methods. In the past I've
made a custom DVD at the build time, or I've just edited the iso after
the fact to remove some of the installers and park some data in their
place, or lately in my tutorials I use in classes/workshops the first
step is to download the data I've put online somewhere for the students.


Thanks,
Alex

On 05/27/2011 06:53 AM, Bob Basques wrote:
> All,
> 
> I'm in favor of the idea of having various data at different scales obviously, but is there any reason to also apply some sort of process type to the data for grouping?
> 
> I'm looking at things from a local municipality.  We have a lot of spatial data right now in our spatial systems.  Around 300 layers currently, with 70 of them originating in Public Works.  We also have layers from Licensing, Parks, Emergency Services (fire/police), Forestry, Planning, as well as numerous layers from some of the City neighborhoods.  Most of this data is very high resolution.  We have all of the Street pavement marking locations in the whole city located for example, every Street sign in the public Right of way, etc.
> 
> The point I trying to push, is that there are a lot of different uses that these spatial data are being used for, not the least of which is general analysis.  Our systems tend to be used mainly for inventory/infrastructure management, but they are increasingly being used to plan as well as derive entirely new datasets.  Things like public Right-of-way boundaries (anything that is not a taxed parcel or water)
> 
> These types of uses are very important to my users as well as a lot of other local municipalities.   I would at some point (doesn't need to be immediately) like to target demos specifically at this target audience.  As I've been examining the LiveDVD, I keep thinking in the back of my mind that it might be better at some point to build my own focused version of a LIVE dvd.  This would help me out in my work process in a number of places, mostly in the training and introduction of new tools.
> 
> So, where am I going with all of this rabble, what about leaving the tools (Opensource stuff on the Live DVD) and moving the data to a separate DVD (possibly a whole other project?), or even consolidating it would be a good organizational thing,  document how the data can/should be used for each Tool, even suggest the better methods for packing of the data.  I know this introduces some complication to setup though, especially for new users.
> 
> I know of some other Commercial interests that have made this type of idea work for them in the past.  Related to this separation, a companion hosted solution for these same datasets would be a very good addition as well, since the data could be used in the initial setup of systems much more easily (a lot more knowns) when a newbie hits the LiveDVD.
> 
> Anyway, just some thoughts as I read through this thread.
> 
> bobb
> 
> 
> 
>>>> Hamish  05/27/11 12:18 AM >>>
> (..a few minor corrections..)
> 
> Hamish wrote:
>> - natural earth raster DEM, 1:50M global relief 
> 
> not a DEM, "cross blended hypso with shaded relief and water"
> 
> 
>> It includes shapefiles, geotiffs, and KML files mainly focusing on &
>> around Hood County (bus routes, etc),
> 
> make that Wake County.  "The data set includes section of the NC capital
> city Raleigh and its surroundings."
> 
> 
> Hamish
>