[OTT_OSGEO] Mission Statement

[Frank Warmerdam]

Regie Alam wrote:
> Hi David and all,
> 
> I don't have a specific project planned as of yet. I was just curious what
> types of projects OSGEO can support or be associated with seeing that most
> projects in the OSGEO websites are software development related. As
> primarily a user of open geospatial software I wanted to know how OSGEO
> plans to support "management" (or applications) type projects.
> 
> An example of a management project could probabely be projects that can be
> supported by Geoconnections (geoconnections.org) funding. Can a member
> affiliate himself with OSGEO and apply for funding? Of course, OSGEO
> supported software will have to be used to produce the products. For
> example, use GRASS to analyze remote sensing and other geospatial data and
> use Mapserver to present results (products) over the internet.
> 
> Another question is whether projects need to be located locally, or
> projects can be anywhere else as long as there's a local Ottawa member
> involved with the project?

Regie,

A couple things I would note.

  o If there is going to be contractual obligations, as there likely would
    with something like a Geoconnections application, I think the OSGeo
    board would need to be involved.  It would be difficult to treat it
    strictly as a local chapter activity.

  o OSGeo is pretty thin on project management capability.  It really seems
    like some of what you are thinking of might be better done in conjunction
    with organizations better organized to handle government proposals and
    contracting.  That said, I think that Geoconnections proposals often
    include a variety of organizations in supporting roles.  OSGeo might well
    be involved, and support a proposal even if it is hard for us to be the
    prime contractor.

Dave Sampson and OGUG have a history of doing projects, such as preparing
the local sample dataset for GRASS.  This is great, and there is no reason
this can't continue in the new local chapter of OSGeo.  But it is a big leap
from that sort of local volunteer effort by a few people to contractual
arrangements, or bigger projects.  I'm just not sure that these more complex
projects ought to be a focus of the local chapter - at least for now.

Just my opinion of course.

Best regards,
-- 
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush    | President OSGF, http://osgeo.org