[OSGeo-Standards] [OSGeo-Discuss] [Ica-osgeo-labs] [TC-Discuss] Open Letter for the need for Open Standards in LiDAR

Sat Apr 18 18:25:35 PDT 2015

Hello,

ESRI's github repository contain *no* source code, except a sample *.cpp
file to show how to use their (Windows-only) binary dll and/or lib files.
This is *not* open source in any sense of the word but an unusal of the
Apache license. Below I quote someone whom I've dicussed this with:

It is allowed to use Apache License for binary-only software, but that is
extremely rare that anyone does that, because it goes against the whole
idea of "Open Source". It is only possible because Apache License is a
so-called "permissive" license, whereas GPL, CDDL and other "copyleft"
licenses will not allow such "source-less Open Source" non-sense:

See this section of the FAQ on the OSI site (Open Source Initiative):
http://opensource.org/faq#non-distribution

Also this Apache Foundation FAQ:
http://www.apache.org/foundation/license-faq.html#WhatDoesItMEAN
"[the Apache license] *does not require* you to include the source of the
[..] software itself"

Regards,

Martin @rapidlasso

On Sat, Apr 18, 2015 at 1:51 PM, Cameron Shorter <cameron.shorter at gmail.com>
wrote:

>  Hi Martin,
> Esri's reference below: https://github.com/Esri/esri-zlas-io-library
> states that the esri-zlas-io-library read/writes Optimized LAS, and is
> also Open Source, under the Apache license.
>
> Does this mean that it is possible to reverse engineer the Optimized LAS
> format?
> Would this open the possibility to integrate LASzip and Optimized LAS?
> Thoughts?
>
> Regards Cameron.
>
> On 17/04/2015 6:52 pm, Suchith Anand wrote:
>
>  Colleagues,
>
> I would like to invite inputs from the geocommunity so I can include all
> concerns of the wider geospatial community in my email response . Please
> do email your inputs to me before 25th April 2015 for this.
>
>
>
> If you have not yet signed the letter at
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR_Format_Letter   may I  request that all
> who wish to support this effort to protect Open Standards for Geospatial
> data to kindly add your name , email, affiliation details to the wikipage
> directly or email  *Patrick Hogan* (Email - patrick.hogan at nasa.gov ) with
> the subject heading *"Support for Open Geo Standards"* and the following
> fields (Name, Email, Affiliation ) and we will gladly add this to the wiki.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Suchith
>
>    ------------------------------
> *From:* TC-Discuss [tc-discuss-bounces at lists.opengeospatial.org] On
> Behalf Of Keith Ryden [kryden at esri.com]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 15, 2015 7:54 PM
> *To:* tc-discuss at lists.opengeospatial.org
> *Subject:* Re: [TC-Discuss] Open Letter for the need for Open Standards
> in LiDAR
>
>   Regarding Dr. Anand's concerns and the referenced letter below:
>
>
>
> Esri has long understood the importance of interoperability between
> systems and users of geographic information and services. Esri has
> participated in the development of national, information community, OGC,
> and ISO TC 211 standards from the development of the US Spatial Data
> Transfer Standard in the 1980s through the development of OGC Geopackage
> today. As a sustaining member of ASPRS and a Principle member of OGC, Esri
> would gladly participate in efforts to further the development of open
> LIDAR and point cloud standards. Keep in mind that ASPRS owns and maintains
> LAS, along with other spatial information standards, and would have the
> lead in moving it into  OGC or ISO TC211 for further work if they so
> desired. Esri will continue to support and use the ASPRS LAS standard; the
> Optimized LAS (see FAQ at https://github.com/Esri/esri-zlas-io-library)
> is not intended to replace LAS but to enhance access to remotely stored
> LIDAR information for our users.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Keith Ryden
>
> ESRI Software Development
>
>
>
> *From:* TC-Discuss [
> mailto:tc-discuss-bounces+kryden=esri.com at lists.opengeospatial.org
> <tc-discuss-bounces+kryden=esri.com at lists.opengeospatial.org>] *On Behalf
> Of *Suchith Anand
> *Sent:* Monday, April 13, 2015 10:30 AM
> *To:* discuss at lists.osgeo.org; ica-osgeo-labs at lists.osgeo.org;
> tc-discuss at lists.opengeospatial.org
> *Subject:* [TC-Discuss] Open Letter for the need for Open Standards in
> LiDAR
>
>
>
> *To all colleagues in Academia, Government and Industry who have interest
> in maintaining Open Standards:*
>
>
>
>
>
> On behalf of *"Geo for All"* community, http://www.geoforall.org, I would
> like to bring to your kind attention a significant development that can
> lead to undermining our principle for Open Geospatial Standards. I request
> you review the wikipage http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/LIDAR_Format_Letter
> that is meant to represent our concern and allow for ongoing input and
> expression by our geospatial community.
>
>
>
> We specifically thank Martin Isenburg (author of LASzip and LAStools,
> http://laszip.org and http://lastools.org) for  bringing this matter to
> our attention (email below) and an email thread of our initial discussion
> of this subject that highlight the wider implication of this issue
> http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/ica-osgeo-labs/2015-March/001225.html
>
> We request all who wish to support this effort to protect Open Standards
> for Geospatial data to kindly add your name , email, affiliation details to
> the wikipage directly or email  *Patrick Hogan* (Email -
> patrick.hogan at nasa.gov ) with the subject heading *"Support for Open Geo
> Standards"* and the following fields (Name, Email, Affiliation ) and we
> will gladly add this to the wiki.
>
>
>
> There is current interest by the OGC in pursuing point cloud encoding
> standards, including a member-initiated mechanism to extend LAS data with
> OGC-standard XML content. The OGC invites interested members who wish to
> work on this effort to please contact *Scott Simmons* (Executive
> Director, Standards Program  E-mail : ssimmons at opengeospatial.org  ) to
> register their interest and discuss details.  OGC will also be holding an
> ad hoc session at our next Technical Committee meeting in Boulder, CO, USA
> in June 1st (more details will be send soon) to bring together all
> interested from all sectors (government, industry, academia) for this and
> plan next steps. We welcome feedback and input from Esri and invite them to
> join this effort to  support open LIDAR formats.
>
>
>
> I thank you all again for your attention and support for this important
> matter.
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
>
> Suchith Anand
> Founder, GeoForAll
> http://www.geoforall.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>
> *Subject: *
>
> Please review: Open Letter asking to avoid format fragmentation in LiDAR
> standards
>
> *Date: *
>
> Sat, 11 Apr 2015 12:14:51 +1000
>
> *From: *
>
> Cameron Shorter <cameron.shorter at gmail.com> <cameron.shorter at gmail.com>
>
> *To: *
>
> standards at lists.osgeo.org <standards at lists.osgeo.org>
> <standards at lists.osgeo.org>
>
>
>
> Hi all,
> A number of us have been collaboratively developing an Open Letter asking
> key stakeholders to avoid fragmentation in LiDAR standards.
>
> It starts:
> *We, the undersigned, are concerned that the current interoperability
> between LiDAR applications, through use of the open "LAS" format, is being
> threatened by ESRI's introduction and promotion of an alternative
> "Optimized LAS" proprietary format. This is of concern since the
> fragmentation of the LAS format will lead to reduced interoperability
> between applications and organisations, and introduce vendor lock-in.*
>
> Could all interested please:
> 1. Review and provide feedback to this standards email list
> 2. If you agree with the letter, please add your name to the "Signed"
> section
>
> --
>
> Cameron Shorter,
>
> Software and Data Solutions Manager
>
> LISAsoft
>
> Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
>
> 26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
>
>
>
> P +61 2 9009 5000,  W www.lisasoft.com,  F +61 2 9009 5099
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing listDiscuss at lists.osgeo.orghttp://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
>
> --
> Cameron Shorter,
> Software and Data Solutions Manager
> LISAsoft
> Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
> 26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
>
> P +61 2 9009 5000,  W www.lisasoft.com,  F +61 2 9009 5099
>
>
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