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

Mon Apr 20 11:11:04 PDT 2015

Michael talks about this tool:

The newest product of rapidlasso is an open source tool aiming to liberate
LiDAR points locked-up in proprietary "Optimized LAS", a highly
controversial, closed format with a *.zlas file extension. The new
LASliberator comes as both, a DOS command line tool for scripting and with
an easy-to-use graphical interface ...

http://rapidlasso.com/2015/04/20/new-lasliberator-frees-lidar-from-closed-format/

Martin
On Apr 20, 2015 9:54 AM, "Michael Gerlek" <mpg at flaxen.com> wrote:

> After some of us raised concerns about ESRI's announcement, they clarified
> that their intended position was as Martin describes.
>
> They clearly didn't (don't?) understand the *intent* of the Apache license
> and the term "open source". While perfectly legal, it was (and is) very
> misleading of them to use the term "open source" anywhere in that repo...
>
>
>
> aside: They also say in that repo that "it's easy and free to convert
> between standard LAS and zLAS". Until Martin's new tool came out today, I
> don't believe that conversion could possibly be considered either "free" or
> "easy" :-(
>
> -mpg
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 18, 2015, at 9:25 PM, Martin Isenburg <martin.isenburg at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> 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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>>
>>
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>>
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>> University of Nottingham.
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>> This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an
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>> computer system, you are advised to perform your own checks. Email
>> communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as
>> permitted by UK legislation.
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>>  This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee
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>> message in error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it.
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>> Please do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this
>> message or in any attachment.  Any views or opinions expressed by the
>> author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the
>> University of Nottingham.
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>> This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an
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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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