2020.05.06

PROPOSED AGENDA: May 6
Always feel free to recommend changes or additions ( or make additions yourself )

Ashok Ian Butterworth - Mark Geisbrech Doug Cameron Wendy Stefan
 * 5.45pm: ONLINE LOBBY (https://meet.jit.si/OSGeoAlbertaChapterMonthlyMeetup)
 * Phone: 647.243.6108 | MeetingID: 2203355915
 * 6.00pm: Introductions
 * 6.15pm: Any updates or proposals on projects

Please feel free to come forward with your projects, initiatives, or even questions.

We have one brief project introduction and request for help planned:


 * Ashok Krishnamurthy - Associate Professor, Mount Royal University
 * Project: Application of mathematical models to track COVID-19 using Open Source tools such as Panoply, R and data such as SEDAC Gridded World Population.
 * Needs: Advice on tools and approaches for manipulating spatialized population count data for epidemic state variable layers ( ex: Susceptible, Infectious, Recovered, Dead, etc..).
 * Data Source: https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/collection/gpw-v4

Notes from Ashok Presentation


 * Mark noted that Safe Software is granting FME license for Covid research and response
 * Ashok will have the research assistants look into that
 * Mark asked how much of the workflow is automated.
 * Some of the data is a onetime download
 * Spanish data download scripts are bring run daily
 * There are troubles with translation and columns moving
 * Some is daily data entry
 * Ashok is working on R scripts to automate more of it
 * What are the struggles:
 * Would like the cropping of region data to be just a matter of clicking on the country and knowing the other data is excluded
 * Currently using workarounds to zero out populations outside given area
 * Mark can help in developing a workflow to use country outline layers for isolating data
 * Both Mark and Ashok are willing to come back and speak to how the workflow is developed and utilized
 * Ashok will inquire whether the research assistants have familiarity with Python


 * Doug will look into how python might also be used

It would be great to have a discussion around one or more of the OS Geo projects to find ways we can support the projects and make them as welcoming, and relevant, as possible to potential contributors here in Alberta.

I would suggest QGIS - https://qgis.org/en/site/ - but would welcome other suggestions.

This event is open to all. Feel free to bring your topics, projects, or presentations.

Some suggestions from the chapter for presentations include:
 * Show us your side hustle
 * Bring us your problems ( stuff you're working on and issues )
 * teach something new ( OS Geo projects or other ).