Greek Language Chapter Report 2011

Greek Language Chapter

• Period covered by report: Jan-Dec 2011
• Contact name: Dimitris Kotzinos
• The OSGeo Greek Local Chapter was initiated only in November 2007. During 2011 membership grew somewhat but we still need more people. Specific interesting actions started in 2011 (see below).

Key Accomplishments

• One main event was organized and was carried out with great success. It was a joint organizing effort by the OSGeo Greek Local Chapter, the National GI Association (HellasGI) and the National Open Source Association (E/ELLAK).
  • 1st GRASS and GFOSS Users' Camp
    • When: 17 - 19 June, 2011
    • Where: Paou Monastery - University of Thessaly, Pelion, Volos, Greece
    • Organized: OSGeo Greek Local Chapter, the National GI Association (HellasGI) and the National Open Source Association (E/ELLAK)
    • The event was highly successful with over 50 participants (while about 30 were anticipated given the dates and the remote location) who stayed for the whole duration of the event. Many Greek and international experts (people from GRASS and gvSIG communities were invited) presented issues evolving around the main theme. The repetition of th event was highly suggested by all participants.
• OSGeo Live Greek Translation for versions 4.5 and 5.0 (http://svn.osgeo.org/osgeo/livedvd/gisvm/trunk/doc/translators.csv). The Greek translation of the OSGeo Live DVD is one of the most complete.
• Weekly tutorials and presentations at the National technical University of Athens (NTUA) about Free and Open Source Geospatial Software (approx 15-20 students attending weekly).
• Open Source Geospatial Software adaption in classes in universities (e.g. TEI of Serres with gvSIG and a bit of GRASS).

Areas for Improvement

• We still do not have the participation in OSGeo we expected. We need to intensify the efforts to increase the membership and the overall awareness. A big problem is securing funding for organizing further events.
• Translating the OSGeo web site and some of the OSGeo Software stack to Greek will definitely bring more people.

Opportunities to Help

• In the future we will definitely need some speakers for national FOSS or just simple GIS events.
• We would also like to demonstrate some cases of successful use of FOSS GIS by the public sector to local government officials.
• We would like to plan some demo classes on FOSS GIS for students in universities and how these can be integrated in their curricula in order to show that we can achieve the exact same educational result. (This has successfully started to happen but more involvement is needed).

Outlook for 2012

• We would also be very interested in having the ability to apply for funding as a chapter/organization and we would like to seek help/information from other local chapters that do or plan to do the same.
• Become an official OSGeo charter.