FOSS4G 2009 Integration Showcase

Geospatial Integration Showcase

The Geospatial Integration Showcase is a practical demonstration of Application and Data Interoperability which underpins FOSS4G presentations and workshops and provides a platform for future initiatives, including:

• Application selection, decision trees
• Testing suite programs
• Spatial Data Infrastructures
• Open Data programs
• An OSGeo demo CD (often called Live CD)
• Future conferences
• Mashups and Boot Camps

FOSS4G's reputation as the international gathering of the Geospatial Open Source tribes, along with its high profile show casing of Open Geospatial systems makes it an ideal forum for users and developers to build then launch long lasting geospatial initiatives.

The Integration Showcase is the sum of many long term integration projects and is structured to be significantly bigger than a one event demonstrator and all participants are strongly encouraged to think long term.

Direct FOSS4G goals

The showcase direct goals are:

• To demonstrate interoperability between the full stack of Open Source and Proprietary Geospatial applications.
• To provide cross-application testing and comparison.
• To provide baseline applications to underpin FOSS4G & OSGeo presentations and workshops.
• To facilitate development of Spatial Data Infrastructures.
  • To provide a catalyst to encourage data custodians to publish their data into the Spatial Data Infrastructure & facilitate mashup applications.
• To simplify deployment and use of Geospatial Data, in particular by supporting GeoFOSS integration into software distributions.

Showcase themes

GeoFOSS Packaging

Windows based

There are two working solutions:

OSGeo4W

OSGeo4W is a small setup to install some of the applications. It's based on Cygwin.

Goal: Ease installation of the whole open source stack.

• Pro
  • Already there and works

• Con
  • Needs installation
  • Needs internet connection for installation

PortableGIS

PortableGIS is a collection of applications that run from a USB stick.

Goal: Have the most important applications always with you.

• Pro
  • No installation required, just run the applications

• Con
  • Doesn't work right from CD at the moment
  • Applications need clean-up (Eg. Java is bundled more than once)

Problems PortableGIS currently needs to be run from a writable medium (like and USB stick), it won't work on a read-only medium like a CD.

Why get involved?

What's in it for Projects?

• The Showcase is an excellent avenue to show off projects and engage future sponsors.
• Activities in testing and comparison threads will provide feed back into product testing suites which will improve the products.
• Cross project integration will help make the Open Source Stack easier to use, make it more attractive, and consequently will engage more users and sponsors.

What's in it for Data Custodians?

For Data Custodians to be sponsored to publish data, they need to describe the data's public value, which in turn is dependent upon developers finding and using the data.

FOSS4G will provide a "Mashup Boot Camp" where hackers are encouraged to showcase and build mashups using Open Data and Open Source tools. This provides an excellent avenue for custodians to publicise datasets.

FOSS4G will be an effective catalyst for many data custodians to engage management sponsorship and commit to a specific deadline.

What's in it for SDI Sponsors?

• FOSS4G provides an focal point data custodians can use to facilitate bring data online.
• The showcase is a mini Spatial Data Infrastructure, and hence brings force to bear on key SDI issues like:
  • Robustness
  • Integration

What is in it for FOSS4G

• A baseline distribution of GeoFOSS software will make it much easier for presenters, and hence ensure a more polished conference.
• The showcase will be a significant drawcard for delegates and sponsors. Sponsors will have the opportunity to show off their wares, showcase participants will want to present their efforts, users will be very interested to listen and talk to showcase builders.

What is in it for FOSS4G Presenters?

The FOSS4G Audience will be interested to hear details about the various aspects of the Integration Showcase. It will also be powerful to sum up a presentation with "Now go and try it out on the Integration Showcase CD".