MOSS

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Map Overlay and Statistical System (MOSS)

Scope

This wiki page summarizes all currently available facts, links and references about the first open source GIS application MOSS.

Significance for OSGeo

The annual OSGeo price is named after the late Sol Katz, one of the project members of MOSS. Sol_Katz_Award@OSGeo-Wiki

MOSS-related Ressources

Points of contact

  • BLM: Deborah Harnke: Librarian (Reference)
  • MOSS: Carl Reed
  • MOSS repository 2020 (potentionally transient): Maris Nartis

Code evolution (according to Carl Reed, personal communication, September 2020)

  1. Carl programmed the original version of MOSS on a CDC mainframe (interactive to a Tek 4010). This version was completed in 1978/79.
  2. In 1979 he ported the CDC code to a Data General C330 (AOS). This is the version that was then installed at some of the BLM State Offices. This is also the version that was integrated with WAMS.
  3. In 1980, the code was to DG Desktop (AOS) for a BLM field application for monitoring and mapping lightning strikes. This may be the very first use of a GIS integrated with a real time sensor system!
  4. In 1983 or so MOSS was ported MOSS/MAPS/COS/WAMS to an HP 550 (UNIX) for the US Army (ETL now AGC). This was for the Terrain Analysis Work Station (TAWS) project. TAWS was a field deployable, mobile GIS and remote sensing capability.
  5. In 1984 Carl converted MOSS to a DEC VAX (VMS) for the DMA Digital Land Mass Simulation activity.
  6. In 1985 the MOSS Arc/Node and DBMS Design project was done. This work was funded by the USGS EROS Data Center


MOSS Codebase Search & Rescue Effort

20190327: BLM ceased during the last year (date unknown) to host the MOSS sources on its FTP site. The BLM library did not archive a digital copy. The original author, Carl Reed has been contacted by Peter Loewe (PL) for a copy of the source code (status:pending).

201903 to the OSGeo board to recognize MOSS as a OSGeo heritage project, to ensure future access to the codebase (if recoverable).

20190329: The wayback-machine of the Internet Archive did take snapshots of the FTP site, but apparently not the subdirectories: https://web.archive.org/web/*/ftp://ftp.blm.gov/pub/gis/

20190610: The BLM library was able to provide a few scanned documents regarding MOSS (to be uploaded to this wiki). PL asked them to investigate wether a digital copy could still exist offline at BLM.

20200904: Māris Nartiss discovers a remaining [1] of the MOSS codebase.