The Easy steps to get your project on the FOSS4G Live DVD

The Arramagong Live DVD, GISVM, and OSGeo Live-Demo projects are collaborating to create a set of simple, automated install scripts for a wide variety of Free and Open Source GIS projects, and we're calling on each project to help us write a script for their software. Projects that can write their install script this week will be included on The Arramamgong Live DVD which will be given to all delegates at the FOSS4G conference.

The scripts should cover the installation and configuration of each project into a base Xubuntu 9.04 system. Separate scripts can optionally cover data, demos and tutorials. As a bonus, these scripts are exactly what packagers require to bundle your project into Debian and Ubuntu, so you will be taking the first steps toward getting your project into a Linux distribution.

The base version of the FOSS4G2009 GISVM/Arramagong Live DVD can be trialled as a VMWare virtual machine and downloaded from: http://download.osgeo.org/livedvd/Arramagong_GISVM_FOSS4G2009_alpha1.7z

Timeline

Date	Date	Milestone
7 Sep 2009	in 1 week	LiveDVD Feature Freeze
11 Sep 2009	in 2 weeks	LiveDVD Beta Release
18 Sep 2009	in 3 weeks	LiveDVD Final Freeze
20 Sep 2009	in 3 weeks	LiveDVD Final Release & sent to printers

Packaging Howto

For projects already packaged for Ubuntu or DebianGIS, an install script will likely be as simple as:

install_mapserver.sh

#!/bin/sh
apt-get install cgi-mapserver

Projects that haven't been packaged yet are slightly more complicated:

install_udig.sh

#!/bin/sh
#################################################
#
# Purpose: Installation of udig into Xubuntu
# Author:  Stefan Hansen 
#
#################################################
# Copyright (c) 2009 Open Geospatial Foundation
# Copyright (c) 2009 LISAsoft
#
# Licensed under the GNU LGPL.
#
# This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
# under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
# by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2.1 of the License,
# or any later version.  This library is distributed in the hope that
# it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, without even the implied
# warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
# See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details, either
# in the "LICENSE.LGPL.txt" file distributed with this software or at
# web page "http://www.fsf.org/licenses/lgpl.html".
#

# About:
# =====
# This script will install udig into Xubuntu

# Running:
# =======
# sudo ./install_udig.sh

TMP="/tmp/udig_downloads"
INSTALL_FOLDER="/usr/lib"
DATA_FOLDER="/usr/local/share"
UDIG_FOLDER="$INSTALL_FOLDER/udig"
BIN="/usr/bin"
USER_NAME="user"
USER_HOME="/home/$USER_NAME"

## Setup things... ##

# check required tools are installed
if [ ! -x "`which wget`" ] ; then
echo "ERROR: wget is required, please install it and try again"
exit 1
fi
# create tmp folders
mkdir $TMP
cd $TMP


## Install Application ##

# get udig
if [ -f "udig-1.2-M6.linux.gtk.x86.tar.gz" ]
then
echo "udig-1.2-M6.linux.gtk.x86.tar.gz has already been downloaded."
else
wget http://udig.refractions.net/files/downloads/branches/udig-1.2-M6.linux.gtk.x86.tar.gz
fi
# unpack it and copy it to /usr/lib
tar -xzf udig-1.2-M6.linux.gtk.x86.tar.gz -C $INSTALL_FOLDER


## Configure Application ##

# Download modified startup script for udig
if [ -f "udig.sh" ]
then
echo "udig.sh has already been downloaded."
else
wget https://svn.osgeo.org/osgeo/livedvd/gisvm/trunk/udig-conf/udig.sh
fi
# copy it into the udig folder
cp udig.sh $UDIG_FOLDER

# create link to startup script
ln -s $UDIG_FOLDER/udig.sh $BIN/udig

# Download desktop icon
if [ -f "uDig.desktop" ]
then
echo "uDig.desktop has already been downloaded."
else
wget https://svn.osgeo.org/osgeo/livedvd/gisvm/trunk/udig-conf/uDig.desktop
fi
# copy it into the udig folder
cp uDig.desktop $USER_HOME/Desktop
chown $USER_NAME:$USER_NAME $USER_HOME/Desktop/uDig.desktop


## Sample Data ##

# Download udig's sample data
if [ -f "data-v1_1.zip" ]
then
echo "data-v1_1.zip has already been downloaded."
else
wget http://udig.refractions.net/docs/data-v1_1.zip
fi
#unzip the file into /usr/local/share/udig-data
mkdir $DATA_FOLDER/udig-data
unzip data-v1_1.zip -d $DATA_FOLDER/udig-data


## Documentation ##

# Download udig's documentation
if [ -f "udig-1.2-M5.html" ]
then
echo "udig-1.2-M5.html has already been downloaded."
else
wget http://udig.refractions.net/files/downloads/branches/udig-1.2-M5.html
fi

if [ -f "uDigWalkthrough1.pdf" ]
then
echo "uDigWalkthrough1.pdf has already been downloaded."
else
wget http://udig.refractions.net/docs/uDigWalkthrough1.pdf
fi

if [ -f "uDigWalkthrough2.pdf" ]
then
echo "uDigWalkthrough2.pdf has already been downloaded."
else
wget http://udig.refractions.net/docs/uDigWalkthrough2.pdf
fi

#copy into /usr/local/share/udig-docs
mkdir $DATA_FOLDER/udig-docs
cp udig-1.2-M5.html $DATA_FOLDER/udig-docs
cp uDigWalkthrough1.pdf $DATA_FOLDER/udig-docs
cp uDigWalkthrough1.pdf $DATA_FOLDER/udig-docs

As we are still bootstrapping the packaging project, and as we are very short on time before feature freeze, manual steps can be included as comments in each install script, and can be automated by a project member, or packager at a later date.

Packaging details and examples can be found at: http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/GISVM_Build

And help is available on the Live-Demo mailing list via Cameron Shorter, Stefan Hansen, Ricardo Pino, Hamish Bowman, Alex Mandel, Massimo de Stefano and others.

About GISVM

GISVM is a Free(dom) and ready to use anywhere Geographic Information System Virtual Machine. Based on the amazing Virtualization technology it can be used on almost any operating system environment and is intended to be a hassle-free installation option for anyone that needs a ready to use GIS solution.

About Arramagong Live DVD

The Arramagong Live DVD provides a stack of most of best Geospatial Open Source software, pre-configured with sample data. It is based on the XUbuntu linux operating system and also contains windows installers. A FOSS4G 2009 release of Arramagong will be given to all delegates at the FOSS4G conference. It has been built by LISAsoft in conjunction with the Open Source Geospatial community.

About FOSS4G

FOSS4G is the international Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial conference, which comes to Sydney, Australia, 20-23 October 2009. FOSS4G offers presentations, workshops, demos, an install-fest, and a code sprint. It is presented by the world's best Developers, Policy Makers, Sponsors and Geospatial Professionals and includes the latest geospatial applications, standards, government programs, business processes and case studies. Topics include mobile platforms, location based applications, crowd sourcing, cloud computing, development, spatial standards, integration of cross-agency data, Spatial Data Infrastructures, Sensor Webs, Web Processing Services, Integration of Open Source and Proprietary Software and more.

Upcoming milestones

• 14 Sep 2009, Final program available
• 21 Sep 2009, Poster Submission closes
• 20 Oct 2009, FOSS4G Workshop
• 21-23 Oct 2009, FOSS4G Presentations and Tutorials
• 24 Oct 2009, FOSS4G Code Sprint

Media Sponsors

• Position Magazine: http://www.positionmag.com.au/
• Asian Surveying and Mapping Newsletter: http://www.asmmag.com
• Geoconnexions Magazine: http://www.geoconnexion.com/
• Directions Magazine: http://directionsmag.com/
• GIS Development: http://gisdevelopment.net/
• Baliz Media: http://www.BALIZ-MEDIA.com/

---

For more information or to keep informed from the FOSS4G Organising Committee, join our email list or twitter feed at: http://2009.foss4g.org/about_us/

or contact:

Cameron Shorter, Chair of the FOSS4G Organising Committee and Geospatial Systems Architect at LISAsoft

tel +61-2-8570-5050

c a m e r o n . s h o r t e r @ l i s a s o f t . c o m

Digital Regions Initiative - Australian Government funding opportunities

The Australian Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is offering to co-fund government programs under its Digital Regions Initiative.
Among other things, this would be an idea way to fund projects which support crowd sourcing of map features to efficiently support emergency and disaster response targets.
Quoting from the EOI:

The Digital Regions Initiative will support projects which will deliver innovative and sustainable services such as those that will:

• boost innovation in healthcare by enabling services such as remote consultation, diagnosis and treatment in areas where there are specialist skills shortages
• extend digital education services to enable more regional, rural and remote communities to access improved educational opportunities
• increase the use of digital technologies to improve emergency and disaster response both within and across state and territory borders.

LISAsoft would be happy to help government agencies on a technical level in putting together a response for the EOI, due 14 September.

FOSS4G conference: Draft program available

Sydney, Australia. 22 August 2009. http://2009.foss4g.org

An early draft of the FOSS4G program has been released in response to some delegates wishing to book flights and accommodation early. While there may still be some minor changes to the program, we are not anticipating many presentations to move from one day to another.

Details at: http://2009.foss4g.org/schedule/

OSGeo Friendly countries to live in

Yves Jacolin has sliced FOSS4G website hits to determine the number of FOSS4G attendees per million people, broken down by country. From this, you can get a feeling for the most OSGeo tolerant populations in the world (distorted around Australia due to the conference location).
So what can we learn?

• Japan and Mongolia are the place be in Asia
• Chile is the place to be in Latin America
  
• Canada looks preferable to the US. I wonder how much the Canadian GeoConnections program is responsible for Canada's strong OSGeo industry.
  
• There is a lot of interest across Europe, so FOSS4G 2010 should be a crowded event.
• Africa seems to have learned all they need to know when FOSS4G attended Cape Town last year, and won't be heading to Australia in force.

Sign up for FOSS4G bonus activities

Sydney, Australia. 14 August 2009. http://2009.foss4g.org

The FOSS4G conference is famous for its community driven, extra-curricular activities and wiki pages are now open for community members to define these activities for 2009. So if you want to get more out of FOSS4G than just listening, if you have a topic you want to discuss, a message you want to share, a product you want to show off or you want to network with like minded people, then please consider adding your name to one of the following activities.

Birds of a Feather

Semi-organised meetings between people with specific shared interests. If you have a discussion topic or project in mind and want to coordinate a BoF session, please add it to our working list. http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_BirdsOfAFeather

OSGeo AGM

OSGeo's Annual General Meeting which will hear reports from Local Chapters and OSGeo Committees. http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Annual_General_Meeting_2009

Installfest

At the start of the conference, community members will be helping delegates install a wide variety of FOSS software on delegates laptops. Add the name of your project and yourself to the wiki if you will be attending. See also the Live DVD. http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_InstallFest

Posters

Limited poster boards will be on hand for the duration of the conference. Add your proposed project and contact details to the wiki so we can determine how big posters should be, and how many we can accept. Monitor poster discussion on the foss4g email list. http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Posters

Demo Theater

Ten minute product presentation slots will be running during morning tea and lunch breaks. These presentations are being offered first to sponsors, then to community members. Contact the coordinators if you wish to be involved. http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Demonstration_Theatre

Live DVD

A Linux based Live DVD, with windows installers, will be provided to all delegates. This disk will further be available for use at conferences and marketing events around the world long after FOSS4G. This is a huge marketing opportunity, but is currently under-resourced; there is a chance we will be left using the same DVD produced for the 2008 conference. If you are a good community organisor, or a wiz technical geek, please help out with this activity. http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Live_DVD

Code Sprint

Saturday after FOSS4G: Passionate programmers + pizza + caffeine + whiteboards + wireless = great software advancements. Add a project you wish to work on, a coordinator, and goals for your code sprint. http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Code_Sprint

The Climate Change Integration Plugfest (CCIP)

A demonstration of standards based interoperability between Open Source and Proprietary geospatial applications based on a Climate Change Scenario, being coordinated by the OGC. Contact Raj Singh if interested. http://external.opengis.org/twiki_public/bin/view/ClimateChallenge2009/WebHome

Volunteers

Want to help out with all the extra little jobs, or need volunteers for specific activities? http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_2009_Volunteers

About FOSS4G

The Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) conference, coming to Sydney, Australia, 20-23 October 2009, attracts presentations from the world's best Developers, Policy Makers, Sponsors and Geospatial Professionals in the area of geospatial applications, standards, government programs, business processes and case studies. Topics include mobile platforms, location based applications, crowd sourcing, cloud computing, development, spatial standards, integration of cross-agency data, Spatial Data Infrastructures, Sensor Webs, Web Processing Services, Integration of Open Source and Proprietary Software and more.

http://2009.foss4g.org

Upcoming milestones

• 14 Sep 2009, Completed program available
• 20 Oct 2009, FOSS4G Workshop
• 21-23 Oct 2009, FOSS4G Presentations and Tutorials
• 24 Oct 2009, FOSS4G Code Sprint

Media Sponsors

• Position Magazine: http://www.positionmag.com.au/
• Asian Surveying and Mapping Newsletter: http://www.asmmag.com
• Geoconnexions Magazine: http://www.geoconnexion.com/
• Directions Magazine: http://directionsmag.com/
• GIS Development: http://gisdevelopment.net/
• Baliz Media: http://www.BALIZ-MEDIA.com/

---

For more information or to keep informed from the FOSS4G Organising Committee, join our email list or twitter feed at: http://2009.foss4g.org/about_us/

or contact:

Cameron Shorter, Chair of the FOSS4G Organising Committee and Geospatial Systems Architect at LISAsoft

tel +61-2-8570-5050

c a m e r o n . s h o r t e r @ l i s a s o f t . c o m

Australian Gov 2.0 roadshow

In line with initiatives from other nations, the Australian government is investigating how to:

• make government information more accessible and usable — to establish a pro-disclosure culture around non-sensitive public sector information;
• make government more consultative, participatory and transparent — to maximise the extent to which government utilises the views, knowledge and resources of the general community;
• build a culture of online innovation within Government — to ensure that government is receptive to the possibilities created by new collaborative technologies and uses them to advance its ambition to continually improve the way it operates;
• promote collaboration across agencies with respect to online and information initiatives — to ensure that efficiencies, innovations, knowledge and enthusiasm are shared on a platform of open standards; and
• identify and/or trial initiatives that may achieve or demonstrate how to accomplish the above objectives.

The Gov 2.0 taskforce are calling for comments on their issues paper at: http://gov2.net.au/blog/2009/07/18/help-us-finalise-our-issues-paper/ and will be on a roadshow around Australian capital cities over the next few weeks. Details at: http://gov2.net.au/roadshows/

$180 million dedicated to the Australian Coorperative Research Center for Spatial Information

PRESS RELEASE

Key Australian industries will gain access to new data, technologies and services through the funding of a major research program in spatial technologies, announced by Senator Kim Carr today.

With a total budget of $180 million, the new Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI-2) involves over 100 organisations including from government and the private sector coming together with universities in an eight-year joint venture.

“The new CRC SI will help us to remain internationally competitive and capitalise on rapid growth in the spatial industry. The CRC Program’s investment in this industry will deliver tremendous benefits to the nation.” Said Mary O’Kane, Chair-elect of the CRCSI-2 Board.

“Through this funding the CRC Program has recognised the tremendous potential spatial information offers to the Australian economy,” said CEO Dr Peter Woodgate.

The spatial information industry currently contributes an estimated $12.6 billion to national GDP. Direct outcomes from the CRCSI-2 are expected to deliver a further $305 million to the nation if emerging developments can be leveraged for Australian industry. The wider benefits are far larger.

Over 90 end-users, mostly small and medium companies, will participate in the program to direct and speed delivery of research outcomes.

“Our end-users give us a tremendously strong picture of the technology and services the marketplace needs,” said Dr Woodgate.

The CRCSI will deliver benefits to several industry sectors including:

• Health – Preventative medicine policies will be improved through the way in which spatial information can show patterns of disease which are otherwise undetectable. CRCSI-2 will spatially analyse data for early detection of colo-rectal cancer and childhood leukaemia.
• Energy and utilities – Unmanned air craft will monitor powerlines with laser scanners to get timely, accurate knowledge on the condition of power infrastructure which will improve safety and reduce costs for consumers.
• Sustainable urban development – Planning, transport costs and “living affordability” in our cities and towns will be assisted by spatially understanding what makes good urban areas work.
• Agriculture and climate change – Farmers will have more precise information to guide the planting, treatment and harvesting of crops due to spatial precision agriculture. Scientists and land managers will be able to monitor landscape changes more closely, particularly important given the widespread effects anticipated from climate change.
• Defence – research into new imaging technologies for national defence

Though its strong international linkages, the CRCSI-2 will also be targeting overseas markets to deliver new technologies and services.

“Our fledgling industry will have a great chance to gain international prominence through this initiative,” said David Hocking, CEO of the Spatial Industries Business Association which is also participating in the CRCSI-2.

“Overseas governments are spending big on infrastructure and that is where our 500 members operate.”

“In its first incarnation, the CRCSI helped to position Australia as a world leader in the development and use of spatial information technologies,” according to Warwick Watkins, Chairman of the Australia and New Zealand Land Information Council.

Background

Spatial Information is at the core of a number of platform technologies and services, from traditional surveying to contemporary technologies like GPS and location-based services. It describes the location of objects in the real world and the relationships between objects. Practical applications include environmental monitoring, GPS services, customer relationship management and the management of natural resources, biosecurity, assets, land and emergencies. The spatial information industry contributes up to $12.6 billion to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product.

For more information visit www.crcsi2.com.au