Directions: Why Open Source GIS Software?

“Moreover, GIS software development is bound to witness
substantial change in the upcoming years, induced by technological
advances in spatial databases. Current and expected advances in
database technology will enable, in the next few years, the
complete integration of spatial data types in data base management
systems. This integration is bound to change completely the
development of GIS technology, enabling a transition from the
monolithic systems of today (that contain hundreds of functions) to
a generation of spatial information appliances, small systems
tailored to specific user needs. Coupled with the data handling
capabilities of new generation of database management systems,
rapid application development environments will enable the
construction of ‘vertically-integrated’ solutions, directly
tailored to the users’ needs. Therefore, an important challenge for
the GIS community is finding ways of taking advantage of the new
generation of spatially-enabled database systems to build ‘faster,
cheaper, smaller’ GIS technology.

“One of the possible responses to this challenge would be to
establish a co-operative development network, based on open source
technology. In a similar approach as the Linux-based solutions, the
availability of GIS open source software would allow researchers
and solution developers access to a wider range of tools than what
is currently offered by the commercial companies. A second
important reason for developing open-source spatial analysis tools
is the need to resolve the ‘knowledge gap’ in the process of
deriving information from images and digital maps…”

Complete
Story