Open Source Geographic Information Systems

RGillig writes "The second MapServer Users Meeting and the first ever Open Source GIS Conference was held on June 9th to 11th in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The initial response from the Open Source GIS community is that the conference was a huge success. It was great to have people from private, government, academia, and communities all together discussing how Open Source GIS applies to their needs. Here is a presentation given by Paul Ramsey, Director, Refractions Research Inc. that outlines the current state-of-the-art for Open Source GIS, and includes links and information about all of the current software packages/efforts, etc."

Where is Ottawa, Ontario, Canada?

[toetagger1]

Isn't it ironic that they have to specify that Ottowa and Ontario is in Canada, when the whole article talks about maps?

I tried to go to that

[Anonymous Coward]

Couldn't find the damn place though.

open source GIS

[Anonymous Coward]

So when is GIS going to be tied into the internet so when I search for a pizza joint the first result won't be a place that's 300 miles away?

Area 51

[Anonymous Coward]

This place does not exist. The US government will send in the Feds and CIA to bust you if you print this on your map!

Re:open source GIS

[LostCluster]

I'd suggest sailing your ship a little closer to the coastline first... there aren't very many places that deliver pizza to ships in international waters 285 miles away from the nearest land mass. :)

open source?

[IGnatius T Foobar]

Name : 2004-05-OSS-Briefing.doc

These "open source GIS" people need to learn a few things about "open source software." Presentation in Microsoft Word format? Faux pas!!

Re:Where is Ottawa, Ontario, Canada?

[Jardine]

A large portion of the Canadian population doesn't know that Ottawa is the capital, Toronto is the first choice of many.

You seem to have misspelled American. Do you have a source for this statistic?

You fool!

[Anonymous Coward]

You blew it! You could've made so many funny jokes playing off the potential irony of attending a conference on mapping, instead of just stating the obvious. Examples set heretoforthwith:

"Yeah I was supposed to attend this conference...but I got lost on the way."

"The annoying thing about those GIS guys....they never stop to ask for directions."

"Yeah, well at least with the GIS guys you always know where you stand."

"Hey, did ya see the meeting agenda? It was like,
Opening Remarks: 45d19'23"N, 78d52'34"W
Workshops: 45d19'27"N, 78d52'29"W
Keynote Speech: 45d19'......"

OK, I didn't say they'd be good jokes, but they don't really have to be on /. ...

(Who's the geek who can tell me who to get /. to print a goddamn degree sign..won't print html special chars...)

I wouldn't trust an open source mapping system..

[Anonymous Coward]

because I expect that where Redmond, WA is, the map shows a giant lake. :)

Re:Where is Ottawa, Ontario, Canada?

[xs650]

" True though, try asking some random person how many states are in Canada some time."

The only one I can think of off hand is North Dakota.