The Open Source Geospatial Foundation and the International Cartographic
Association (ICA) Memorandum of Understanding
Nuremberg, Germany
September 27, 2011
The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) and the International
Cartographic Association (ICA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
the aim of developing on a global basis collaboration opportunities for
academia, industry and government organizations in open source GIS software and
data.
The MoU aims to provide expertise and support for the establishment of Open
Source Geospatial Laboratories and Research Centres across the world for
supporting development of open-source geospatial software technologies,
training and expertise. In the first phase five laboratories will be
established, one each in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and Australasia
which will act as nodes for future expansion. It also aims to provide support
for building-up and supporting development of open source GIS teaching and
training materials, joint organization of open source GIS events, workshops
through the ICA network for wider participation globally etc.
Professor Georg Gartner, President of the ICA, said "The International
Cartographic Association (ICA) is committed to supporting society and
governments by collaboratively facilitating initiatives and programmes that
establish and grow the capacity to deliver timely, comprehensive and useful
geospatial information. This MoU responds to the challenges and issues related
to the use of open source cartographic and GI software and data. In
considering this response, it is pertinent to note that ICA is interested in
contributing to this initiative, and will champion the advancement of the
initiative through their various individual and collaborative efforts."
Arnulf Christl, President of OSGeo, said "The Open Source Geospatial
Foundation (OSGeo) is committed to support and build the highest level Open
Source geospatial technology. It is our pleasure to be able to serve as a
platform and multiplier for the cartographic domain, an area which needs
creativity beyond pure technology. This MoU intends to bridge the gap between
technology and cartographic requirements and we very much look forward to work
with members of the International Cartographic Association to improve this. A
very much hands-on objective of this MoU is to jointly organize walk-in events
where cartographic professionals can access and use a set of software
unencumbered by proprietary restrictions and vendor lock-in. Both organizations
are also interested in supporting young academics by lowering the barrier to
good cartography through collaborative efforts on both sides."
OSGeo http://www.osgeo.org/ is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2006
whose mission is to support and promote the collaborative development of open
source geospatial technologies and data.
ICA http://icaci.org/ is the world authoritative body for cartography, the
discipline dealing with the conception, production, dissemination and study of
maps.
On behalf of the ICA Commission on Open Source Geospatial Technologies we
strongly welcome this excellent initiative. This will be landmark opportunity
for both OSGeo and ICA in building up synergies and bringing opportunities for
lots of people worldwide to learn and benefit from geospatial technologies
especially in developing countries. This will build upon the Open Source
Geospatial Lab UK initiative started at the University of Nottingham.
We are also pleased to announce that Open Source Geospatial Lab Malaysia is now
being established by Dr. Tuong Thuy Vu in UNMC. Once fully established this
will be the first such facility in Malaysia and will act as focus for building
research and development there. It aims to help create collaboration
opportunities for academia, industry and government organisations in open
source GIS which will help to create and develop opportunities for open source
GIS in Malaysia.
We are pleased to see many Universities are rapidly following this example
(such as University of Girona in Spain). Over the next few months we will be
building collaborations with key Universities and research organisations
worldwide for the establishment of Open Source Geospatial Research
Laboratories and Research Centres for development of open-source geospatial
software technologies, training, expertise and building up momentum in Open
Source GIS education and research worldwide.
If you are interested in building research collaboration in Open Source GIS
please contact me.
Best wishes,
Suchith
Dr Suchith Anand
Nottingham Geospatial Institute
Nottingham Geospatial Building
University of Nottingham NG7 2 TU
Tel: (0)115 82 32750
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~lgzwww/contacts/staffPages/SuchithAnand/Suchith%20Anand.htm
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cgs/research/researchareas/opensourcegeospatialresearch.aspx
http://www.opensourcegis.org.uk/
http://elogeo.nottingham.ac.uk/
http://ica-opensource.scg.ulaval.ca/
Mission - Building up Open Source, Open Standards, Open Data research for
bridging the digital divide
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