I remember growing up and reading predictions for the new year developed by some prognosticator, supposedly in the know. Of course most of the time it was all wrong, but often made for interesting reading. With that in mind, here are my top 10 predictions for Open Source GIS (OS GIS) for 2007.
Top Ten OS GIS Predictions (in no particular order)
- OSGeo will be a synergetic force, fostering new cooperation and collaboration between projects.
- OSGeo will struggle with being “all things to all people” but will settle into its niche by year-end.
- Quantum GIS will release version 1.0, five years after its conception.
- The FOSS4G 2007 conference in Victoria will be the biggest ever, bringing together all facets of the OS GIS community. Commercial GIS vendors will be lurking about the conference floor in significant numbers.
- The Big Commercial GIS vendors will continue to take notice of OS GIS although by year-end its likely they “still won’t get it”.
- A “killer” web mapping interface will be developed and cause a mini-revolution across the geospatial web space.
- An odd alliance will develop between an OS GIS project and a big commercial GIS vendor.
- Paul Ramsey will finally throw up his hands and implement raster support in PostGIS.
- GRASS GUI debate/discussion/development will heat up again, the result being a new improved interface.
- I will be exposed as a charlatan and unable to predict anything in the future.
There you have it. Maybe your crystal ball is better than mine. If so, here’s your chance to go on record.
Good luck with #6!
Happy New Year!
Looks good to me. I’m really hoping for #8 sooner than later.
Happy New Year!
Large icons are good…
Ref: Invitation to do a presentation at the GIS SUMMIT 2007(ATTACHED)
I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to do a Speech/presentation on any or more of the topic(s) on the programme agenda, we would be much honored. In addition to the topics you are also free to suggest a topic(s) and GIS specialists that you feel are impotent to this exiting gathering learning/business event. If you are unable to attend, we could greatly appreciate your representation. Your diverse background and over experience is of great impotence in the GIS arena.
Beaver and Beaver Management Solutions (Pty) Ltd (Reg.: 2005/026691/07) will be hosting a 3 day GIS for the Urban Environment summit2007. On the 24th to 26TH APRIL 2007 at the Birchwood Conference Centre, O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
This is going to be a business and learning event focusing on the use of GIS in urban planning, business enterprise, development, problem solving and is aimed at both large and small cities and metropolitan areas. Over 200 delegates from both the private and public sector will converge.
South African Government Ministers will attend the event.
Please find herewith the attached draft of the agenda were you can choose topic(s) from.
We are also looking for sponsors from those who are willing to take advantage of this exiting event.
The event is being represented and supported by top GIS companies and institutions:
GIS is a valuable public tool, whose benefits could be enhanced through increased coordination. This summit will identify the value of geographic information systems and spatial data in the public and private sectors, as well as to examine mechanisms and opportunities for leveraging the benefits and minimizing costs. This summit will focus on the value that GIS can add to three areas of vital importance to Africa: Economic development, Environmental conservation and Public health and safety.
This Summit focuses on the use of GIS in urban planning, business enterprise, development, problem solving and is aimed at both large and small cities and metropolitan areas. GIS is a valuable public tool, whose benefits could be enhanced through increased coordination. Research has shown that both private and public sectors find it difficult to implement GIS strategies successfully and they have a great need to learn more about the processes, policies, procedures and technology. This three day summit will address these needs by offering companies practical and workable solutions to their GIS problems. Sessions will identify the value of GIS and spatial data in the public and private sectors, as well as to examine mechanisms and opportunities for leveraging the benefits and minimizing costs.
About Beaver and Beaver Management Solutions (Pty) Ltd: Beaver and Beaver Management Solutions (Pty) Ltd is an events, training and conferencing company in Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa. Our operations are research based.
Why attend the summit?
Experts will provide both experienced and new GIS users with the tools to expand their knowledge and use the full potential of geographic information in all levels of government, business operations and society.
Hear about applications, actual systems, and best practices. Get new ideas from your peers through user papers, user group meetings and networking throughout the summit.
Establish: linkages with over 200 delegates, partnerships with owners and sources of information
Government departments will learn how to improve modeling and planning, easier inter-office coordination, increased citizen participation and community advocate; Learn how to meet strategic planning and management challenges
Who benefits? Who should attend?
All government departments, Insurances, Banks and all Financial institutions, Police, Epidemiology, Mobile phone companies, Transport, Utilities, Oil, Central a, Health, Environment agencies, Emergency departments, Retail, Marketing, Military, Epidemiology, Estate agents, Insurance, Agriculture, Planning and engineering, Forestry, Telecommunications, Utilities, Tourism, Information Technology, Facilities management, Education, Asset management, GIS companies: Vendors, Sales, Consulting and educators. Geospatial professionals: Managers, Planners, Engineers and decision makers who deal with GIS, Mayors, deputy mayors, MECs and IT managers.
All in service, infrastructure and utility companies: Architects and Geographers. GIS Vendors and Service Companies: Information System Developers and GIS Consultants. Engineering firms. Business people who appreciate the value of GIS to solve problems; Field Data Collection Companies and Environmental Consulting Firms; Document Image Technology Providers; Facilities Management Specialists; GPS and Satellite System Companies; Database Corporations; Computer Hardware and Software Vendors; SCADA, Automation, and Assessment Firms; Anyone who wants to use GIS as an effective tool for managing, analyzing, and viewing relationships between tabular and spatial information; Technical staff, Analysts, Application developers, Decision makers, GIS practitioners, GIS department managers, GIS educators and trainers, Business owners seeking to leverage the power of GIS
Kind Regards
Vincent.X. Cele