Abstract
The implementation of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) for governments and companies is a task that has gained ample attention in recent years. Different categories of spatial software such as desktop GIS, server GIS, web map servers, spatial database management systems, web map development toolkits, etc., are required to realize the software components of an SDI. We catalogue a (selected) variety of free and open source projects that develop and maintain spatial software that fit within these categories. Our analysis reveals that for all categories of software used in SDIs a free software product is available. This enables adopters to implement an SDI on a limited financial budget, and allows the distribution of a proven SDI architecture without legal constraints. Our software evaluation shows that free and open source solutions support a wide range of industry standards that ease interoperability between SDI components.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Adams T (2009) There is no alternative to OpenLayers…? Presentation at FOSS4G 2009 conference, Sydney, Australia. Available from http://maps.terrestris.de/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=alternative_openlayers accessed on 28 May 2010
Boston GIS (2009) Cross compare SQL server 2008 spatial, PostgreSQL/PostGIS 1.3-1.4, MySQL 5-6. Available from bostongis.com accessed on 28 May 2010
Clinton B (1993) Coordinating geographic data acquisition and access: the national spatialdata infrastructure. Executive Order 12906. Federal Register, Presidential Documents, 59(71) p 4
Corti P (2009) Using MongoDb to store geographic data. Available from paolocorti.net accessed on 28 May 2010
Crompvoets J, Bregt A, Rajabifard A, Williamson IP (2004) Assessing the worldwide developments of national spatial data clearinghouses. Int J Geograph Inf Sci 18:665–689
Donelly FP (2010) Evaluating open source GIS for libraries. Library Hi Tech 28:131–151
GeoConnections (2009) Status report to the united nations: Canadian geospatial data infrastructure. Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa
Granell C, Gould M, Manso MA (2009) Spatial data infrastructures. In: Karimi HA (ed) Handbook of research on geoinformatics. Hershey, New York, pp 36–41
Greener S (2009) Oracle spatial for PostGIS users – understand, isolate and migrate. Presentation at FOSS4G 2009 Conference, Sydney, AU. Available from http://www.spatialdbadvisor.com/file_download/43/FOSS4G_2009_PostGISAndOracleSpatial.pdf accessed on 28 May 2010
Grothe M (2007) implementing INSPIRE (principles) – towards an Enterprise SDI for Rijkswaterstaat. Presentation at 110th EuroSDR Meeting, Rotterdam, NL. Available from www.eurosdr.net/meetings/110/presentations/h-5.pdf accessed on 28 May 2010
GSDI (2009) Spatial data infrastructure cookbook. Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association. Available from www.gsdi.org/gsdicookbookindex accessed on 28 May 2010
Johnson K (1999) Open-source Software Development. Available from http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/computer-article-open-source.html accessed on 28 May 2010
Jolma A, Ames DP, Horning N et al (2008) Free and open source geospatial tools for environmental modelling and management. In: Jakeman AJ et al (eds) Environmental modelling, software and decision support. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 163–180
Kuhn W (2005) Introduction to spatial data infrastructures. Presentation held on March 14 2005. Available from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2697206/ Introduction-to-Spatial–Data-Infrastructures accessed on 28 May 2010
Lupp M (2008) Degree free software. In: Shekhar S, Xiong H (eds) Encyclopedia of GIS. Springer, New York, pp 235–239
May M, Merten S, Brauner J (2005) Open source für Geodateninfrastrukturen – eine echte Alternative? In: Proceedings CORP 2004, Vienna, 2005
Mische V (2009) Geodata and CouchDB. Presentation at FOSS4G 2009 Conference, Sydney, AU. Available from http://vmx.cx/blog/2009-11-17/geodata-and-couchdb.pdf accessed on 28 May 2010
Rajabifard A, Williamson IP (2001) Spatial data infrastructures: concepts, SDI hierarchy and future directions. In: Proceedings Geomatics, Australia, 2001
Ramsey P (2007) The state of open source GIS. In: FOSS4G 2007 Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Available from www.refractions.net/expertise/whitepapers/ accessed on 28 May 2010
Ramsey P (2009) The OpenGeo Architecture. Available from opengeo.org accessed on 28 May 2010
Reid J, Martin F (2001) The open source movement and its potential in implementing Spatial Data Infrastructures. In: Proceedings international symposium on spatial data infrastructure, Melbourne, Australia. Available from http://www.geo.unizh.ch/publications/sstein/pubothers/reid_martin_foss_for_sdi_2001.pdf accessed on 28 May 2010
Sanz-Salinas J-C, Montesinos-Lajara M (2009) Current panorama of the FOSS4G ecosystem. Upgrade 10(2):43–51
Smits P (2003) INSPIRE: infrastructure for spatial information in Europe. Presentation held on Sept. 17 2003, open European symposium on GI interoperability, Segovia, 17 Sept 2003
Smits PC, Düren U, Østensen O, et al (2002) INSPIRE Architecture and Standards Position Paper. Available from http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.cfm/pageid/241/documentid/809 accessed on 28 May 2010
Steiniger S, Bocher E (2009) An overview on current free and open source desktop GIS developments. Int J Geograph Inf Sci 23:1345–1370
Steiniger S, Hay GJ (2009) Free and open source geographic information tools for landscape ecology. Ecol Inf 4:183–195
Steiniger S, Weibel R (2009) GIS software – a description in 1,000 words. Available from http://www.geo.unizh.ch/publications/sstein/gissoftware_steiniger2008.pdf accessed on 28 May 2010
Sveen AF (2008) Use of free and open source GIS in commercial firms. Masters thesis, Norwegian University of Technology and Science. Available from spatialserver.net/osgis/ accessed on 28 May 2010
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Steiniger, S., Hunter, A.J.S. (2012). Free and Open Source GIS Software for Building a Spatial Data Infrastructure. In: Bocher, E., Neteler, M. (eds) Geospatial Free and Open Source Software in the 21st Century. Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10595-1_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10595-1_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-10594-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-10595-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)