Mapping Pacific Resources using Open Source GeoSpatial Software Sachindra Singh Systems Developer...

Mapping Pacific Resources using Open Source GeoSpatial Software

Sachindra SinghSystems Developer

Data Management SectionSOPAC/SPC

A Pacific Solution for Geospatial Data Sharing?

28th November, 2012Pacific GIS/RS Conference

Just Pretty Pictures?

3D Digital Terrain Model of Ba, FijiRendered from 3 million points LiDAR Survey

Or Analysed and Visualised Data?

Core GIS Fields

CartographyStatistical AnalysisData Technology

This presentation only focuses on data technologies

Brief History of Internet andOpen Source Systems in SOPAC

• 1994 – SOPAC adopted cc:Mail and SunOS – one of the first regional organization to have an electronic communication system in the Pacific region

• 1994 – SOPAC was one of the founding members of PICISOC (Internet Society Charter for Pacific

Islands) • 1996 - USP [The University of the South Pacific] and SOPAC were the first to connect to the

Internet in the South Pacific. SOPAC also offered subsidized internet access to government organisations during this period.

• 2000 – 2004 – SOPAC migrated fully to open source services such email systems, GNU/Linux file

shares, BIND, etc.

• 2002 – SOPAC adopted open source tiki-wiki as a web presence and collaboration platform • 2006 – SOPAC adopted open source online library systems (Koha) and e-learning platforms

(Moodle)

History (GeoSpatial Platforms)

Mapserver 2005 – SOPAC deployed and trained users in 14 Pacific Island Countries on UNM Mapserver as part of EU/EDF Pacific Islands Vulnerability project. Geonetwork2007 - Geonetwork deployed within SOPAC by Ocean and Islands programme . Singular GeoSpatial Data Repository 2010 - SOPAC ICT unified and catalogued SOPAC's and member countries diverse spatial data collection under a standardised, secure and user-friendly system

Geonode2011 – Adoption of Geonode Web Mapping Platform (primarily for World Bank/ADB Pacific Risk Exposure Database Project)

Spatial Data Infrastructure

“[Spatial Data Infrastructure] provides a basis for spatial data discovery, evaluation, and application

for users and providers within all levels of government, the commercial sector, the non-profit

sector, academia and by citizens in general.”– SDI Cookbook

A generic and inter-connected set of systems that enables easy management and publication of

geospatial data.

SDI Workflow

SOPAC SDI – Common Data Platform

✚ ✚

What the heck is this Genode thing anway?

What the heck is this Genode thing anway?

SOPAC’s SDI Vision

Unified Approach to Cataloguing, Archiving and Exposing Diverse GIS/Spatial Datasets

Different projects, different data, different requirements, different access

levels;

One Platform – Geonode SDI

Zero IT Expertise required to expose, share and geospatial data.

Current and Future Implementations

SOPAC Geonode Pacific Risk Information System

Maritime Boundaries Project

geonode.sopac.org paris.sopac.org

Workflow

Entirely Open Source Stack; from Desktop to Processing to Server.

Raster Conversion and Re-projectionEg: IMG

Vector Conversion and Re-projectionBatch Conversion

Direct integration with Geonode

Lessons Learnt

SDI enables us toquickly implementsmart technical solutionstolegitimate organizationaldata sharing concerns

Federation (Long Term Vision)

Multiple agencies in Pacific host their own SDI instances and manage own datasets.Instances are interconnected and are able to search and consume each others

datasets transparently.Example: Correlation between car accidents, road fatalities/injuries, and rainfall.

Example: Satellite Imagery hosted in SOPAC, overlayed with Forestry Coverage data in Govt.

Federation (Long Term Vision)

Multiple agencies in Pacific host their own SDI instances and manage own datasets.Instances are interconnected and are able to search and consume each others

datasets transparently.Example: Correlation between car accidents, road fatalities/injuries, and rainfall.

Example: Satellite Imagery hosted in SOPAC, overlayed with Forestry Coverage data in Govt.

Barriers to entry

What are common barriers to entry in the Pacific, and how do we lower these? • Setup Complexity • Software Support • How-to Guides and Help Resources • Pre-existing Investments (in Commercial GIS Software) • Incompatible ICT Policies• Bandwidth limitations in serving maps

Solutions?

What can an organization like SPC/SOPAC do to promote and provide advocacy OSS for GIS in the region?

• Provide customized, simple and easy to use GIS tools (Desktop and Server)

• Provide a medium for support and problem solving• Provide online help and training modules• Develop customised modules and plugins to suit Pacific datasets• http://github.com/sopac

(all tuned to requirements of Pacific GIS Units)

Countering Bandwidth Limitation

Local Editions Data and System should be scalable enough to be hosted independently on removable media

sopac-gis-os

GIS-oriented Linux (Operating System) Distribution based on Free and Open Source Components built and

supported by SOPAC.

http://ict.sopac.org/gisos

Open Source Community

github.com/sopacdatarequest@sopac.org

Thanks