Usage of Open Source GIS Software in the Public Sector: Possibility and Irrationality? Is the GEO-ENABLED GOVERNMENT anxious about USING OPEN SOURCE GIS software? Sr Dr Zainal Bin A Majeed JUPEM

CONTENT What is open source GIS software? The development and trends Test Case of OSGIS Freeware Conclusion

What is open source GIS software?  OSS – it’s free but does not mean free of charge, use freely  OSS GIS is freely available software that can be used to manage and create system development for geospatial data  It is a free geospatial data open source software for developing a GIS  Available to develop a web based GIS application that supports data request, retrieval, integration and presentation.  Free to use, copy, study, change and improve, and even distribute them freely FOSS4G : Free Open Source Software for Geo-Spatial GeoFOSS : Geo Free Open Source Software

OSS Freedoms Freedom of Use Freedom of Use Freedom of Software Freedom of Software Freedom of Redistribute Freedom of Redistribute Freedom of Modify Freedom of Modify Freedom of Copy Freedom of Copy Open Source SW Criteria by OSI (Open Source Initiative) 1. Free Redistribution 2. Source Code 3. Derived Works 4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups 6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor 7. Distribution of License 8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product 9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software 10. License Must Be Technology-Neutral

FOSS4G as Substitute for Proprietary Software ArcReader - viewing - uDig, GRASS, gvSIG, QGIS, OSSIM ArcMap/ArcGIS – cartography - uDig, GRASS, gvSIG, QGIS, OSSIM ArcINFO/ArcGRID – analysis - GRASS, OSSIM, SEXTANTE ArcPad – devices - gvSIG mobile ArcSDE – database - PostGIS ArcIMS – web - Mapserver, GeoServer ArcGIS Server – spatial server - GRASS, SEXTANTE VB, Python – scripting - PHP, Python, Perl, C#.net, etc… (From Shin, ) Open Source GIS?

OSS GIS local trends Organisations begin to use OSS GIS from vendor who do not use inherent and commercialised software Organisations begin to use OSS GIS from vendor who do not use inherent and commercialised software Many organisations in the public sector are interested in commercialised GIS software which come with training and hands-on development by vendors (but expensive) Many organisations in the public sector are interested in commercialised GIS software which come with training and hands-on development by vendors (but expensive) The agony of using OSS GIS is affecting utmost mentality The agony of using OSS GIS is affecting utmost mentality Local authority are lacking of fund to spend RM10K to RM30K for vendor software, with no support but ask to buy new version Local authority are lacking of fund to spend RM10K to RM30K for vendor software, with no support but ask to buy new version Small organisations require cheap, freely available, ease of support from OSS community Small organisations require cheap, freely available, ease of support from OSS community

OSS GIS local trends Support from policy makers and management to use OSS GIS is not good Support from policy makers and management to use OSS GIS is not good Not many use OSS GIS within the desktop environment. The approach may save government allocation, either to do mapping and to develop GIS within the organisation. Not many use OSS GIS within the desktop environment. The approach may save government allocation, either to do mapping and to develop GIS within the organisation. RM30K-60K vendor specific software were not fully utilised in an overarching benefits RM30K-60K vendor specific software were not fully utilised in an overarching benefits Bugs and fault in the developed system tend to demoralise the ideas. Bugs and fault in the developed system tend to demoralise the ideas. Installation, configuration and configuration are sometime problematic Installation, configuration and configuration are sometime problematic Human capital are not fully ready to embark in this genius notion and approach Human capital are not fully ready to embark in this genius notion and approach

Test Case of OSGIS Development for Possibility of Usage in Government Organisation

Objectives  To investigate the current open source software, standards, protocols and technologies capable of resolving the issue of data integration and dissemination.  To investigate and test existing open geospatial web service e.g. Minnesota WMS.  To use GML for vector online data format.  To implement WFS for GML server to serve GML online.  To design a common ad hoc database for data import/export in order to manage the data before dissemination  To develop intelligent middleware capable to get the user requests for query vector/raster data  To develop a web based GIS application that supports data request, retrieval, integration and presentation.

Methodologies A simple development of a web based GIS through the construction of a 3-tier web service architecture, comprising a client, middleware and server, as follows A simple development of a web based GIS through the construction of a 3-tier web service architecture, comprising a client, middleware and server, as follows Server – In order to serve raster and vector geospatial data from multiple sources via the web we have implemented the OGC WMS and WFS specifications Server – In order to serve raster and vector geospatial data from multiple sources via the web we have implemented the OGC WMS and WFS specifications Middleware – The middleware enables the application to retrieve the geospatial data from different servers Middleware – The middleware enables the application to retrieve the geospatial data from different servers Client – A client map viewer developed to render the data requested by the servlet. Client – A client map viewer developed to render the data requested by the servlet.

Geospatial data used Cadastral data or land parcel data handled by the JUPEM states ( in local coordinate system) Cadastral data or land parcel data handled by the JUPEM states ( in local coordinate system) Topographical mapping data developed in JUPEM (real world coordinates) Topographical mapping data developed in JUPEM (real world coordinates) Aerial/Orthophoto images produced in JUPEM (real world coordinates) Aerial/Orthophoto images produced in JUPEM (real world coordinates)  Test area in the Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur  Data preparation involved tasks on image processing, vector data conversion and coordinates transformation.  Data is prepared and integrated into one single view

The topographical data overlayed an aerial images of the test area

The cadastral data overlayed on an aerial images of the test area.

Spatial Relational Database (SRDB) was utilised as an ad hoc database was utilised as an ad hoc database Logical database model of SRDB

shop1... Implementing Feature Schema for Use with GML

Developing the Web Geospatial Server Map of WP Kuala Lumpur WFS – GML server WMS – freeware Mapserver The administrative area of WPKL through GML server and Image Map Server

Developing Middleware for the Geospatial Data Connector - get the user request through the CGI protocol; - connect to other data server and retrieve the data via HTTP protocol as user required; - integrate the requested data and generate the final integrated objects; - deliver the required objects back to the client application.

The project request is encoded using XML The sample of project is illustrated as follows. <dataset protocol="http" type="gml" name="hospital_clinic" address= " REQUEST=getFeature&LAYERS=KL.hosp_clinic"/> <dataset protocol="http" type="gml" name="gov_office" address= " <dataset protocol="http" type="gml" name="education" address= " <dataset protocol="http" type="image" name="canal" address= " REQUEST=getFeature&LAYERS=KL.canel"/>

Developing the Web Based GIS The application GUI

Local and HTTP data open dialog

The rendering tool

The sample of project in Kuala Lumpur area

The zoom-in area that contains lot parcel, topographical data and digital aerial photograph

Results This test case has achieved the objectives of implementing and utilising existing open source geospatial standards and technologies, e.g. OGC standards and specification (GML, WFS, WMS), HTTP, CGI, XML and RDB, to overcome the issue of data integration and dissemination from multiple heterogeneous systems The application has clearly shown the successes of the concept of data integration on-the-fly from multiple heterogeneous GIS servers which supply the spatial web service. The SRDB was implemented and utilised to enable the construction of an ad hoc database capable of providing a solution to some of the issues of data proprietary

Way Forward Strong R & D foundation and direction Further executive directives and transformation on OSS towards the 2020 (developed nation) The collaboration with OSGeo and government stakeholders (eg MaCGDI) Capacity building (practical training) within MAMPU initiatives and OSC in Cyberjaya, including more government participation in MyGOSSCON The usage and promotion of desktop environment OSS GIS should be focussing on the local authority or small organisation

OSSs are not freeware but much cheaper to develop, neither there are free of chargeOSSs are not freeware but much cheaper to develop, neither there are free of charge Free to use, copy, study, change and improve, and even distribute them freelyFree to use, copy, study, change and improve, and even distribute them freely Data integration through open source, standard and protocols and technologies is possible (test case outcome) Data integration through open source, standard and protocols and technologies is possible (test case outcome) Open source software and standard is significant to safe allocation, for interoperable system and integrated GIS data Open source software and standard is significant to safe allocation, for interoperable system and integrated GIS data A small to medium to large scale authority organisation capable with low cost to develop OS GIS A small to medium to large scale authority organisation capable with low cost to develop OS GIS Executive direction is crucial as OSSs are the available, free and cheap software development widely used nowadays Executive direction is crucial as OSSs are the available, free and cheap software development widely used nowadays OSS GIS is possible in the public sector and can be are rationally proposed as one of any transformation program OSS GIS is possible in the public sector and can be are rationally proposed as one of any transformation program CONCLUSION

Thank you for listening