Witness the Geospatial trends shaping today's IT industry Posted by Adel Mubarak , Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 12:22 AM, in Labels: FOSS

The international conference for Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) showcases the technologies, standards, case studies and geospatial trends up-heaving today's IT industry.

The past 5 years has seen an explosion of location based applications, driven through ubiquitous mobile platforms, extensive access of no-cost maps and data, crowd sourcing, development and uptake of solid spatial standards, integration of cross-agency data through Spatial Data Infrastructures, development and commercialisation of Geospatial Open Source software, cloud computing and more. At FOSS4G you will see the best international Developers, Policy Makers, Sponsors, Decision Makers and Geospatial Professionals discuss the latest geospatial applications, standards, government programs, business processes and case studies.

FOSS4G retains many of the engaging characteristics of its Open Source heritage. With Bird of a Feather sessions, code sprints, install-fests and impromptu project meetings, there is an unparalleled opportunity to take part in active communities and provide input into the direction for a variety of projects.

It is no surprise that standards and interoperability within Spatial Data Infrastructures feature prominently in the FOSS4G conference. Standards such as those offered by the Open Geospatial Consortium and ISO provide the framework that facilitates interoperability. Interoperability through Open Standards is a corner stone of FOSS4G where you will see Open Source and proprietary software working together in harmony.

Open Source communities are renowned for their responsiveness and helpfulness, and is now being backed by companies offering enterprise support debunking the myth that there is no one you can call to support Open Source. At FOSS4G, you can talk with the enthusiastic communities in workshops, install-fests, and between sessions, and meet the companies stepping up to provide enterprise support for Open Source products.

The Open Software development process permeates a refreshing level of honesty and forthrightness. Systems integrators can google email forums, issue trackers and source code so that there are no surprises found after deploying an open source application. In the same vein, FOSS4G is famous for its project comparison shootouts, which help users select appropriate products, and developers to identify areas they need to focus on.

It will be a compelling event for anyone who needs to know how Geospatial technologies are shaping tomorrow's IT landscape.