Open Source Geospatial Data Access API

One of the most successful areas of the open source geospatial  movement is providing data access APIs and data providers for a wide range of file formats.  For example MapServer users are familiar with OGR and GDAL.  Frank Warmerdam has been a leader in this area.  His data providers are widely used in both closed and open source geospatial projects and products.  Since MapServer is primarily focussed on web publishing, OGR and GDAL are basically read-only APIs and are optimized for query applications.

The Feature Data Object (FDO) API is a new kid on the block.  It is distinguished from OGR and GDAL in that it provides a full edit API including among other things support for transactions, locks, and versions.  In a previous blog I emphasized that MapGuide Open Source provides a Web 2.0 platform because it is designed to provide full update access to geospatial (and non geospatial) data.  Autodesk contributed FDO and several FDO data providers to OSGEO.ORG.  FDO is getting a lot of interest at the OSGEO site.  For example, there are now OGR and GDAL data providers provided by Traian Stanev and Frank Warmerdam, respectively.  A PostGIS data provider is in the works.  In the last few days Haris Kurtagic has created an open source project on OSGEO to support an open source Oracle data provider.  Haris has told me that he is seeing a tremendous amount of interest in his data provider.

If you want an interesting perspective on FDO, take a look at Jason Birch’s most recent blog (Jason Birch on FDO ).

Geoff Zeiss

Geoff Zeiss

Geoff Zeiss has more than 20 years experience in the geospatial software industry and 15 years experience developing enterprise geospatial solutions for the utilities, communications, and public works industries. His particular interests include the convergence of BIM, CAD, geospatial, and 3D. In recognition of his efforts to evangelize geospatial in vertical industries such as utilities and construction, Geoff received the Geospatial Ambassador Award at Geospatial World Forum 2014. Currently Geoff is Principal at Between the Poles, a thought leadership consulting firm. From 2001 to 2012 Geoff was Director of Utility Industry Program at Autodesk Inc, where he was responsible for thought leadership for the utility industry program. From 1999 to 2001 he was Director of Enterprise Software Development at Autodesk. He received one of ten annual global technology awards in 2004 from Oracle Corporation for technical innovation and leadership in the use of Oracle. Prior to Autodesk Geoff was Director of Product Development at VISION* Solutions. VISION* Solutions is credited with pioneering relational spatial data management, CAD/GIS integration, and long transactions (data versioning) in the utility, communications, and public works industries. Geoff is a frequent speaker at geospatial and utility events around the world including Geospatial World Forum, Where 2.0, MundoGeo Connect (Brazil), Middle East Spatial Geospatial Forum, India Geospatial Forum, Location Intelligence, Asia Geospatial Forum, and GITA events in US, Japan and Australia. Geoff received Speaker Excellence Awards at GITA 2007-2009.

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