What is Open GIScience?

: In this lesson, we will learn about Open GIScience.

Please read some background on open source in Geography for class discussion on Friday, February 26.

• Rey, S. J. 2009. Show me the code: spatial analysis and open source. Journal of Geographical Systems 11 (2):191–207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10109-009-0086-8
• Singleton, A. D., S. Spielman, and C. Brunsdon. 2016. Establishing a framework for Open Geographic Information science. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 30 (8):1507–1521. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13658816.2015.1137579
• Remember the course literature repository

While you read these, consider:

• As we practice Open GIScience in this class, what are the implications for learning, the honor code, and evaluation/grades?
• What are the meanings of free software, open source, and open science?
• How is free as in the free software movement different from free as in a cost of $0.00?
• In what way might something be open source but not free?
• As we practice Open GIScience in this class, what are the implications for:
  • Learning
  • The Honor Code (link for Middlebury community only)
  • Evaluation & Grades
• Is there space for Open GIScience in an undergraduate liberal arts education?
• What risks/benefits do you see for use of open source GIS in:
  • science?
  • government?
  • private businesses?

Please write a response/reaction to this material on your GitHub site. GitHub site and Open GIScience post are due on Monday March 1.

Short additional resources on open source / free software licensing:

• The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) take on open source
• The MIT License: https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
• Creative Commons Licensing: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/
• GNU’s Philosophy of Free Software and how open source misses the point
• How is OpenStreetMap having a moment concurrently with the death of an open source business model?

Resources from the slides:

• High-profile coronavirus retractions raise concerns about data oversight, Nature
• NSF Project to create a geospatial virtual data enclave and Doug Richardson’s short article about it
• Ord, J. K., and A. Getis. 1992. The Analysis of Spatial Association. Geographical analysis 24 (3):189–206. DOI:10.1111/j.1538-4632.1992.tb00261.x
• Python spatial analysis library PySAL
• Rocky Moutain Research Data Center

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