[Freegis-list] The Brazilian freeware GIS SPRING

[Felipe G. Nievinski]

Hi all.

I'm from Brazil, and I've been using SPRING in the last year (for a few
projects), since I met some people from INPE (Brazil's National Institute
for Space Research) during GeoInfo 2000 (Brazilian Workshop on
GeoInformatics), last june in Sao Paulo. I like very much its high-level
approach, mainly because it's fully object-oriented and it has an
user-friendly graphical interface.

Though it isn't a Free Software, I think it can be explored, just because it
is a good software, helping us to make better softwares. I think projects
like FMaps can gain a lot with it - it seems both projects' objectives are
very similar:
from SPRING's website: "SPRING is a state-of-the-art GIS and remote sensing
image processing system with an object-oriented data model which provides
for the integration of raster and vector data representations in a single
environment. "
from FMaps' website: "FMaps is here to answer the lack of user friendly
opensource GIS/RS (Geographic Information System/ Remote Sensing)
application on the Linux and Gnome compatible platforms."

I'm planning to be in GeoInfo 2001, and I will try to persuade them to open
the source code of SPRING and make it a free software. I believe that
writing a petition, explaining the very basics of Free software and showing
that everyone will win with it (win-win), no one lawyer will say that it
cannot be done, considering it is a product from a public institution.
(Maybe I will need a help to write this petition/letter.)

But first, I would like to know your opinions about SPRING. I know it has
some bugs, though I never bumped into any.

Another project from INPE that can be helpful to the Free GIS community is
TerraLib:
http://www.tecgraf.puc-rio.br/geoinfo2000/anais/019.pdf
This work describes the development of a new GIS library (called TerraLib),
that is
aimed at providing a rich and powerful environment for the development of
GIScience research.
The motivation for this proposal is the current lack of either public or
commercial GIS libraries
that cater for the diversity of GIS data and algorithms, especially when
viewed upon the latest
advances in geographical information science. TerraLib is open source
software, allowing a
collaborative environment and its use for the development of multiple GIS
tools.
(it is under development)


just my 2 cents

Regards,
Felipe Nievinski.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan-Oliver Wagner" <jan at intevation.de>
To: <freegis-list at intevation.de>
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2001 6:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Freegis-list] The Brazilian freeware GIS SPRING


> On Thu, Jan 11, 2001 at 10:09:34AM -0800, Adrian Custer wrote:
> > They just sent me a note and I looked quickly on the web site but didn't
> > see SPRING listed. If it is sorry to bother.
> >
> >
> > SPRING is a freeware GIS based in Brazil (closed source). I never
> > used it but I have intended to. See:
> >
> > http://www.dpi.inpe.br/spring/english/
> >
> > unless your portugeese is up to par. :-)  If it's good we might start
> > lobbying them to open their source.
>
> due to a hint my Matt in October 1999 we contacted the SPRING
> people and argued to make SPRING Free Software since
> there seems no actual reason why they shouldn't.
>
> The developers like the idea, but they more or less say
> that the legal department does not allow it.
> Strange, since legal departments are paid to help
> you in your business (and realise your ideas).
> You don't pay them to rule you (we observed this
> for many organizations (companies as well as other
> instituitions).
>
> Since October 1999 we exchanged many emails with the
> SPRING developers.
> However, many more seem to be required
> to finally reach the goal. Perhaps it is helpful
> if more requests from different parties ask for
> making SPRING Free Software.
> SPRING is definitely worth the efford!
> The SPRING developers are on our side so give
> them more requests and arguments for their bosses.
>
> Cheers
>
> Jan
>
> --
> Jan-Oliver Wagner               http://intevation.de/~jan/
>
> Intevation GmbH                    http://intevation.de/
> FreeGIS                                http://freegis.org/
>
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