GIS Live DVD
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GIS Live DVD is a type of the thematic
Use cases
There can be multiple use cases:
- Demonstration of one or more FLOSSGIS. It makes possible the stand-alone operation using the pre-installed tutorial and sample data. The performance is critical especially the time behaviour. Usually a demonstration disc tends to promote a project so the user friendliness and correctness are critical too.
- Evaluation of GIS applications
The objective is to provide a simple use and compact environment for evaluating and/or benchmarking applications or data sets. It has a similar built to a demonstration disc however it needs more flexibility in using external data and access to network. The time behaviour and the performance is less critical since is highly likely the disc is run in a virtual machine. The user-friendliness is less important since the evaluation is done by professional usually. - Education
Primary aim of this disc is to support of certain GIS training that is based on an established curricula. It can be university education or a special training course. The selection of the applications for the disc supports the gathering of the targeted skill. The disc includes the agenda of the course too. Networking and using peripherals such as printer and external disks is important. - Installation
The goal is support the installation ofWEB or Desktopapplications by users do not have the required skills or the configuration is complex or difficult. - Development Kit for implementing complex customised applications
The goal is provide a package of a tools for GIS/LISapplication development that includes standard software components and business related sample models and codes to support and speed up implementation. The emphases is on the demonstration of system integration and the sample databases and software codes and instruction. - GIS data processing
Theoretically a Thematic Live DVD can be used for supporting real business procedures. A USB version of a Live DVD can be adopted to data collection where it includes a specific set-up, e.g. an IT system for spatial related census.
Creation
The creation is usually based on an existing Live CD. Some of the GIS and Remote sensing applications are already included in the basic Linux distribution. Some other packages has got "ready to install" versions while some others need to be translated from the source code. After having got all applications and related contents (e.g. documentations, sample data) installed the image of the Live DVD is created by the basic distribution provided tools.
Risks and assumptions
The CASCADOSS research project has identified the following risks of disc creation[1]
- Shortages of the Incomplete Applications
The developments of several FLOSS products are not completed. There are some never finished products too. However these incomplete products can have extremely useful functionality that makes use in environmental GIS data processing. By adding them to a disc their weaknesses could not be fixed. Moreover, in case of some old products the incompatibility, e.g. Linux kernel is a real risk. - Coexistence Problems
In order to create a disc that includes several applications various sub-packages needs to be installed. These packages are not necessarily compatible. They have different technical approach and quality. Therefore, some products cannot coexist smoothly (or at all) with the others on the same Linux distribution. - Difficulties with Closed Package Dependent Applications
When the code of an FLOSS product is open then errors and reasons can be identified, the code can be corrected and the binary version can be recompiled. However, there are some closed packages, e.g. Sun's Java Runtime Environment that cannot be diagnosed or modified. Therefore, some Java based and closed package dependent application cannot be installed. - Difficulties Proprietary Hardware Drivers
Several hardware drivers, e.g. video, wireless, printer are proprietary software. The standard Linux drivers can not necessarily manage them correctly. Therefore, it is impossible to create a disc that compatible with allPCs. Especially the notebooks could have problem in running a LiveDVD. - Difficulties with Obsolete Hardware
The Linux kernel is continuously evolving so some older hardware are not supported in a standard way so it is not possible to support them on a disc. - Legal Risks (a plethora of different FLOSS licences)
The complex dependency of packages can result conflicts of differentFLOSS licences. Several package needs to be changed recompiled and some dependent packages needs to be replaced by a functionally equivalent that can have incompatible licence. Therefore, some FLOSS project could complain for removing their package from the Live CD. - Licence or Patent violations
Some FLOSS products depend on proprietary package some others have code that can violate patents or related rights of some firms. Since the broad national differences in related rights the violation depends on where the Live CD is run. Therefore, some right owners could complain for removing some package from the Live CD. - Exceeding available room
FLOSS GIS/CD or DVD. Therefore, some data sets might be excluded from the media. - Poor I18n stands for the internationalization in IT applications. Unfortunately several applications do not care the international use of applications that makes hard or impossible the use of national characters or integrating an application to a national version of an operating system.
- Unfamiliarity of PC users are inflexible to turn to any different operating system. Therefore, a Linux-based application can be strange for them since it has a different habit than well-known products. Moreover, the terminal-based operation is unacceptable for most of the end-users.
- Quality Problems of the Basic Linux distribution Are Hardy Manageable
As all software products, the Linux distributions have bugs and failures. These problems have a direct impact on any Live CD and cannot be handled as part of a Live CD creation that is focused on applications and not the functions of the operating system.
Functions
The following diagram presents a general function–means tree of the GIS LiveDVDs:[1]
- Installation
The ability to install comes from the basic Linux distribution usually. To keep this feature of the basic Linux distribution, the thematic content needs to be stored according to the standards of the basic distribution. As part of the installation, the system makes an update that can spoil the set-up of the added applications. In order the fully reserve this feature, repositories must be created and regularly maintained for all the installed applications. - Standard functions of the operating system
This is usually provided by the basic Linux distribution. Use of resources and peripherals must be adjusted to the needs of the installed application. The tools are available for experienced users to correct the set-up or customise Live CD while it is in use. - Office applications
This means anOffice suitethat makes possible to run slides, editing texts and images. - GIS application-specific functions
This covers information content, tutorials, user guides, etc. and the functions provided by the GIS applications. It has sense to divide applications to desk top, server and terminal based tools.
Existing GIS Live DVDs
ArcheOS
Primary use is professional archaeological work. Distributor: Arc-Team Italy. Basic Operating system: Debian, 2010, Software included: AutoQ3D, OpenJUMP GIS, XvidCap, QCAD, SAGA GIS, ParaView, PostgreSQL, PostGIS, JSVR, WhiteDune, Pmapper, GRASS[2]
Cascadoss LiveDVD ver 3.0
Primary uses are evaluation and training. Distributor: Compet-Terra Bt.
Debian GIS Live image
Primary use is demonstration. Distributor: Software in the Public Interest, Inc.,
Esri Geoportal Server Live DVD
[5] Primary use is evaluation and demonstration. Distributor:
FOSS4G 2009 Live DVD
[6] Primary uses are demonstration, education and installation. Distributor: The
FOSS4G 2008 "Practical Introduction to GRASS" workshop Live DVD
Primary use is education. FOSS4G 2008 "Practical Introduction to GRASS and related software for beginners" Workshop Live DVD. Creator: M. Ciolli, C. Tattoni, P. Zatelli, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Facoltà di Ingegneria, Università di Trento, Italy. Basic operating system: Kubuntu 8.04. Software: GRASS GIS 6.2.3 and GRASS GIS 6.4 (snapshot_2008_7_12), R 2.7.0 with GRASS support, QGIS 0.10 with GRASS plugin, PostgreSQL 8.3.8, PostGIS 1.3.3, pgAdminIII 1.8.2, pgagent 1.8.2, GRASS tutorial and workshop slides.[7]
GISAK
Primary use is education. Creator: Jan Růžička, František Klímek, Institute of Geoinformatics, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Czech Republic. Basic distribution: Knoppix, 2006, GIS Software. included: GRASS, Thuban, GpsDrive, JUMP GIS, MapLab, MapServer, QGIS, PostGIS[8]
GIS Knoppix
[9] Primary use is demonstration. Distributor: Sourcepole AG,
GIS-LiveCD Release for FOSS4G 2006
[10] Primary use is demonstration. Distributor: GDF Hannover bR,
Ominiverdi
Primary use is demonstration. Distributor: Omniverdi.
OSGeo-Live
Primary use are demonstration and installation. Distributor: The live DVD project of the
, QGIS desktop and server, GRASS GIS, gvSIG, uDig, Kosmo, OpenJUMP GIS, SAGA GIS, OSSIM, Geopublisher, AtlasStyler, osgEarth, GpsDrive, Marble, OpenCPN, OpenStreetMap, Prune, Viking, zyGrib, GeoKettle, GDAL/OGR, GMT, Mapnik, MapTiler, OTB, R Spatial Task View, GeoServer, MapServer, deegree, GeoNetwork, MapProxy, 52°North WSS,52°North WPS, 52°North SOS, TinyOWS, ZOO Project, GeoTools, MetaCRS, libLAS. Data included: Natural Earth, OSGeo North Carolina, OpenStreetMap. Windows and Apple Installers for some of the above applications. A video of the OSGeo-Live[12] is available too.[13]Italian GRASS DVD
Primary use is education. Creator: M. Ciolli, C. Tattoni, A. Vitti, P. Zatelli, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Facoltà di Ingegneria, Università di Trento,
See also
- GIS
- List of geographic information systems software
- List of live CDs
- List of remastering software
- Live USB
- Software appliance
Screenshots
Here are some screenshots of live CDs dedicated to GIS:
-
Cascadoss LiveDVD -
FOSS4G Live DVD -
Gisak LiveCD -
Esri Geoportal Server LiveDVD Demo
References
- ^ a b "Cascadoss LiveDVD Report" (PDF). Cascadoss.eu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "ArcheOS [start]". Archeos.eu. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-01-07. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "Compet-Terra Kft. - Cascadoss". Cascadoss.competterra.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Esri Geoportal Server LiveDVD Demo 2013". Esriurl.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "FOSS4G 2009 Live DVD". Wiki.osgeo.org. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "FOSS4G 2008 GRASS beginners Workshop DVD". Ing.unitn.it. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ [2] Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [3] [dead link]
- ^ "GDF Hannover: Geospatial solutions". Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
- ^ [4] Archived December 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Cameron Shorter". Cameronshorter.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "Welcome to OSGeo-Live — OSGeo-Live Documentation". Live.osgeo.org. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "The Italian GRASS reference DVD". Ing.unitn.it. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
External links
- Presentation about the creation of a GIS LiveDVD in Hungarian
- Using Live DVD to train WMS/WFS services regarding QGIS and MapServer
- Using LiveDVD to evaluate MapServer