I think Fishbowl process could be an good option, where it could be possible to review how existing Open Source tools could be used, and define the requirements for the product. Petteri

-----Original Message----- From: twiens [mailto:twiens@compusmart.ab.ca] Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2000 12:37 AM To: Zope Subject: ÄZopeÅ Mapping tools and Zope - SIG? Fishbowl?

I'm writing to all who responded to my query regarding mapping tools for Zope or others interested in this issue. In one of the responses, was the suggestion to start a SIG or Fishbowl.

At this point in time, I'm in a research phase for a project where a mapping interface will be needed in Zope based web application. We are starting to move into the design phase and so some technical decisions will start to be made in the next two months at which point we will begin building something.

I've received a number of other interesting replies about GIS and Zope and possible solutions. These have ranged from "I know about this" to "I use this" to "We should build something". I think there might be sufficient interest in at least starting a SIG or Fishbowl or separate list about the problem. Is there??

I'm personally a bit hesitant to even consider building yet another GIS product. There are many of them out their (see www.freegis.org) for web display, cartography, spatial analysis, etc. Obviously our interest here is web interfaces, but these other products are testimony to the ubiquitous nature of the problem; a good suite of comprehensive GIS software solutions just doesn't exist, either for free or commercially (IMHO). The approach my team will likely take on our project will be to examine existing open source products and determine if there is one that is sufficient to meet our needs and simply use it. If we can build some tools around this product to facilitate it's future use with Zope by others, we will open source those.

I would welcome the discussion of this issue, since it is important and it is one of the up and coming needs for web applications. I would welcome feedback from others who undoubtedly have significant experience and knowledge to bring to this problem.

T -- Trevor Wiens twiens@compusmart.ab.ca

The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. (Albert Einstein)

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