The View From Here

In this issue of OGC User we look at a bold Spanish open source development project, a commercial weather data provider application, and a volunteer-driven weather data network. These stories illustrate two levels of "weaving things together with standards." Each of these organizations utilizes software, services and encodings that implement OpenGIS Specifications. Why? Because doing so helps them integrate Information resources within their respective organizations. At the same time, these organizations also rely on using OpenGIS Interfaces to access and Integrate with other organizations’ OpenGIS Specification conformant resources or to give other organizations access to their resources.

All three stories document the influence of government implementations of standards. US and European Union government data sources are increasingly offering their data through implementations of OGC standards, which is a powerful kind of leadership.

Lance McKee
Editor