The View From Here

One of the measures of the success of a technology is its ability to move from early adopters to those who are "just regular people." Here in the U.S. wireless computer connections have made that leap. And, I think OpenGIS Specifications are making the leap, too. Two cases in point are detailed in this issue of OGC User.

GIS innovations typically are first taken up in commercial arenas, and in corners of the federal government. When they move to the state and local level, it's time to take note. That's what's happening in North Carolina. A pilot project has the state and a dozen local governments (one in neighboring South Carolina) exploring what's possible if they agree to use the Web Map Service (WMS) Specification.

Another measure of the growth of the uptake of OpenGIS Specifications is the movement out of traditional mapping corners into other disciplines. Dr. Reiner Goeldner is an archeologist in Germany who, with his colleagues, saw GIS as a key part of storing archeological data in the early 1990s. Now he sees the power of taking his geodata to the next level with open specifications.

As we wrap up the first year of OGC User, we thank our contributors for sharing their stories. And, we'd like to reach out to others with interesting stories to tell about how OpenGIS Specification are enhancing what's possible with your geosptial data and tools.

Adena Schutzberg
Editor