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Copenhagen on the map for ´map app´ conference

Developers and users get together to talk about the mapping software QGIS. Lecturer and developer Tim Sutton explains to the University Post why it should be kept open source

If you are learning geography, landscape architecture, geology or similar subjects you have probably encountered the words GIS and QGIS. GIS stands for Geographical Information Systems, and the Q stands for Quantum. Originally it was used by a few experts. Now almost everyone who wants to knows the basics.

The QGIS community meets normally twice per year and it is mainly focused for developers. However this time round, the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) has decided to change the routine. The university will host the first conference in the world where developers and users meet together to discuss QGIS.

It will all take place in Nødebo at the forestry and landscape campus north of Copenhagen

Free for a purpose

On Monday Tim Sutton, lecturer and GIS Developer, will speak about the ‘Future for QGIS and Open Source’.

He will highlight the importance and necessity of QGIS to remain open source, he says to the University Post.

“Being a free software project is not an accident – it was a conscious decision to put an important technology into the hands of everyone on the planet who needs to use it regardless of their economic station,” he says.

Read a previous University Post article about GIS: So what is GIS?

Better for everyone

“We have to take into consideration that the people that make up the QGIS project have given up many thousands of hours of their time to make this dream a reality.”

During his talk he would like “to invite and encourage others to participate in our community and help to build a better product for everyone to use”.

See fact box right for links to the programme and other information.

universitypost@adm.ku.dk

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