[Osmf-talk] "ArcGIS supports Openstreetmap"

[Sam Larsen]

> 
> > As long as ESRI are not going around actively trying to  destroy the project
> > (which i don't really think they could do anyway),  then the old anti-ESRI
> > argument is not really worth discussion on this  list.
> 
> It was not my intention to trip any anti-ESRI switch. ESRI does  what it 
>collectively does. I was amazed to see OSM support in ArcGIS10  circulating on 
>"Twitter". I don't know anyone at ESRI, i have never in my life  used a piece of 
>ESRI software, etc etc. I have no idea what they could donate or  promote in 
>kind, instead of money - a number of network nodes on a Cassandra  network, for 
>example - http://cassandra.apache.org/ - or support for a pilot project with 
>open  national mapping data.

Jo, my name is Sam Larsen.  I am from ESRI (UK) - nice to meet you.  I think the 
impact of traditional GIS software suppliers like ESRI will be in exposing a 
large number of GIS users who have very little contact with open source & 
collective works to the world of OSM.  These users may not have a lot of 
knowledge of the open source world, but many will have a lot of experience in 
GIS.  How involved they get really remains to be seen.  I feel as protective of 
the project as many others and do worry about large companies charging in, 
however, i feel that in the spirit of openness (which is really what we are all 
about) we should embrace all those who show an interest in OSM.  I think we are 
strong enough as a community to withstand 'commercial influence' (ignoring 
current license debate ;)

> 
> This could be a sharp kind of double-edged sword. 

Any number of current happenings in OSM could turn out to be a sharp kind of 
double-edged sword (including current license debate ;).

> But the alternative appears to be the OSM Foundation scraping around for 
>support  for hosting, while commercially exploiting entities create millions of 
>measured  value in venture capital. And i don't understand  that...

If what you are trying to say is that you feel uneasy with ESRI services  
consuming large numbers of map tiles - then raise the issue in plain english and 
we can  have a doalogue with ESRI & those who make decisions regarding the fair 
usage  policy.  I am pushing for more hosted services from ESRI (who certainly 
have the capability to do that), however, i am not the MD, so these things may 
take longer than I might like.

I really don't care what other people are doing, who is earning what & who is 
creating what - as long as we are enjoying what we are doing.  Frankly, if 
someone creates something worth a lot of money and sells it - that's great, for 
me, that is what it's all about; getting past all the restrictions of data so we 
can get on with creating valuable uses for our data.  Is it open or not? 


Sam