The AGI were privileged to support and be part of the the recent Foss4G Leeds event that took place at the Horizon Space in Leeds between the 01-02 October. This well-attended event brought over 180 members of the Open-Source Geospatial Community together for a couple of days filled with inspiring talks and meaningful connections.
The event was truly a remarkable gathering, showcasing the best of what the Open-Source Geospatial Community has to offer. The Horizon Space in Leeds provided the perfect backdrop for the event, with its modern facilities and welcoming atmosphere setting the stage for an engaging and dynamic experience.
Throughout the two days, attendees were treated to a series of thought-provoking presentations and discussions, covering a wide range of topics within the geospatial field. From innovative new technologies and methodologies to real-world applications and case studies, the event offered something for everyone, regardless of their level of expertise or area of interest.
Some of the standout presentations of the event were Kathryns Berger’s (DSTL) Opening Keynote on the advancement of Opensource Geospatial tools over the last 30 years with a focus on Earth Observation, the prevalence and access to free satellite imagery and the cloud native formats that allow them to be shareable across modern architecture. Barry Rowlingson’s personal account of using opensource tools in his investigation into WW2 V2 bomb strikes, Cassini Grid conversions and random requests for support on UXB mapping. Another Highlight of day 1 was the Premier showing of “She Measures the earth” – A short documentary that follows four women scientists as they lead glacier expeditions, mentor youth, and show what it means to measure and map the Earth through both science and lived experience.
Day 2 opened with Alisdair Rae’s view on why open source is important, with trust highlighted as the primary reason for choosing opensource Geospatial technology in the age of AI. Alex Wrottesley from IDOX kept it real, digging into the commerciality of Open Source. – balancing the needs of the client with the need to be Open. The AGI’s own Jo Cook put out a call to the community – Keeping Standards Fun – explaining the need for them but also asking for support to improve and help evolve them.
With so many participants, the event provided ample opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and the forging of new partnerships and friendships. It was heartening to see so many passionate individuals come together to celebrate their shared commitment to open-source geospatial solutions. The Event social at the Canal Club kept people talking well into the evening.
As we reflect on the success of the OS Geo UK – FOSS4G Leeds event, the Open-Source Geospatial Community is thriving and continues to make significant strides in advancing Open-Source GIS. The event not only highlighted the incredible work being done by community members but also served as a reminder of the importance of collaboration, innovation, and the open exchange of ideas.
Hopefully the success of this conference will support OSGeo UK’s application to host the International FOSS4G conference in 2027. What is clear is that there is thriving and growing community in the UK which can only be a good thing for the whole GI community.
Written by Simon Nigh AGI Council Member