Geoinformatics community gathers in Tartu to discuss wider use of free and open-source software

The international geoinformatics conference “Free and Open Source for Geospatial (FOSS4G) Europe 2024” will take place in Tartu, Estonia, from 1 to 7 July, focusing on the application and development potential of free and open source geoinformatics applications enabling both everyday services and cutting-edge research. The 160 presentations of the conference are livestreamed for all interested. 

Free and open-source geoinformatics software (FOSS4G) allows the creation of applications for mapping one’s personal berry and mushroom patches, as well as building large-scale global climate models. Such applications are used by large international companies (such as Google, Uber, and Amazon) and public authorities and companies in Estonia (e.g. Land Board, Agricultural Registers and Information Board (PRIA), State Forest Management Centre (RMK)) and elsewhere in the world.  

According to Tõnis Kärdi, a member of the conference organising committee, the great value of free and open-source geoinformatics software is that it is cost-effective and inclusive, fostering cooperation between countries and between spheres of life. “This way, geoinformatics tools are available in every corner of the world, not only to the big players but also to individuals, educational institutions, municipalities and small and startup businesses,” said Kärdi. Besides that, he believes that the most significant asset is the people who hold the whole system together. “We are an open community who shares our knowledge and experience worldwide,” he said. 

Thanks to the collaboration of a global community of developers, this kind of software evolves faster than many business software programs. According to Evelyn Uuemaa, Professor of Geoinformatics at the University of Tartu, Estonia has seen a surge of interest in FOSS4G applications over the past decade. Unfortunately, the community of developers of this type of software is still relatively small here. “The University of Tartu is the only higher education institution in Estonia where it is possible to earn a master’s degree in geoinformatics, and open-source software plays an important role in these studies. Currently, employers’ demand for specialists in this field is so high that most of our students already work in their chosen specialisation before graduation,” said Uuemaa. 

The versatility of FOSS4G is also reflected in the wide range of topics presented by the keynote speakers at the Tartu conference. Stefanie Lumnitz from the European Space Agency (ESA) will talk about applications for planetary exploration, while Athina Trakas, an innovation expert from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), will explain how the software has influenced the field of meteorology and climate science. Geoinformatics specialist and Product Manager at the transport and logistics company Trimble Transportation, Jaak Laineste, will discuss how FOSS4G can help reduce the carbon footprint in the transport sector. 

The Free and Open Source for Geospatial (FOSS4G) Europe 2024 conference brings together almost 450 participants from around the world to Tartu. It is organised in cooperation with the international Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo), the University of Tartu’s Landscape Geoinformatics working group, and the Estonian Geoinformatics Society. 

The conference is supported by GEOCAT BV, rapidlasso GmbH, OPENGIS.ch and the European Commission’s Destination Earth initiative. The participants’ moving around in the city is supported by the Tartu City Government.