With great pleasure and respect, the GRASS GIS community recognises
the long-term contributions of Roger Bivand to the field of spatial
analysis, in particular his work with the R programming environment
and the development of the rgrass package
(Interface Between GRASS Geographical Information System and R • rgrass). Roger has long been an essential
figure in the integration of geographic information systems (GIS) and
statistical computing. His pioneering efforts have significantly
advanced the accessibility and efficiency of spatial data analysis to
a broad community.
Among his many contributions, Roger's work on the rgrass package -
initially published in 1999 - stands out as a cornerstone in bridging
the gap between the GRASS GIS software and the R programming language.
GRASS GIS, one of the most powerful and flexible geospatial tools
available, owes much of its R integration success to Roger's efforts.
The rgrass package provides a seamless interface that allows users to
take advantage of the spatial processing capabilities of GRASS GIS
directly from within R, fostering an environment in which spatial data
can be efficiently analysed and manipulated in conjunction with R's
vast suite of statistical tools.
With rgrass, Roger has opened the doors for a broader community of
data scientists, researchers, and geospatial analysts to use R for
spatial analysis while maintaining access to the powerful
functionality of GRASS GIS. The package has proved invaluable in
applications ranging from environmental science and urban planning to
epidemiology and resource management. For his remarkable achievements
and lasting impact, Roger deserves our deepest admiration and
gratitude.
Thanks for everything, Roger!!
We are very grateful that Steven Pawley is willing to take over
maintenance of the rgrass package, so that Roger’s amazing package
keeps on shining!
On behalf of the GRASS GIS community,
Markus Neteler
Vero Andreo
Helmut Kudrnovsky
Floris Vanderhaeghe