[GRASS-user] Which is the best forum/resource for GRASS starters?

GRASS GRASS user
1

Dear All,

I think I have gotten into group of developers rather than mere users. Or may be my questions are a bit trivial or out of context for most of you.

Well, while I certainly thank you all for your patience and quick response, I think I am really a novice in an area for experts.

So, my first question is which is the forum of GRASS users particularly for the starters and persons with little knowledge about GIS but do have a desire to learn it. May be one could even guide me to a book? My problem is that I am new to both GRASS as well as Linux world, and as I happened to notice that GRASS can run on Windows, I went ahead to work on it.

Secondly I reiterate what I had asked in my last email:

I want to have a display like:

http://www.eicinformation.org/data/sampledata.asp?id=2

Is it possible on GRASS?? If at all it is not possible on a web page, can I reproduce a similar map on my desktop, linking the data with SQL or even by using the existing postgreSQL?

Thanks for all your help and patience once again.

regards

Abhinav

2

gotnidea! Business Development Centre napisa?(a):

Dear All,
I think I have gotten into group of developers rather than mere users. Or may be my questions are a bit trivial or out of context for most of you.
Well, while I certainly thank you all for your patience and quick response, I think I am really a novice in an area for experts.
So, my first question is which is the forum of GRASS users particularly for the starters and persons with little knowledge about GIS but do have a desire to learn it. May be one could even guide me to a book?

start on www.grass.itc.it

My problem is that I am new to both GRASS as well as Linux world, and as I happened to notice that GRASS can run on Windows, I went ahead to work on it.

It is right formum, the only need it is you try to solve your problem by yourself, before you ask....

Secondly I reiterate what I had asked in my last email:
I want to have a display like:
http://www.eicinformation.org/data/sampledata.asp?id=2
Is it possible on GRASS?? If at all it is not possible on a web page, can I reproduce a similar map on my desktop, linking the data with SQL or even by using the existing postgreSQL?

it is not possible to make display (I suggest mapserver) but collecting data and analisys is

3

Abhinav,

Welcome to the woderfull and exciting world of open source GIS, Linux and all the related brain activity.

First I’d like to say congratulations for your attempt to explore GRASS and linux (or Cygwin if you’re going the windows route). The learning curve is steep but rewarding. And if you are a small of medium sized company then you’ll notice some unique benifits of open source technology.

As was previously noted in one of the responses, you have found some GREAT groups for users. Your challenge, as also previously noted is learning how to use it. If you are new the user list type community support then here are some tips, and maybe a quasi process…

The GRASS resources are stored in a sort of library. Lots of good resources in bite sized books. No one source will provide ALL the answers. So lets take a little tour.

  1. get the software (http://grass.itc.it/download/index.php)
  2. Learn the install process. This link is an old one and for a past version, but hopefully it will bee a good intro… http://grass.itc.it//gdp/tutorial/abs_beginners.pdf

note there is a difference between a MANUAL, a TUTORIAL, and MAILING list… In our world a manual holds content and information. A tutorial is our source of process, and finaly the mailing list covers special issues or undocumented processes.

  1. Refer to the manual http://grass.itc.it/grass63/manuals/html63_user/index.html

  2. grab a link to a tutorial and follow the process. HINT: KEEP IT SIMPLE, the learning curve is steep and deep http://grass.itc.it/gdp/tutorials.php

  3. Now you will inevitably have a question. So you start your search

A. Search the manual by keywords or key command http://grass.itc.it/gdp/manuals.php
B. Search the archived mailing lists. Note that there are some specialty lists. http://grass.itc.it/community/support.php
C. GOOGLE is your friend… eg http://www.google.ca/search?q=GRASS+GIS+first+time&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official
D. Read the Tabe of Contents (TOC) of the “How to ask a smart question” http://catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html (not to belittle, just to bring you up to speed)
E. Pick your forum and ask your question and wait for the onslaught of answers. The better the question, the more response, and broader response you’ll get

  1. Next build a self guided tutorial.

You have choosen GIS as a tool to answer a question. GRASS is great tool. So take your question and break it down to it’s simplest term (generic GIS workflow). Find the comman to do each small task. Build them in order and voila you have your own Tutorial. Now share that information back to the community and the process continues.

Did you find something that you wanted more info on as a new user. Then help future new users get up to speed even quicker.

Hope this helped,

keep your head up and have fun

Cheers

From: grassuser-bounces@grass.itc.it [mailto:grassuser-bounces@grass.itc.it] On Behalf Of gotnidea! Business Development Centre
Sent: October 31, 2006 05:04
To: grassuser@grass.itc.it; wingrass@grass.itc.it
Subject: [GRASS-user] Which is the best forum/resource for GRASS starters?

Dear All,

I think I have gotten into group of developers rather than mere users. Or may be my questions are a bit trivial or out of context for most of you.

Well, while I certainly thank you all for your patience and quick response, I think I am really a novice in an area for experts.

So, my first question is which is the forum of GRASS users particularly for the starters and persons with little knowledge about GIS but do have a desire to learn it. May be one could even guide me to a book? My problem is that I am new to both GRASS as well as Linux world, and as I happened to notice that GRASS can run on Windows, I went ahead to work on it.

Secondly I reiterate what I had asked in my last email:

I want to have a display like:

http://www.eicinformation.org/data/sampledata.asp?id=2

Is it possible on GRASS?? If at all it is not possible on a web page, can I reproduce a similar map on my desktop, linking the data with SQL or even by using the existing postgreSQL?

Thanks for all your help and patience once again.

regards

Abhinav

4

gotnidea! Business Development Centre wrote:

I think I have gotten into group of developers rather than mere users. Or
may be my questions are a bit trivial or out of context for most of you.

No, this is the user's list; there is a separate list for developers.
However, threads on this list may sometimes get into development
issues, e.g. if a user's problem turns out to be due to a bug, or if
it results in discussion of adding new features or changing the way
that existing features work.

Well, while I certainly thank you all for your patience and quick response,
I think I am really a novice in an area for experts.

So, my first question is which is the forum of GRASS users particularly for
the starters and persons with little knowledge about GIS but do have a
desire to learn it. May be one could even guide me to a book? My problem is

that I am new to both GRASS as well as Linux world, and as I happened to
notice that GRASS can run on Windows, I went ahead to work on it.

Secondly I reiterate what I had asked in my last email:

I want to have a display like:
http://www.eicinformation.org/data/sampledata.asp?id=2

Is it possible on GRASS?? If at all it is not possible on a web page, can I
reproduce a similar map on my desktop, linking the data with SQL or even by
using the existing postgreSQL?

GRASS is primarily an analysis package. Although it has some display
capabilities, that isn't its primary focus. For more advanced
graphical output, you may want to use a dedicated cartographic package
(e.g. GMT) and/or dedicated graphics tools (NetPBM and ImageMagick are
both suitable for scripting).

--
Glynn Clements <glynn@gclements.plus.com>

5

Thank you all,

I was really feeling a bit let down earlier. I am sure with the guidance I have received I would soon come back with something of my own to share with all of you.

I have spent nearly a week now with GRASS and I surely found the experience useful.

Thanks for the information on mapserver. I had a quick view of it and I would be devoting some time on it too.

Thanks again

with best regards,

Abhinav

On 10/31/06, Sampson, David <dsampson@nrcan.gc.ca> wrote:

Abhinav,

Welcome to the woderfull and exciting world of open source GIS, Linux and all the related brain activity.

First I’d like to say congratulations for your attempt to explore GRASS and linux (or Cygwin if you’re going the windows route). The learning curve is steep but rewarding. And if you are a small of medium sized company then you’ll notice some unique benifits of open source technology.

As was previously noted in one of the responses, you have found some GREAT groups for users. Your challenge, as also previously noted is learning how to use it. If you are new the user list type community support then here are some tips, and maybe a quasi process…

The GRASS resources are stored in a sort of library. Lots of good resources in bite sized books. No one source will provide ALL the answers. So lets take a little tour.

  1. get the software (http://grass.itc.it/download/index.php )
  2. Learn the install process. This link is an old one and for a past version, but hopefully it will bee a good intro… http://grass.itc.it//gdp/tutorial/abs_beginners.pdf

note there is a difference between a MANUAL, a TUTORIAL, and MAILING list… In our world a manual holds content and information. A tutorial is our source of process, and finaly the mailing list covers special issues or undocumented processes.

  1. Refer to the manual http://grass.itc.it/grass63/manuals/html63_user/index.html

  2. grab a link to a tutorial and follow the process. HINT: KEEP IT SIMPLE, the learning curve is steep and deep http://grass.itc.it/gdp/tutorials.php

  3. Now you will inevitably have a question. So you start your search

A. Search the manual by keywords or key command http://grass.itc.it/gdp/manuals.php
B. Search the archived mailing lists. Note that there are some specialty lists. http://grass.itc.it/community/support.php
C. GOOGLE is your friend… eg http://www.google.ca/search?q=GRASS+GIS+first+time&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official
D. Read the Tabe of Contents (TOC) of the “How to ask a smart question” http://catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html (not to belittle, just to bring you up to speed)
E. Pick your forum and ask your question and wait for the onslaught of answers. The better the question, the more response, and broader response you’ll get

  1. Next build a self guided tutorial.

You have choosen GIS as a tool to answer a question. GRASS is great tool. So take your question and break it down to it’s simplest term (generic GIS workflow). Find the comman to do each small task. Build them in order and voila you have your own Tutorial. Now share that information back to the community and the process continues.

Did you find something that you wanted more info on as a new user. Then help future new users get up to speed even quicker.

Hope this helped,

keep your head up and have fun

Cheers

From: grassuser-bounces@grass.itc.it [mailto: grassuser-bounces@grass.itc.it] On Behalf Of gotnidea! Business Development Centre
Sent: October 31, 2006 05:04
To: grassuser@grass.itc.it; wingrass@grass.itc.it
Subject: [GRASS-user] Which is the best forum/resource for GRASS starters?

Dear All,

I think I have gotten into group of developers rather than mere users. Or may be my questions are a bit trivial or out of context for most of you.

Well, while I certainly thank you all for your patience and quick response, I think I am really a novice in an area for experts.

So, my first question is which is the forum of GRASS users particularly for the starters and persons with little knowledge about GIS but do have a desire to learn it. May be one could even guide me to a book? My problem is that I am new to both GRASS as well as Linux world, and as I happened to notice that GRASS can run on Windows, I went ahead to work on it.

Secondly I reiterate what I had asked in my last email:

I want to have a display like:

http://www.eicinformation.org/data/sampledata.asp?id=2

Is it possible on GRASS?? If at all it is not possible on a web page, can I reproduce a similar map on my desktop, linking the data with SQL or even by using the existing postgreSQL?

Thanks for all your help and patience once again.

regards

Abhinav

6

Hi Abhinav,

  1. GRASS has all the capability to display maps, which can be even queried.
    But then you need to use many of the Open Source Geospatial Software, that is
    OSGEO.
  2. You may see very informative material here
    http://www.foss4g2006.org
    Download what suites your interest. An article ‘Make your own google maps’, may be particularly of great interest.
  3. Join the India chapter of OSGEO to sail along with likemided in this wonderful world of, ‘Open Source Geospatial’ endeavour.
    http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/India
    Greetings
    Ravi Kumar

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