-----Original Message-----
From: grass5-admin@grass.itc.it [mailto:grass5-admin@grass.itc.it]On
Behalf Of Eric G. Miller
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 3:38 AM
To: grass5@grass.itc.it
Cc: freegis-list@intevation.de
Subject: Re: [GRASS5] VPF/VRF open source libriary
On Mon, 28 Jan 2002 17:20:25 +0100, Jan-Oliver Wagner
<jan@intevation.de> wrote:
> Hi Bjørn,
>
> On Sun, Jan 27, 2002 at 10:59:12AM +0100, Bjørn Roald wrote:
> > Anybody have any pointers to existing "free" code supporting
the vector
> > format known as VPF (or VRF when as part of the DIGEST
standard). This is
> > the vector format used in the Digital Chart of the World
(DCW) and various
> > other NIMA products, as well as products from other sources.
> >
> > I am aware of NIMAMUSE, have used it for years. I am also
aware that NIMA
> > has discontinued its support for this "open source"
application. Are any of
> > you aware of any attempt to get NIMAMUSE sources releasable
to GPL/LGPL?
> >
> > My goal is not simply a viewer or import/export filter. My
intention is
> > tools enabling production of full topology vector coverages
in VPF. Any
> > ideas or pointers are welcome.
>
> a sound vpf viewer as Free Software would be great.
> Currently there is only vhclmaps which is quite outdated
> and afaik, OpenMap (Java) which handle vpf.
> Links to these and perhaps some more at www.freegis.org.
>
> I am crossposing this to the FreeGIS mailing list, perhaps
> some people are also interested in the development of a GPL/LGPL
> vpf viewer.
I would be interested in such a project. I've read through the
VPF spec, skimmed through the NIMAMUSE code (outdated), and familiarized
myself somewhat with the database structure. I've played around a
little with writing basic table reader code, but haven't written
anything substantial at this point.
I did the same thing 7-8 years ago. Never got into any serious work. I kind
of assumed something would show up with time, but it seems like all that
have been substantial are proprietary solutions.
I like the data model pretty well, and would be interested in tools to
read/write/build/validate such databases.
This is along the lines of what I am thinking about, seems like we might
want to join forces. I would like to get the overall goal of the project
written down, as well as the scope of the initial effort, then post it.
Then we could see if there is any response to it. If anybody have opinions
or input to such a document, please post it or reply to me personally.
I would also like to use some time to evaluate various available resources.
My feeling is that a lot of available sources are based on the vpfview,
vpflib or vpfimport sources. I do not know at this point if that is a
source base that can evolve into what I want, or if a general
redesign/re-write is needed.
Programming language will probably be C or C++. If C++ is selected, we
might want to support a C API as well.
Anybody have any thoughts of how this can tie into or interact with the new
GRASS vector format?
PostgreSQL could also be an important technology used in the project. The
data could be managed in the database and loaded to and from the VPF
database.
Bjorn
