Greg Lauer: Open Source framework for geospatial data discovery
Channel: FOSS4G SotM Oceania
Date: 30/10/2023

Using a suite of open-source applications including Ruby on Rails and Solr we have built a geospatial discovery app. Through a standard web browser, we have made geospatial resources accessible to all users regardless of expertise with user-friendly searches through a map interface, keyword searches, and faceted browsing.

Finding and consuming relevant geospatial data has always been difficult. We have created an open-source Ruby on Rails software application for discovering geospatial content, including GIS datasets, web services, and digitized paper maps. It also provides easy download and export options for reusing geospatial resources.

By harvesting open (and closed) data portals we create metadata that then can be discovered easily. Through the extensible and open frameworks metadata is easily able to be shared between individual applications.