DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17278552
title: FOSS4G Observatory database

description: The 2 json files represent the FOSS4G Observatory database full download, completed on the 6.10.2025. 

The FOSS4G Observatory is an initiative dedicated to design, develop and implement an open, interactive, user intuitive platform for a constantly updated, comprehensive and detailed overview of the dynamic environment of the open source digital infrastructure for geospatial data storage, processing and visualisation systems.

The database is the backbone of the Observatory and it represents the detailed documentation of currently 573 open source software projects, used in the geospatial domain. The analysed aspects have been decided in collaboration with geospatial professionals from various institutions, such as ESA, NASA, OGC, JRC and others during multiple working meetings.

For each project, the data is collected in 2 ways: (1) automatically harvesting the official git repository and (2) manually documenting various aspects, such as main functionalities, type of project, governance model etc. All documented project characteristics are described in detail here. 

The foss4g_obs_repos.json contains the following attribute fields: 



repo_id: automatically assigned

repo_source: the type of git platform

github_id: git platform id

name: name of FOSS4G project added in the Observatory

full_name: git full name

activity_metric: is defined as the quantitative measure that reflects how actively an open source project is being developed and maintained, considering two parameters: (1) number of contributors and (2) count of commits, with more weight placed on contributors and recent activity within the git public repository.

activity_metric_at: time of activity metric calculation

added_by: id of contributor that added the project 

repo: repo information: id, url, fork, name, size, forks, owner, type, organisation, topics, tags etc. 

languages: programming languages 

contributors: self explanatory

forks: self explanatory

readme: self explanatory

license: self explanatory

category: please read the full description of this filed here.

functionalities: please read the full description of this filed here.

governance_model: please read the full description of this filed here.

corporate_backed: please read the full description of this filed here.

enterprise_version: please read the full description of this filed here.

channel forums: please read the full description of this filed here.

repo_events: please read the full description of this filed here.

user_organisations: please read the full description of this filed here.

main_organisation: please read the full description of this filed here.

standards_category_compliance: please read the full description of this filed here.

standard_implementation: please read the full description of this filed here.


 

The foss4g_obs_repo_links.json is the file containing all connections that are graphically represented in the FOSS4G Observatory graph, available here. For a connection to be valid it has to be manually added to both FOSS4G projects. 

PLEASE, BE ADVISED: Given the extensive size of the database, as well as the level of detail defined for each individual FOSS4G project, one will identify gaps in the documentation. We invite you to join our effort to the curation, further enrichment and improvement of the FOSS4G Observatory, by becoming a contributor.

Any contribution is highly appreciated by all users of the FOSS4G Observatory. 

These datasets will be updated every six months.

The FOSS4G Observatory team also make the database available through a REST API:  https://www.oss4geo.org/api/projects.json (bulk download). 

The available filters are: license, category, main_organisation, governance_model, enterprise_version, functionalities, standards_category_compliance, data_encoding_standards,  data_access_standards, processing_standards, visualisation_standards. 

Examples of API calls:



http://www.oss4geo.org/api/projects?page=1&license=apache

https://www.oss4geo.org/api/projects?data_access_standards=Web%20Features%20Service

https://www.oss4geo.org/api/projects?functionalities=Data%20management&functionalities=Remote%20sensing&standards_category_compliance=processing


The FOSS4G Observatory is a continuation of the Open Source for Geospatial Software Resources Platform for Geospatial Data Exploitation - OSS4gEO. The project was financed by the European Space Agency - ESA - through the Permanently Open Call for Proposals for Future EO-1: EO Science for Society, submitted under the activity line of Earth Observation for a Resilient Society. The project is designed and implemented by the Romanian private company Terrasigna during 2023 - 2024, with a continuation during 2025 - 2026.