MOSS

= Map Overlay and Statistical System (MOSS) =
== Scope ==
This wiki page summarizes all currently available facts, links and references about the first open source GIS application MOSS.
== Significance for OSGeo ==
The annual OSGeo award is named after the late Sol Katz, one of the project members of MOSS. See: Sol Katz Award
== Heritage Source Code Repository ==
https://github.com/OSGeo/MOSS
== Websites ==
https://www.osgeo.org/projects/moss/
https://mossgis.org
== MOSS-archives mailing list ==
For discussions related to the archiving process of MOSS, subscribe to the mailing list at: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/moss-archives
== MOSS-related Resources ==
* Wikipedia: Map_Overlay_and_Statistical_System
*OSGeo: Open_Source_GIS_History (points to broken blm-ftp-site: MOSS is still available to download (ftp://ftp.blm.gov/pub/gis/))
* [https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70013449 EVOLUTION OF THE MOSS GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR 32-BIT COMPUTER SYSTEMS.com/site/reedsgishistory/Home/short-history-of-the-moss-gis short-history-of-the-moss-gis]
* On-line manual from the PC Version of MOSS as developed by Saul Katz
* Reed, C.R. 1982, Map Overlay and Statistical System User's Manual, Western Energy and Land Use Team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, Colorado.
* Reed, C., 1984, Map Overlay and Statistical System (MOSS), System Reference Manual, prepared by Autometric, Inc., Falls Church, VA
* MOSS user's manual (@USGS)
* Carl Reed's GIS History Notes
* User needs assessment for an operational geographic information system
* A 125 year history of topographic mapping and GIS in the U.S. Geological Survey 1884-2009, part 2: 1980-2009
* [Carl Reed GIS History Fort Collins]
* PC-MOSS VERSION 1.0 USER AND PROGRAMMER DOCUMENTATION (IBIBLIO)
* Implement of the computer-program system MOSS
* (Source: BLM Library, 2019. Link broken: 20210125) [preserved content: Internet Archive / Wayback machine]
* (Source: BLM Library, 2019)
* | Appendix C MOSS Line Styles and Font Styles ]
== Points of contact ==
* BLM: Deborah Harnke: Librarian (Reference)
* MOSS: Carl Reed
* MOSS repository 2020 (potentionally transient): Māris Nartiss
* MOSS GitHub repository (2021 - ...): Peter Löwe & Jeff McKenna
* sdts2dem GitHub repository: Jeff McKenna
== MOSS Code Evolution (1978 - 1985) ==
(according to Carl Reed, personal communication, September 2020)
# Carl programmed the original version of MOSS on a CDC mainframe (interactive to a Tek 4010). This version was completed in 1978/79.
# In 1979 he ported the CDC code to a General C330 (AOS). This is the version that was then installed at some of the BLM State Offices. This is also the version that was integrated with WAMS.
# In 1980, the code was ported to DG Desktop (AOS) for a BLM field application for monitoring and mapping lightning strikes. This may be the very first use of a GIS integrated with a real time sensor system!
# In 1983 or so MOSS was ported MOSS/MAPS/COS/WAMS to an HP 550 (UNIX) for the US Army (ETL now AGC). This was for the Terrain Analysis Work Station ([ https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a167473.pdf TAWS]) project. TAWS was a field deployable, mobile GIS and remote sensing capability.
# In 1984 Carl converted MOSS to a DEC VAX (VMS) for the DMA Digital Land Mass Simulation activity.
# In 1985 the MOSS Arc/Node and DBMS Design project was done. This work was funded by the USGS EROS Data Center
== MOSS Codebase Search & Rescue Effort (2019 - 2021) ==
# 20190327: BLM ceased during 2018 (exact date unknown) to host the MOSS sources on its FTP site. The BLM library did not archive a digital copy. 
# 20190328 Proposal to the OSGeo board to recognize MOSS as a OSGeo heritage project, to ensure future access to the codebase (if recoverable).
# 20190329: The wayback-machine of the Internet Archive did take snapshots of the FTP site, but apparently not the subdirectories: https://web.archive.org/web/*/ftp://ftp.blm.gov/pub/gis/
# 20190610: The BLM library was able to provide several scanned documents regarding MOSS (to be uploaded to this wiki). PL asked them to investigate wether a digital copy could still exist offline at BLM. 
# 20190613: BLM reports that a digital copy of the codebase has not been retained. 
# 20200904: Māris Nartiss discovers a remaining copy of the MOSS codebase.
# 20200917: Temporary (non-permanent) MOSS code archive at DIW Berlin
# 20210423: Sol Katz' utility sdts2dem source code uploaded to https://github.com/jmckenna/sdts2dem
# 20210424: MOSS code archive uploaded to transient GitHub repo (to be replaced by an OSGeo repo as soon as possible) 
# 20210426: The MOSS code archive is long term preserved in the open access repository Zenodo. It can now be cited by a persistent identifier (DOI): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4719685
# 20210427: Presentation Raiders of the lost code at the European Geoscience Union General Assembly 2021 about the result of the Search and Rescue effort (video).
# 20210427: MOSS Archive Release 1.0.0
# 20210612: MOSS Archive Release 1.0.1
# 20210618: Folder structure update. Fixes Floppy-disk-size related folder size limitations
# 20210622: MOSS-archive mailing list launched.
# 20210622: MOSS Archive Release 1.0.2
# 20210622: domain purchased: https://mossgis.org
# 20210709: new official repository home, hosted by the OSGeo foundation: https://github.com/OSGeo/MOSS
# 20210709: MOSS Archive Release 1.2.0
# 20210709: initial website draft: https://mossgis.org
# 202501xx: Zenodo group for all MOSS-releated deposits (codebase, publications, data)
== MOSS Incubation Process ==
# 20200928: Board decision to make MOSS the first OSGeo Heritage Project.
# 20210707: OSGeo MOSS repo at github created, based on the transient repo
# 20210729: OSGeo MOSS becomes an Open Access publication in the Zenodo repository, providing due credit for the authors.
# 20210817: Incubation status overview table
# 20210818: OSGeo heritage project website