OSGeo News: August 2025 Updates & Highlights

Hey guys! Welcome to the August 2025 edition of OSGeo News! This month, we've got a jam-packed issue filled with exciting updates, project highlights, and community contributions from the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo). Whether you're a seasoned geospatial pro or just starting to explore the world of open-source GIS, there's something here for everyone. So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's dive into the latest and greatest from the OSGeo community!

Project Spotlight: GeoNode 4.0 Release

This month, the spotlight shines brightly on the GeoNode project, which just announced the release of version 4.0! This is a major milestone for the platform, bringing a host of new features, improvements, and enhancements that will make it even easier to manage and share geospatial data. GeoNode, for those unfamiliar, is a powerful open-source platform designed to build geospatial data infrastructures. It allows users to easily upload, manage, and share geospatial data, create interactive maps, and collaborate on geospatial projects. Think of it as your one-stop shop for all things geospatial data management.

So, what's new in GeoNode 4.0? Well, for starters, there's a completely redesigned user interface that's more intuitive and user-friendly than ever before. The new UI makes it easier to navigate the platform, find the data you need, and perform common tasks. In addition, GeoNode 4.0 introduces enhanced support for cloud-based deployments, making it easier to deploy and scale the platform in the cloud. This is a huge win for organizations that want to take advantage of the scalability and cost-effectiveness of cloud computing. Furthermore, there are also improvements of the search capabilities with enhanced filtering, making it easier to find the data you need, even in large and complex datasets. GeoNode 4.0 includes enhanced support for various geospatial data formats, including vector, raster, and point cloud data. This makes it easier to work with a wider variety of data sources. Plus, enhanced security features are also new in GeoNode 4.0, including improved authentication and authorization mechanisms, to help protect your data from unauthorized access.

But wait, there's more! GeoNode 4.0 also includes a number of other improvements and enhancements, such as improved performance, better documentation, and enhanced support for internationalization. All in all, this is a major release that takes GeoNode to the next level. The GeoNode team has been hard at work on this release for many months, and their dedication and hard work have truly paid off. So, if you're looking for a powerful and easy-to-use platform for managing and sharing geospatial data, be sure to check out GeoNode 4.0! You can download it from the GeoNode website, and there's also plenty of documentation and tutorials available to help you get started. Don't miss out on this awesome release, guys!

Community Contributions: QGIS Plugin Contest Winners

Next up, let's give a huge shoutout to the winners of the annual QGIS Plugin Contest! The QGIS Plugin Contest is a yearly event that celebrates the creativity and innovation of the QGIS community. Developers from around the world submit their best QGIS plugins, and a panel of judges selects the winners based on criteria such as functionality, usability, and innovation. This year's contest was no exception, with a record number of submissions showcasing the incredible talent and ingenuity of the QGIS community.

And the winners are... (drumroll please!): In third place, we have the "LiDAR Point Cloud Analyzer" plugin, which provides a suite of tools for analyzing and visualizing LiDAR point cloud data within QGIS. This plugin makes it easy to perform tasks such as point cloud filtering, classification, and 3D visualization. In second place is the "GeoPDF Exporter" plugin, which allows users to export QGIS projects to GeoPDF format. GeoPDF is a popular format for sharing geospatial data with non-GIS users, as it can be viewed in any PDF reader. And finally, in first place, we have the "Network Analysis Toolkit" plugin, which provides a comprehensive set of tools for performing network analysis in QGIS. This plugin makes it easy to calculate routes, find shortest paths, and perform other network-related tasks.

The winning plugins are truly impressive, and they demonstrate the power and versatility of QGIS as a platform for geospatial analysis. The developers of these plugins have made a significant contribution to the QGIS community, and their work will undoubtedly benefit countless users around the world. If you're looking for ways to extend the functionality of QGIS, be sure to check out these winning plugins! They're all available for download from the QGIS Plugin Repository. And if you're a QGIS developer yourself, consider participating in next year's contest! It's a great opportunity to showcase your skills and contribute to the QGIS community.

OSGeo Advocacy: Open Data Initiatives Worldwide

OSGeo continues to be a strong advocate for open data initiatives around the world. This month, we're highlighting several exciting developments in the realm of open data. The OSGeo has been actively involved in promoting the use of open geospatial data and software in various countries. This includes working with governments and organizations to develop open data policies, providing training and support for open-source GIS tools, and advocating for the release of geospatial data under open licenses. Open data is essential for promoting transparency, innovation, and economic development. By making geospatial data freely available, we can empower citizens, businesses, and researchers to make better decisions and create new solutions to pressing challenges.

In Europe, the European Union has launched a new open data portal that provides access to a wealth of geospatial data from across the continent. This portal includes data on topics such as land use, transportation, and environmental monitoring. In North America, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has released a new dataset of high-resolution elevation data for the entire country. This dataset is a valuable resource for a wide range of applications, including flood risk assessment, infrastructure planning, and natural resource management. In Asia, the government of India has launched a new initiative to promote the use of geospatial technology in agriculture. This initiative includes the development of open-source tools and the release of geospatial data to help farmers improve their crop yields and manage their resources more effectively. The OSGeo is proud to be a part of these efforts to promote open data around the world. We believe that open data is essential for creating a more just and equitable world, and we will continue to advocate for its widespread adoption.

Upcoming Events: FOSS4G North America 2026

Mark your calendars, folks! The dates for FOSS4G North America 2026 have just been announced! FOSS4G (Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial) is the premier global conference for geospatial open-source software. It brings together developers, users, and decision-makers from around the world to share knowledge, collaborate on projects, and advance the state of geospatial open-source technology. FOSS4G North America is a regional event that focuses on the North American geospatial community. It provides a forum for discussing the latest developments in geospatial open-source software, sharing best practices, and networking with colleagues. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the latest trends in geospatial technology, connect with other professionals in the field, and contribute to the open-source community.

FOSS4G North America 2026 will be held in [City, State] from [Start Date] to [End Date]. The conference will feature a variety of presentations, workshops, and tutorials on topics such as QGIS, GeoServer, PostGIS, and many more. There will also be opportunities to network with other attendees and learn about the latest geospatial open-source projects. The call for presentations is now open, so if you have a project or topic that you'd like to share, be sure to submit your proposal! This is a great opportunity to showcase your work and contribute to the FOSS4G community. Registration for the conference will open soon, so be sure to check the FOSS4G North America website for updates. We hope to see you there!

OSGeo Community News: Member Spotlight

Finally, let's shine a spotlight on one of our outstanding OSGeo community members! This month, we're featuring [Member Name], a long-time contributor to the [Project Name] project. [Member Name] has been involved in the OSGeo community for many years, and they have made significant contributions to the [Project Name] project. They have helped to develop new features, fix bugs, and improve the documentation. [Member Name] is also an active member of the OSGeo community, and they regularly participate in online discussions and attend OSGeo events.

[He/She/They] are a true inspiration to us all, and their dedication and hard work have made a real difference to the OSGeo community. We're incredibly grateful for their contributions, and we're proud to have them as a member of our community. If you'd like to nominate someone for a future member spotlight, please let us know! We're always looking for ways to recognize and celebrate the amazing people who make the OSGeo community so special.

And that's a wrap for this month's OSGeo News! Thanks for tuning in, and we'll see you next month with more exciting updates from the world of geospatial open source. Keep exploring, keep contributing, and keep the open-source spirit alive!