The OSGeo Live project, sponsored by the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo), is a collection of free GIS and related software, data sets and documentation that runs from a DVD, virtual machine, or flash-drive on almost any computer without the need to install software. It provides an opportunity for education and outreach, introducing GIS tools of all levels, with a low level of knowledge needed to get started. While there are many potential uses of this tool, this research will focus on educational uses where this tool might increase accessibility and usability of GIS. The goal is to determine whether tools such as OSGeo Live lead to greater education and adoption of geospatial concepts and technologies.

1. Impact of free bundled GIS software on education
Alex Mandel
University of California, Davis
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2. History of Handouts
● Code in Publications(magazines,journals, books)
● Shareware Floppies
● AOL Trial Subscription CDs
● Freeware Downloads (ie: cnet.com, tucows.com)
● Live Linux
Image from Wikipedia, Copyright AOL TimeWarner

3. OSGeo Live Project
● Collection of Free and
Open Source
geospatial software
● Ready to use
● No installation
required
● Few hardware
requirements

4. Formats
● Live DVD or USB ● Works on
● “Bootable” media ● 5+ old computers
● Virtual Machine ● Netbooks
● A computer
within a computer

5. Included Software
More than 30 applications and libraries

6. Potential
● Run a GIS lab
● Demonstrate GIS on the road
● GIS for developing nations
● Community groups
● Hobbyists
● Everything is Customizable
● Test software before you
decide what to install/use

7. Distribution so far
Percent Country
14.58% Unresolved/Unknown
12.69% Colombia
12.67%
12.53%
Mexico
Iran
● Total downloads April
2010 ~ 1000+
12.13% Philippines
5.34% Australia
5.05% United States
3.76% Portugal
3.19%
2.78%
Italy
France
● Physical Handouts
1.46%
1.39%
1.34%
Indonesia
Poland
Ukraine
~500
1.08% Japan
1.05% Germany
0.94% Greece
0.86% Thailand
0.77% New Zealand
0.66% China
0.56% Venezuela
0.49% Canada
0.45% Austria
0.35% Israel
0.34% Viet Nam
0.33% Brazil
0.32% Spain
0.28% India
0.25% Uruguay
0.19% Pakistan
0.13% Tunisia

8. Educational Opportunities
● Course Materials
● Integration with OpenStreetMap, kml ...
● Outreach
● It's not all business – Marble, GPS Drive ...
● Lowering Barriers
● Multilingual, mailable, world wide community
support (OSGeo local Chapters http://www.osgeo.org/content/chapters/)
● Accessibility
● Every student can take a copy home

9. In the College Classroom
● “Freedom to explore”
● A standard platform for material development
● Easy to update & manage
● Collaborative community
● http://www.osgeo.org/education
● Comparing Multiple implementations

10. Assessing Value
Potential Questions? Possible Methods
● Increase a students toolbox?
● Lead to better conceptual
● Focus Groups
understanding? ● Usability Study
● Engage more students?
● Lower cost of operation for a
● Feedback Survey
GIS Lab? ● Use case interviews
● Increased flexibility in the lab?

11. Acknowledgements
● Information Center for the Environment
● http://ice.ucdavis.edu
● Open Source Geospatial Foundation
● http://www.osgeo.org
● OSGeo Live - Project Team
● http://download.osgeo.org/livedvd/
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