OpenEV
Encyclopedia
OpenEV is an open source
geospatial toolkit and a frontend to that toolkit. OpenEV was developed using Python
and uses the GDAL
library to display georeference
d images and elevation
data. The application also has image editing capabilities and uses OpenGL
to display elevation data in three-dimensions
.
GeoConnections program and J-2 Geomatics (Canadian Department of National Defense). The goal was to create a free, downloadable, advanced satellite imagery
viewer that allowed users to work interactively with CGDI data.
Vexcel, Inc. was acquired in May, 2006 by Microsoft
and left the software to Mario Beauchamp and a team of developers. OpenEV has since been used by NASA
's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
and the American Museum of Natural History
. It was also the base for the CIETmap software, which is now developed also by Mario Beauchamp.
and vector
formats such as ESRI
shapefiles. Since it uses the GDAL
library to display images, it supports the same formats.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
geospatial toolkit and a frontend to that toolkit. OpenEV was developed using Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
and uses the GDAL
GDAL
GDAL is a library for reading and writing raster geospatial data formats, and is released under the permissive X/MIT style free software license by the Open Source Geospatial Foundation. As a library, it presents a single abstract data model to the calling application for all supported formats...
library to display georeference
Georeference
To georeference something means to define its existence in physical space. That is, establishing its location in terms of map projections or coordinate systems. The term is used both when establishing the relation between raster or vector images and coordinates, and when determining the spatial...
d images and elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
data. The application also has image editing capabilities and uses OpenGL
OpenGL
OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
to display elevation data in three-dimensions
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
.
History
The original version of OpenEV was developed by Atlantis Scientific (renamed Vexcel) as a prototype viewer for the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure. Its development was supported by the Canada Centre for Remote SensingCanada Centre for Remote Sensing
The Canada Centre for Remote Sensing is a branch of Natural Resources Canada's Earth Science Sector. It was created in 1970 with Lawrence Morley as the first Director General...
GeoConnections program and J-2 Geomatics (Canadian Department of National Defense). The goal was to create a free, downloadable, advanced satellite imagery
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
viewer that allowed users to work interactively with CGDI data.
Vexcel, Inc. was acquired in May, 2006 by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
and left the software to Mario Beauchamp and a team of developers. OpenEV has since been used by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
and the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
. It was also the base for the CIETmap software, which is now developed also by Mario Beauchamp.
Supported data
OpenEV supports numerous rasterRaster graphics
In computer graphics, a raster graphics image, or bitmap, is a data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium...
and vector
Vector graphics
Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon, which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics...
formats such as ESRI
ESRI
Esri is a software development and services company providing Geographic Information System software and geodatabase management applications. The headquarters of Esri is in Redlands, California....
shapefiles. Since it uses the GDAL
GDAL
GDAL is a library for reading and writing raster geospatial data formats, and is released under the permissive X/MIT style free software license by the Open Source Geospatial Foundation. As a library, it presents a single abstract data model to the calling application for all supported formats...
library to display images, it supports the same formats.
See also
- Geospatial Data Abstraction LibraryGDALGDAL is a library for reading and writing raster geospatial data formats, and is released under the permissive X/MIT style free software license by the Open Source Geospatial Foundation. As a library, it presents a single abstract data model to the calling application for all supported formats...
- FWToolsFWToolsFWTools is a set of open source programs for geographical information systems bundled by Frank Warmerdam . The graphical GIS toolset is made for Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms, and includes several popular subpackages:...
— A package of GIS software that also includes OpenEV