opgis

opgis is an acronym used in discussions of geographic information systems to refer to open-source GIS initiatives, frameworks, or platforms. It is not the name of a single, universal project, and its meaning can vary by context. In many cases, opgis is shorthand for open-source GIS in general, or for a project conceived as an open, extensible platform for geospatial data processing, visualization, and analysis.

Usage and meanings: Some communities capitalize it as “OPGIS” to denote “Open Platform for Geographic Information Systems” or use it as a stylized form of “Open GIS.” The term is more often encountered informally rather than as a formal project title. When used as a project name, opgis typically aims to emphasize freely available source code, community governance, and interoperability with standards such as those from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and the Web Map Service (WMS) specifications.

Development and licensing: OpGIS projects are typically released under permissive or copyleft licenses common in free and open-source software. Development is community-driven, with contributions via version control, issue trackers, and community forums. Features commonly associated include data interoperability, modular architectures, scriptability, and support for common geospatial data formats (Shapefile, GeoJSON, GeoTIFF).

See also: Open Geospatial Consortium, Open-source software, Geographic information system, FOSS4G.