ABSTRACT
The most pressing social-economic and environmental issues of our day span multiple geographical, time, and socio-political scales and boundaries. The interactions and feedback loops between socio-economic and environmental processes must be considered at multiple scales to come up with effective solutions. Diverse types of stakeholders must be involved in the collection and analysis of geospatial data and in decision-making processes. This complexity requires the application of the best scientific and local/traditional knowledge as well as the use of the best technologies available. Free and open source software for geospatial applications (FOSS4G) offers mature, capable, and reliable geospatial software that have a proven record of success in diverse contexts and applications to address needs for geospatial data, information, and knowledge. The philosophy of openness that is applied in FOSS4G development and distribution is fundamental to moving toward the goal of sustainable development around the world. Besides high-quality software, FOSS4G brings to the front passionate and highly capable communities of users and developers distributed around the world. These communities have a frame of mind that emphasizes values that we must remember and apply more than ever in our time: Openness, communication, collaboration, equal access, empowerment of stakeholders, democracy, and altruism.
