Cecilia Donnelly

GeoNode, a free software platform for building and sharing maps, has grown from an experimental project implemented after one disaster, to a public good currently in use in dozens of locations around the globe. The Global Facility for Disaster Resilience and Readiness (GFDRR) contributed to this growth in multiple ways. This session presents an overview of the history of GeoNode as a case study of institutional investment in a free software project. GeoNode has helped people across the world own their own data and respond to disasters.

Software purchased and used by our cities, states, and national governments is both a resource to be managed, like our wild places, and an infrastructure to be maintained, like our roads and bridges. These are our collective property and responsibility.

Many governments are afraid of releasing software into public view because of security concerns, lack of support, or contract complications. Education for civil servants and improved oversight for vendors can mitigate these concerns and increase the amount of government-purchased software that is released under a free license.