r.in.usgs for GRASS GIS
Software Developer
Google Summer of Code
OSGeo – GRASS GIS
Summer 2017
DESCRIPTION:
An add-on module for the open source geospatial analysis suite, GRASS GIS, that automates the complex process of downloading and formatting USGS raster datasets.
OBJECTIVE:
Develop an add-on module for GRASS GIS that simplifies the process of downloading public data, formatting, and reprojecting the data into an appropriate coordinate projection system.
METHODS:
This project proposal was accepted as part of Google’s 2017 Summer of Code program. Project development required working with personal mentors, compiling the development version and dependencies for GRASS GIS in a Linux environment, setting up the appropriate coding and development workflow, documenting progress through an online wiki page, managing versioning control and public access through GitHub, interacting with the online open source community, and quickly troubleshooting and solving problems within the open source development framework.
RESULTS:
r.in.usgs provides a GRASS GIS GUI that suggests appropriate default parameters, as well as provides advanced options for downloading available USGS datasets. The module assembles user-input information with the required GRASS GIS parameters and tools to automatically download, import, reproject, and patch complex USGS raster data in a single process. The open-source community has been able to use the code-base to simplify the acquisition and use of other data products across the world.
