What Can GIS Learn From FLOSS?

What can geographic information systems (GIS) learn from “free/libré open source software” (FLOSS) computing? Surprisingly more than might appear at first blush. FLOSS depends upon sharing ideas, techniques, data, and applications to be successful, and GIS practitioners have always promoted sharing as benefiting GIS. It would appear that FLOSS and GIS have something in common. It seems reasonable to assume that the ideas and products that have helped FLOSS grow rapidly and might also be applicable to GIS, particularly participatory GIS. But it is also potentially problematic because of numerous reasons. While social networking communities such as Flickr and Wikipedia have attracted a growing audience, they have also attracted controversy. These communities have sprung from the FLOSS wellspring, but typically they are not used for the same kind of decision-making as a participatory GIS (PGIS) implementation. Ideas and techniques from emerging Internet practices may have direct implications for PGIS. In particular, concepts of and approaches to FLOSS computing and networking may bolster the philosophical approach that underlies PGIS. But caution is advised in applying principles of social cooperation developed in the digital world to more traditional, physical worlds where PGIS might be implemented.