A New Way of Measuring Openness: The Open Governance Index

Open source software is now "business as usual" in the mobile industry. While much attention is given to the importance of open source licenses, we argue in this article that the governance model can be as necessary to a project’s success and that projects vary widely in the governance models – whether open or closed – that they employ. Open source governance models describe the control points that are used to influence open source projects with regard to access to the source code, how the source code is developed, how derivatives are created, and the community structure of the project. Governance determines who has control over the project beyond what is deemed legally necessary via the open source licenses for that project. The purpose of our research is to define and measure the governance of open source projects, in other words, the extent to which decision-making in an open source project is "open" or "closed". We analyzed eight open source projects using 13 specific governance criteria across four areas of governance: access, development, derivatives and community. Our findings suggest that the most open platforms will be most successful in the long term, however we acknowledge exceptions to this rule. We also identify best practices that are common across these open source projects with regard to source code access, development of source code, management of derivatives, and community structure. These best practices increase the likelihood of developer use of and involvement in open source projects

Using GeoTools to Implement the Multi -Criteria Evaluation Analysis : Weighted Linear Combination Model

Multi-Criteria Evaluation Analysis (MCEA) is a decision making method employed to solve optimization problems that require the evaluation of a set of criteria to build an optimal decision. Where MCEA is integrated with GIS, optimization problems with spatial aspects, such as finding the best location of a facility across an area, could be solved. MCEA is implemented through different criteria decision rules among of which is the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) which has five different phases: 1) criteria definition, 2) criteria normalization, 3) weights definition, 4) criteria weighting, and 5) weighted criteria sum-overlaying. Free and Open Source GIS Software (FOSS GIS) is getting more popular. Indicators on this popularity include: 1) the number of governmentally funded projects, 2) the number of downloads, 3) and the increasing number of use cases of open source GIS software. Some governments have even decided to replace their proprietary software with FOSS software. Implementation of MCEA models in GIS software varied among loose-coupling, tight-coupling, and full-integration. In loose-coupling, GIS and MCEA are coupled through a file exchange mechanism. In tight-coupling, both systems share a common interface. In full-integration, custom programming scripts could be written to implement different MCEA tasks and models. Previous studies showed that most GIS software have limited capabilities to perform MCEA except for IDRISI, Common GIS, ILWIS, and TNT-GIS. Among of them, only ILWIS is an open source software distributed under GPL license. In this thesis, a desktop computer application, MC-Analyst, has been developed using GeoTools, a Java open source GIS software library, Java SE 1.7, and NetBeans IDE 7.3 to implement MCEA-WLC model. The milestone works of the thesis included: 1) The feasibility of using FOSS in general and FOSS GIS in specific was researched, 2) A survey of the literature that researched previous efforts and implementations for integrating MCEA in GIS software was carried out, 3) Experiencing software development using a FOSS GIS library, GeoTools, in order to address strength and weakness points for development using GeoTools and FOSS GIS, and 4) Some recommendations concerning future development approaches to produce better integrated MCEA and FOSS GIS systems were addressed for future works. To test MC-Analyst, a previous case study that located best sites to build solar farms in Colorado was employed. The output of the case study application was examined by altering input criteria weights for the main layers of solar DNI, distance to transmission lines, and distance to primary roads in the GIS-MCEA/WLC model. Different outputs found as expected that when a higher weight had been given to one criterion, the final suitability result showed noticeable higher suitability in areas where that factor was considered optimal. Raster and vector data processing capabilities of GeoTools were explored to perform basic GIS functions and it showed strong support for such functions. It was also found that in order for MC-Analyst to work as a standalone fully integrated Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support System (MC-SDSS), it would require other tasks that are found in common desktop GIS applications such as re-projection, clipping, and resampling. Therefore, re-using the source code of an open source desktop GIS application such as uDig or gvSig and integrate the developed MCEA-WLC model with it to produce fully integrated MC-SDSS could be of great interest for future development for FOSS GIS community. This would create an effective product that might compete with effective proprietary GIS software that implements MCEA models. The study showed also that before choosing a software library to start with, the development team should be acquainted with other possible open source and free software applications and libraries in order for the development process to be smooth and to output a productive application.Optimization problems exist in many disciplines. Regardless of the field in which the optimal solution is sought, all optimization problems share a common nature; seeking the best possible solution that must meet a set of criteria which are defined by a group of experts or professional shareholders in the field of the optimization problem. Therefore, by combining an optimal solution seeking methodology (Evaluation Analysis) and the multiple criteria of the problem (Multi-Criteria), a new term emerged, Multi-Criteria Evaluation Analysis (MCEA). MCEA is used with Geographic Information Systems (GIS is an information system that stores, processes, analyzes, and presents geographic information) to solve optimization problems that have a spatial nature such as finding optimal locations for some kind of facility or activity. Some implementation of MCEA models have existed in some GIS packages. IDRISI, Common GIS, ILWIS, and TNT-GIS are major GIS software that provided some kind of implementation of MCEA models. Among the four GIS software, only ILWIS is a Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). FOSS GIS is getting more popular. Indicators on this popularity were listed in the thesis. As FOSS GIS is getting more popular, a great potential of MCEA implementation is found in FOSS GIS. In this thesis, a desktop computer application, MC-Analyst, has been developed using GeoTools, an open source GIS development kit, to implement a MCEA model. MC-Analyst benefited from GeoTools's strong support for basic GIS functions that made MCEA model implementation easier. To test MC-Analyst, a previous case study that investigated a spatial optimization problem to evaluate Colorado landscape to locate best sites for solar energy farms in Colorado was employed. The different outputs that resulted from different inputs to MC-Analyst were analyzed and found as expected. The study demonstrated FOSS integration and concluded that developing a fully-integrated and competent spatial decision support system could be of great interest for future development for FOSS GIS community. The study also concluded the necessity for a developer to be acquainted with other possible and different FOSS GIS software components in order for the development process to be smooth and to output productive applications

Challenges in Developing Great Quasi-Monte Carlo Software

Quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) methods have developed over several decades. With the explosion in computational science, there is a need for great software that implements QMC algorithms. We summarize the QMC software that has been developed to date, propose some criteria for developing great QMC software, and suggest some steps toward achieving great software. We illustrate these criteria and steps with the Quasi-Monte Carlo Python library (QMCPy), an open-source community software framework, extensible by design with common programming interfaces to an increasing number of existing or emerging QMC libraries developed by the greater community of QMC researchers

Design and development of ReCOPTER: An open source ros-based multi-rotor platform for research

Selection of multi-rotor aircraft systems for robotics research is a trade-off between competing objectives. While Commercial Off The Shelf systems are fast to set up and provide a ready-made platform, they often lack complete documentation and have limited extensibility for allowing researchers to modify them for scientific work. Conversely, developing an aircraft from the ground up is labour intensive and time consuming, and requires substantial experience to ensure a satisfactory result. This paper ranks common robotic multi-rotor air- craft used in research against several criteria for openness, extensibility and performance. We propose a standard platform using open components and an open-source design, specifically geared to the needs of the research community

Review of Open Source Simulators in ICS/IIoT Security Context

In industrial control systems (ICS), simulation has found widespread use during system design and in tuning process control parameters or exploring the effects of new control algorithms. Simulation enables the assessment of performance at scale and allows research to be conducted by those with limited access to real physical infrastructures. However, as ICSs are often no longer isolated from other networks and the internet, hence are subject to security and safety issues, simulation is also required to understand the issues and their solution. To foster transparent, collaborative and cost-effective studies, demonstrations, and solution development, and attract the broadest interest base, simulation is indeed critical and Open Source is a good way to go since simulators in this category are less expensive to access, install, and use, and can be run with general purpose (non-proprietary) computing equipment and setups. Findings This research presents the following key findings: 1. A lot of Open Source simulation tools exist and span applications areas such as communications and sensor networks (C&WSNs), ICS/SCADA, and IIoT. 2. The functional structures and characteristics that appear common in Open Source simulators include: supported licence types, programming languages, operating systems platforms, user interface types, and available documentation and types. 3. Typical research around Open Source simulators is built around modelling, analysis and optimisation of operations in relations to factors such as flexibility, mobility, scalability, and active user support. No single Open Source simulator addresses all conceivable characteristics. While some are strong in specific contexts relative to their development, they are often weak in other purpose-based research capabilities, especially in the context of IoT. 4. Most of the reviewed Open Source tools are not designed to address security contexts. The few that address security such as SCADASim only consider very limited contexts such as testing and evaluating Denial-of-Service (DoS), Man-in-the-middle (Mitm), Eavesdropping, and Spoofing attacks. Recommendations The following key recommendations are presented: 1. Future developments of Open Source simulators (especially for IIoT) should explore the potential for functionalities that can enable the integration of diverse simulators and platforms to achieve an encompassing setup. 2. Developers should explore the capabilities of generic simulators towards achieving architectures with expansible capabilities into multi-class domains, support easier and faster modelling of complex systems, and which can attract varied users and contributors. 3. Functional characteristics such as; ease of use, degree of community acceptance and use, and suitability for industrial applications, should also be considered as selection and development criteria, and to emphasise simulator effectiveness. This can support consistency, credibility, and simulation system relevance within a domain that is continually evolving. 4. Future Open Source simulation projects developments should consider and adopt the more common structural attributes including; Platform Type, Open Source Licence Type, Programming Language, User Interfaces, Documentation, and Communication Types. These should be further complemented by appropriate editorial controls spanning quality coding, revision control and effective project disseminations and management, to boost simulation tool credibility and wide acceptance. 5. The range of publication dates (earliest to latest) for: citations, code commits, and number of contributors associated to Open Source simulator projects can also support the decision for interests and adoption of specific Open Source projects. 6. Research objectives for ICS/IIoT Open Source simulators should also include security performance and optimisation with considerations towards enhancing confidentiality, integrity and availability. 7. Further studies should explore the evaluation of security topics which could be addressed by simulation – more specifically, proposing how this may be achieved and identifying what can't be addressed by simulation. Investigations into simulation frameworks that can allow multi-mode simulations to be configured and operated are also required. Research into Industry 4.0 System-of-Systems (SoS) security evaluations, dependency, and cascading impacts method or analysis is another area of importanc

Research on open source e-learning tools and agricultural applications

Within the NODES European e-Learning project (Creation of a European network of multimedia resource centres for adult training) we have done research and developments based on open source tools. One of the aims was to select those open source components which are suitable for creating the network for using multimedia knowledge to improve competitiveness employability and mobility of different target groups, such as rural people and farmers. In creating the architecture of the NODES project there were more tasks which were coordinated and carried out by our expert group. The selection criteria of open source LMS was set up by the consortium. Our studies’ Survey on the existing systems consisted of the following parts: The basic elements of e-Learning Systems, The complements and integration of the e-Learning Systems, The specification of interface. The result of our research work was that we selected the Moodle LMS. The Moodle provides a reliable platform that supports social and collaborative learning. It is highly configurable and extensible. It implements new features and fixes rapidly, it is free of licensing costs. The members of the project (from France, Spain, Ireland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Romania) implemented the Moodle system creating the LMS. To integrate the different contents we had to develop the EU-index, which is the central, common and shared index database (a metadatabase). Another important function is the multimedia content management. One of these parts is the AutoView Presenter from the about 200 modules which allows putting video on-line with synchronised slides. The NODES system is used in graduate, postgraduate PhD, adult trainings programmes and it is a very successful system as an educational portal system for our faculty too