OSGeo and FOSS4G
The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) sponsors an annual international gathering called the Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) conference. FOSS4G North America is the regional conference organized by OSGeo US and other local OSGeo chapters in North America when the international conference is not in North America. Other regional conferences are also held throughout the world when the international conference is not in their region.
The conference serves as a gathering place where attendees can forge meaningful connections, explore cutting-edge geospatial technologies, and spark fresh ideas that push the boundaries of what's possible with open-source tools.
Whether you're a seasoned developer, a GIS professional, or simply curious about the world of open geospatial software, FOSS4G NA offers an inclusive and collaborative environment where innovation and community thrive.
Why Open Source?
Open source software is distributed with one of several permissive license types. Under these licenses, the source code of the project is freely available to the public, not kept secret like proprietary software. This allows people to use and adapt the software as needed. Projects are often community supported, and today are the foundation the modern software industry, heavily used in other open source and proprietary projects alike. Check out the OSGeo guide about open source software for more information.
Past Conferences
2018 - St. Louis, MO May 14-16
2016 - Raleigh, NC May 2-5
2015 - San Francisco, CA March 9-12
2013 - Minneapolis, MN May 22-24