GSoC 2017 | GRASS GIS Locations Created from Public Data

Student Name:	​Zechariah Krautwurst
Student Institution:	​North Carolina State University
GSoC Organization:	​OSGeo - Open Source Geospatial Foundation
GSoC Mentors:	​Anna Petrasova
	​Vaclav Petras
Project Title:	GRASS GIS Locations Created from Public Data
Project Proposal:	​view proposal
Project Repository:	​GitHub

Abstract

This project will focus on creating scripts that convert widely-used open data sets into standardized formats for a given location or projection. The scripts, modules, project documentation, and data sets generated from the project would be made available as a service and development framework to GRASS GIS users.

Goal

Novice GRASS users often have difficulty with the complexities of re-formatting data, solving map projection issues, and working with centralized data organization. Many existing solutions require users to create their own custom scripts geared towards a specific use-case, which can be difficult for some users to adapt to other data sources or coordinate projection systems.

With the scripts created for this project, users will be able to download multiple data sets and appropriately format the data according to a user-defined location. Automated data-formatting will allow users to more efficiently utilize information and create automatically formatted data sets. Furthermore, the underlying framework generated by my project will allow users to develop their own scripts for a given service and/or location.

Timeline

Community Bonding Period		Status
MAY 4 - MAY 26	Complete preliminary GSoC, OSGeo, mentor, and proposal requirements
Phase 01
MAY 30 - JUNE 2	Explore existing efforts, primary community needs, and potential project difficulties
JUNE 5 - JUNE 9	Identify data sources and formatting conventions
JUNE 12 - 16	Psuedocode scripts
JUNE 19 - 23	Draft python scripts
JUNE 26 - 30	Phase 1 formatting scripts completed
JUNE 30	PHASE 01 EVALUATION DEADLINE
Phase 02
JULY 3 - 7	Integrate existing APIs into scripts
JULY 10 - 14	Unavailable
JULY 17 - 21	Develop data storage, web services, and cross-platform compatibility
JULY 24 - 28	Create use-case documentation and GUI mock-up (wxPython)
JULY 28	PHASE 02 EVALUATION DEADLINE
Phase 03
JULY 31 - AUGUST 4	Develop formatting scripts that format multiple data-types and coordinate systems
AUGUST 7 - 11	Further develop data storage, web services, and cross-platform compatibility
AUGUST 14 - 18	Finalize each of the data formatting pipelines, GUI, services, and processes
AUGUST 21 - 25	Finalize each of the data formatting pipelines, GUI, services, and processes
AUGUST 28 - 29	FINAL WEEK
	Create documentation and submit completed work
SEPTEMBER 5	FINAL EVALUATION SUBMITTED

Requirements

​GRASS 7.3

Development

Weekly reports

COMMUNITY BONDING: MAY 04 - MAY 29
ACCOMPLISHED	Meetings with Anna and Vashek OSGeo Wiki and Trac pages GSoC Weekly reports GRASS Development pipeline GRASS, Linux, Python resources Compiled and install GRASS SVN on Linux virtual machine. Reviewed tutorials and resources Created Trac and Wiki pages. Reviewed coordinate systems and projection issues Researched existing data sources and download methods

WEEK 01: MAY 30 - JUNE 02
ACCOMPLISHED	05/30 Meeting with Anna, Vashek, and Paul Refined project scope Selected target data sources and scale Discussed coordinate projection issues and solutions Researched USGS NED data download process and web services Reviewed GRASS Location Wizard functionality Created user scenarios for various software possibilities Set up local development tools and coding environment Reviewed existing methods and Python scripts for data download into GIS formats
NEXT WEEK	Create initial data download script for NED data Establish user defined boundaries for import data Reconcile coordinate projection difficulties Review wxPython Reach out to GRASS community for thoughts and resources
BLOCKS	None

WEEK 02: JUNE 05 - JUNE 09
ACCOMPLISHED	Reviewed Python scripting for GRASS documentation and existing GRASS data import modules Wrote SRTM 30 download script using Python Elevation library and GRASS output Researched USGS data download methods, REST API’s and HTTP protocol Reviewed The National Map (TNM) API documentation and tested coordinate output methods from g.region as input to TNM API for SRTM ⅓ arc sec NED tiles
NEXT WEEK	How to import and process subsets of IMG tiles into single layer with TNM API through GRASS Review wxPython Figure out basemap service for user region selection
BLOCKS	None

WEEK 03: JUNE 11 - JUNE 17
ACCOMPLISHED	Worked through different methods of importing and processing NED data with GDAL's vsizip/vsicurl, TNM API, python requests lib, urllib2 Wrote DRAFT version of r.in.usgsned python script that downloads 1/3 arc-sec NED tiles from the USGS TNM API based on GRASS computational region Updated git repo
NEXT WEEK	Continue working on r.in.usgsned module script Develop GUI and GRASS integration Finish basic script functionality to import, patch downloaded tiles Get feedback on script functionality, formatting, and implementation
CHALLENGES	Thinking through broader implementations of this module What are the most useful and stable data repositories to access? How to address initial problem of coordinate projections and accuracy across multiple SRSs'

WEEK 04: JUNE 19 - JUNE 23
ACCOMPLISHED	Developed GRASS GUI through script flags and options Revised script to integrate dynamic paths and user input Improved SRS translation Began creating format for further USGS data selection
NEXT WEEK	Complete r.in.usgsned Begin work on r.in.usgs for other datasets Test accuracy of SRS conversion for elevation Get feedback on script functionality, formatting, and implementation
CHALLENGES	Improving workflow

WEEK 05: JUNE 26 - JUNE 30
ACCOMPLISHED	Added GRASS messages, exits, and error handling Created "i" flag information report for module Converted 'requests' module and JSON handling to built-in urlllib2 and JSON libraries Developed data dictionary format for NED data type Improved git workflow, issues, and added r.in.usgsned project tasks
NEXT WEEK	Integrate clean-up function for temp files from hardware or network interruptions Develop automated reprojection handling Refine zip archive indexing and download methodl Test for conditions not caught by current error handling
CHALLENGES	None