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Free open source software as a tool
for water cooperation
Cicero Bley, Coordinator, International Centre on Hydroinformatics
I
nformation technology for geographic information systems
(GIS) has remained somewhat hermetic and inaccessible to
most non-specialists. The high costs of acquiring operating
licences also inhibit the use of this type of technology for many
initiatives. Free open source software (FOSS) provides alterna-
tives to the universal use of GIS, but is often surrounded by
prejudices related to low credibility regarding security. FOSS
offers benefits for people in developing countries, including
facilitating access to increasing ownership of information and
communications technologies for human development.
The FOSS model provides alternative tools and processes with which
people can create, exchange, share and exploit applications and knowl-
edge efficiently and effectively. In addition to the fact that FOSS can be
used in GIS, there are huge possibilities for it in embedded systems, in
terms of lowering the cost of the intelligent systems that enable these.
This characteristic can be crucial to the deployment of short-term
equipment in industries and services that use computer circuits.
It is important to consider that activities using information technol-
ogy entail complex, non-polluting, labour-saving and high value-added
end products, even in the case of non-proprietary software – a type of
development that is desirable in any region of the world.
The networks of developers that form around each soft-
ware are practically voluntary, communicate using the
Internet, and are called on to participate in the events of
their own groups only on specific occasions. To enable
access to free codes, it is necessary that the interested
contact centres and related professional developers are
committed to sharing advances in relation to the soft-
ware’s application to new situations. In other words, the
only payment required to obtain FOSS is a commitment
to sharing the results, thus forming a network of profes-
sionals, each committed to improving the work of others
in an undeniable demonstration of solidarity.
Applications of FOSS in water management are of
great value. There is nothing more efficient in water
management than the conscious involvement of an
informed society that coexists with the river. A mini-
mally trained operator can operate FOSS and locate all
activities in the watershed with a potential impact on
water quality. Each activity has its own characteristics,
which are registered in a database and georeferenced.
W
ater
E
ducation
and
I
nstitutional
D
evelopment
Groups of trainees often gather in churches, clubs and public buildings to take part in CIH training
Image: CIH