The Business of QGIS Development

The Business of QGIS Development

Author: MapScaping December 20, 2023 Duration: 52:26
Nyall Dawson is a QGIS developer, cartographer, and owner and founder of North Road, a company specializing in open-source geospatial software. His journey into geospatial began with personal interests in mapping and cartography, which later evolved into a business called North Road. But that's not why I wanted to make this episode for you, I wanted to share this story with you because it could be your story too.  You could decide to have a story that starts with contributing to something you care about, which leads to you becoming a known expert within a community that cares about the same thing and evolves into paid opportunities. That could be your story too!   You can connect with Nyall here: https://twitter.com/nyalldawson https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyall-dawson-18b6016a/   Sponsored by Planet  Learn more at www.planet.com/gis           Recommended Podcast Episodes   Planet https://mapscaping.com/podcast/planet-imaging-everything-every-day-almost/   Monetizing an open-source geospatial project https://mapscaping.com/podcast/monetizing-an-open-source-geospatial-project/   Being self-employed in Earth Observation https://mapscaping.com/podcast/being-self-employed-in-the-earth-observation-sector/   Geospatial Side Hustles https://mapscaping.com/podcast/geospatial-side-hustles/   Self Employment in the GIS Industry https://mapscaping.com/podcast/self-employment-in-the-gis-geospatial-industry/   A Business built on Open Source GIS https://mapscaping.com/podcast/a-business-built-on-open-source-gis/      

The MapScaping Podcast delves into the intricate world where geography meets data. This isn't about static paper maps, but the dynamic, digital systems that help us understand our planet. Each conversation focuses on the practical and the visionary within GIS, geospatial technology, remote sensing, and earth observation. You'll hear directly from the cartographers, data scientists, software developers, and analysts who are building the tools and interpreting the information that defines modern digital geography. The discussions explore how satellite imagery is used, how location intelligence solves complex problems, and where the technology is headed next. For professionals, students, or anyone fascinated by how we chart and comprehend our world, this podcast offers a grounded look at a field that is constantly redrawing its own boundaries. Tune in to The MapScaping Podcast for insights that are as much about the people and ideas shaping this space as they are about the technology itself. It's a consistent source for those who think spatially, providing depth and context that goes beyond the software interface. Listen to find out how the hidden structures of geospatial data influence everything from urban planning and environmental conservation to business logistics and everyday apps.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The MapScaping Podcast - GIS, Geospatial, Remote Sensing, earth observation and digital geography
Podcast Episodes
Common Space [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:31
This episode examines the Common Space initiative, a non-profit project dedicated to building and launching high-resolution optical satellites designed specifically for humanitarian purposes, such as aiding populations a…
AI in QGIS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:20
I've been playing around with a lot of large language models lately, and it is absolutely fascinating to watch them work. But what happens when you bring that directly into QGIS? Right now, AI in the geospatial industry…
Geospatial Makers Start Building! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:52
Geospatial Product Swiss Army Knife 1. The "Build It and They Won't Come" Trap We have all seen it: a talented geospatial professional spends months—perhaps years—perfecting a technically sophisticated web map or a niche…
Vibe Coding and the Fragmentation of Open Source [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:36
Why Machine-Writing Code is the Best (and Most Dangerous) Thing for Geospatial: The current discourse surrounding AI coding is nothing if not polarized. On one side, the technofuturists urge us to throw away our keyboard…
A5 Pentagons Are the New Bestagons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:21
How can you accurately aggregate and compare point-based data from different parts of the world? When analyzing crime rates, population, or environmental factors, how do you divide the entire globe into equal, comparable…
The Sustainable Path for Open Source Businesses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:18
The Open-Source Conundrum Many successful open-source projects begin with passion, but the path from a community-driven tool to a sustainable business is often a trap. The most common route—relying on high-value consulti…
Free Software and Expensive Threats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:29
Open-source software is often described as "free," a cornerstone of the modern digital world available for anyone to download, use, and modify. But this perception of "free" masks a growing and invisible cost—not one pai…
Mapping Your Own World: Open Drones and Localized AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:43
What if communities could map their own worlds using low-cost drones and open AI models instead of waiting for expensive satellite imagery? In this episode with Leen from HOT (Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team), we explore…
From Data Dump to Data Product [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:39
This conversation with Jed Sundwall, Executive Director of Radiant Earth, starts with a simple but crucial distinction: the difference between data and data products. And that distinction matters more than you might thin…
Reflections from FOSS4G 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:56
Reflections from the FOSS4G 2025 conference Processing, Analysis, and Infrastructure (FOSS4G is Critical Infrastructure) The high volume of talks on extracting meaning from geospatial data—including Python workflows, dat…