[geo-discuss] [Fwd: [Freegis-list] Converter for Map Library Files (.mlb) format?]

[Mateusz Loskot]

Hi,

Can the maplibrary.org mentioned below be considered as a public
geodata provider for African countries?

Cheers
Mat

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Freegis-list] Converter for Map Library Files (.mlb) format?
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 18:53:43 +0200
From: Bernhard Reiter <bernhard at intevation.de>
To: freegis-list at intevation.de
CC: sfischer at uni-osnabrueck.de

www.maplibrary.org
has Libre Geodata for many African countries.

Unfortunately they only offer gratis, non-free software for windows,
using the .ecw (ER Mapper) format for raster
and presumetly their own format for vectors called map library files (.mlb).
There is a short speficification available as well.

The site seems to partly be an advertisment side for the sponsor
that offers zero cost proprietary software for some African organisations.

Does somebody now Free Software converters for the used formats?

I know that gdal can do .ecw, if you use proprietary libraries.
Maplibrary.org claims that they have choosen the format because they could
use it royalty free. This indicates that a Free Software implementation
should
be possible.

The .mlb format(s) seem to be quite easy to read.

It would be quite nice to enable the use of the data on GNU/Linux
or other free operating systems.

Thanks,
Bernhard

-- 
Managing Director - Owner, www.intevation.net       (Free Software Company)
Germany Coordinator, fsfeurope.org       (Non-Profit Org for Free Software)
www.kolab-konsortium.com   (Email/Groupware Solution, Professional Service)


-- 
Mateusz Loskot
http://mateusz.loskot.net