Once again, FOSS4G North America is bringing together the people shaping the future of open-source geospatial technology. This year, it takes place November 3–5 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia, just a few miles from the centers of federal decision-making where open data, open tools, and open collaboration appear to be increasingly at risk.
I’ve attended and helped organize FOSS4G NA for a few years now, and the 2025 program stands out for how clearly it reflects the direction our field is heading. The sessions, workshops, and conversations all point to a few unmistakable trends: the convergence of open-source geospatial with artificial intelligence, cloud-native data, and enterprise-grade interoperability.
GeoAI and Large Language Models
One of the strongest themes this year is the integration of AI and large language models (LLMs) into geospatial analysis. Several sessions will explore how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and graph-based architectures can give LLMs a sense of “spatial awareness.” Others will demonstrate practical tools for bringing multimodal models to imagery analysis, enabling machines to reason about what they see on the earth’s surface.
For those of us who have spent our careers making maps, managing data, or building models, this development is transformative. It extends the traditional boundaries of GIS by turning geospatial data into structured context that AI systems can actually understand. More importantly, it’s happening in the open. These efforts are built on community frameworks, open standards, and transparent codebases. The conversations at FOSS4G NA are where these ideas mature into shared practice.
Cloud-Native Data and the Modern Geospatial Stack
The conference also reflects a rapid shift toward cloud-native geospatial data architectures. Formats such as Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF, Zarr, and GeoParquet are redefining how we store and analyze large datasets. Sessions this year explore how these formats fit into analytical databases like DuckDB and storage engines such as Apache Iceberg—showing how geospatial data can now live comfortably alongside the rest of modern data infrastructure.
For practitioners and organizations alike, this evolution reduces friction. No longer is spatial data a special case that demands its own servers and workflows. It’s becoming a first-class citizen of the broader data ecosystem. That democratization of access is one of the most powerful outcomes of the open-source movement, and FOSS4G NA is where you can see it in motion.
Standards, Interoperability, and the Public Good
Open standards remain at the heart of the community. Talks on OGC APIs, sensor interoperability, and the emerging GeoServer 3 platform demonstrate that collaboration across software projects continues to deepen. These are not just technical exercises; they are expressions of a shared philosophy.
When government agencies, private companies, and researchers can rely on the same standards, they spend less time translating formats and more time solving real problems—whether those are in resilience planning, environmental management, or emergency response. The sessions on integrating FOSS4G tools into public infrastructure show that open software is no longer a fringe alternative. It’s the backbone of serious operational systems.
The Business of Open Source
Another reason I’m enthusiastic about FOSS4G NA 2025 is the emphasis on the business value of openness. The conference’s B2B session, coupled with its dedicated track on “The Business of Open Source,” acknowledges a truth many of us have witnessed firsthand: open-source software and commercial success are not opposing forces.
In fact, the healthiest ecosystems combine community innovation with sustainable business models. Vendors, consultants, and users all benefit when the code is open, the standards are shared, and the ecosystem grows. This year’s B2B session is keynoted by Patrick Cozzi, who guided Cesium from an open-source startup to a key part of Bentley Systems, illustrates how that balance can work in practice.
Community and Collaboration
Beyond the technical sessions, FOSS4G NA is a valuable community experience. This year introduces the Geo-Career Expo alongside the traditional Birds-of-a-Feather discussions, and the annual “Hootenanny” (which used to be called the “gala”). These events remind us that innovation thrives in human connection. You’ll find developers and decision-makers, students and executives, all sharing ideas over coffee, bonding over trivia, or enjoying a fiddle tune.
It’s a space where collaboration comes naturally because everyone is there for the same reason: to build things that matter and to share them freely.
Why You Should Go
If your work touches geospatial technology in any way, whether you analyze imagery, design maps, manage data pipelines, or develop AI models, FOSS4G North America is the place to be. You’ll leave with new tools, new perspectives, and, most importantly, new connections.
What sets this conference apart is that it’s not just about software. It’s about a mindset that open collaboration produces better science, better systems, and better outcomes for society.
I’m excited to see old friends, meet new ones, and continue the conversations that make this community thrive. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting to explore the open-source geospatial world, you’ll find an open door at FOSS4G NA 2025.
