##Help out##

Want a new feature or tool? Help write up ideas for summer projects for students in the [Google Summer of Code program](/wiki/gsoc-2012) -- we're applying this year and need to attract students with compelling ideas.

Any improvement or set of improvements to our suite of open source tools is fair game. Or copy high-priority feature requests from the following projects' issue trackers, add them below as "Projects", and flesh them out at a scope reasonable for students to get involved. 

##Clashifier open source image classification##

* Goal: identify wetlands species and/or oil contamination
* http://github.com/jywarren/clashifier
* GPLv3

###Project: abstract Classifiers class to make different classifiers more pluggable###

**Description:** Some structural changes are necessary to allow people to develop and add new classifiers to the system. It should be as easy as having a "classifier.classify()" function which accepts an RGB (or more colors) pixel value, or perhaps an image and x,y coordinates. Some of this work has been started in the /lib/ directory, but it will require some architectural changes.

* Links:
  * https://github.com/jywarren/clashifier/issues/4
  * https://github.com/jywarren/clashifier/issues/3
* Prerequisites: Ruby/Rails, some familiarity with classification algorithms like naive bayes or cartesian, or anything else
* Difficulty level: medium
* Mentor: Jeff Warren (jeff@publiclaboratory.org)

##Spectral Workbench open source spectral analysis##

* Goal: spectrum pattern matching to identify oil contamination
* http://github.com/jywarren/spectral-workbench
* GPLv3

###Project: import open spectral databases###

**Description:** Determine which spectral databases can be used in an open source manner (such as perhaps the HITRAN and ASTER datasets) and import them, tagging them with their source and relevant metadata. Focus on near-infrared, visible, and ultraviolet ranges. 

* Links:
  * https://github.com/jywarren/spectral-workbench/issues/54
* Prerequisites: Ruby/Rails, familiarity with open data licensing and database parsing/scripting
* Difficulty level: easy
* Mentor: Jeff Warren (jeff@publiclaboratory.org)

###Project: find closest matched spectra from database###

**Description:** Given a spectrum from http://SpectralWorkbench.org, develop a search function for similar spectra. 

* Links:
  * https://github.com/jywarren/spectral-workbench/issues/53
* Prerequisites: Ruby/Rails, some familiarity with (spectral) pattern matching
* Difficulty level: hard
* Mentor: Jeff Warren (jeff@publiclaboratory.org)

##MapKnitter open source image rectification and GIS##

* Goal: spectrum pattern matching to identify oil contamination
* http://github.com/jywarren/mapknitter
* GPLv3

###Project: optimize and improve high-resolution stitching interface###

**Description:** This could take the form of several ideas/approaches -- from [caching the warped images as dataURLs in the canvas element](https://github.com/jywarren/mapknitter/issues/13) to speed up interactivity, to [implementing the Client Zoom feature in the most recent OpenLayers](https://github.com/jywarren/mapknitter/issues/75).

* Prerequisites: JavaScript/Prototype/Canvas element, Ruby/Rails
* Difficulty level: medium
* Mentor: Jeff Warren (jeff@publiclaboratory.org)

###Project: add annotations layer to Mapknitter###

**Description:** This could include adding polygonal overlays to highlight regions, adding notes, and linking discussions/data directly into maps.  

* Prerequisites: JavaScript/Prototype/Canvas element, Ruby/Rails
* Difficulty level: medium
* Mentor: Jeff Warren (jeff@publiclaboratory.org)

###Project: georeferencing without base image data###

**Description:** investigate and implement different methods of georeferencing images besides overlaying on existing aerial data.  GPS, ground-target, or EXIF-embedded data could all be used.

* Prerequisites: JavaScript/Prototype/Canvas element, Ruby/Rails
* Difficulty level: medium
* Mentor: Jeff Warren (jeff@publiclaboratory.org)

##Live NDVI/NRG infrared vegetation analysis from an Android phone##

* (based on code in https://github.com/jywarren/infrared-visible-video-kit)
* MIT license