Stuart Planner is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) with a strong and long-standing interest in the adoption of open source software within the built environment and wider business community. OSIB is his platform for exploring, documenting, and advocating for the practical use of open source tools as genuine alternatives to proprietary systems.
Stuart is not a software vendor and has no commercial relationships with any of the products or projects featured on this site. His perspective is that of a built environment professional who has seen at first hand the costs — financial, operational, and strategic — that proprietary lock-in imposes on organisations large and small.
Where he can, Stuart is happy to offer informal guidance on open source adoption within the built environment, and to signpost organisations to the right technical professionals, implementation partners, and open source communities for their specific needs.
Areas of Interest
- GIS and spatial data — QGIS, PostGIS, OpenStreetMap, and open geospatial standards
- Building Information Modelling — IFC, BlenderBIM, FreeCAD, and the OpenBIM movement
- Digital planning reform — PlanX, the Planning Data platform, and open standards in development management
- Open source ERP and business systems for professional services firms
- Highways and asset management technology in UK local authorities
- The broader case for open source in public sector procurement
Get in Touch
If you have a question about open source options in the built environment, or would like Stuart to signpost you to the right technical professionals or communities, please use the contact form. Stuart will respond when he can.
Stuart Planner MRICS — Chartered Surveyor and Open Source Advocate