2008 ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit

The 2008 ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit, to be held August 2–5, 2008, at the San Diego Convention Center in California, will help surveying, engineering, and geographic information system (GIS) professionals explore how GIS technology is building new opportunities for their businesses. More than 400 visitors will see the latest in GIS for their line of work as well as discuss trends, challenges, and solutions with the summit's special guests.

Attendees will hear from two keynote speakers during the Plenary Session including Colonel David Madden, commander of the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Wing at the Space and Missile Systems Center, and Timothy McCormick, senior vice president at Dewberry's Hazard Engineering and Geospatial Services Group. Madden is responsible for the multinational, multiservice development of all GPS space, satellite, and ground segments. He will discuss the largest avionics integration and installation program in the U.S. Department of Defense. McCormick is an engineer and certified floodplain manager responsible for more than $30 million in work annually and a 220-person staff that provides GIS, GPS, remote sensing, and other services to the government. Under his leadership, Dewberry built its GeoFIRM flood mapping solution, which McCormick will address at the summit.

Following the Plenary Session, event participants Carlson Software and Trimble will each offer a lunch presentation focusing on GIS. These organizations will also have representatives on the industry panel, which will discuss Machine Control—Where and What are the Geospatial Professional's Boundaries? as well as liability and licensing issues and how these are being addressed. Joseph V. R. Paiva, Ph.D., P.S., P.E., from Point of Beginning magazine, will moderate the discussion.

In addition, the Geographic and Land Information Society (GLIS) is sponsoring the Surveying and GIS Leadership Forum on Tuesday, August 4.

GLIS will also hold the opening session for the conference's Surveying-Special Interest Group (S-SIG) meeting along with the Arizona Professional Land Surveyor and other organizations. Topics covered will include professional practice, GIS and surveying associations and collaboration, and developing a plan to support the surveying profession.

"The goal of the industry panel, lunch meetings, Leadership Forum, and S-SIG is to discuss GIS topics of interest for surveyors and engineers and ultimately influence the development of this technology for these industries," says Brent Jones, survey and engineering industry solutions manager, ESRI. "Development and innovation will help surveyors and engineers grow their business with both existing clients and new markets. Summit attendees will spend four days learning how to use GIS technology for more efficient workflows, data management, and more."

The summit will be held concurrently with the 2008 ESRI International User Conference (ESRI UC), an excellent place to interact with GIS and mapping professionals from around the world.

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