Interactive Sessions Were a Hit!
A number of interactive discussion sessions were big hits at the conference. From the opening session where Cy Smith facilitated the discussion to identify some key issues facing the GIS Community.
Cy facilitates the discussion.
Ed Wells shares his ideas.
Value of data is a big issue.
The main issues which arose from the discussion:
- Managing Change: How do we convince vested interests to support positive change?
- One Government: How can we act as one government across jurisdictional/organizational boundaries?
- Training/Education: How can we provide effective education & training to the current and next generation?
- Stewardship: How can we maintain and add value to the information infrastructure investments we’ve made?
- Value of Government: How can we account for the value of our information infrastructure investments to motivate further investment?
The conversation continued over lunch where tables were assigned the task of further defining the issue, noting impediments to overcome the issue, and solutions.
We came full-circle during a follow-up session on Friday where Cy summarized the ideas which emerged and discussed the way forward.
Within the conference program, a number of sessions were designated as interactive sessions and all of those were well-attended and well-reviewed. Jack Dangermond, Karen Stewart and Cy Smith participated in a lengthy discussion about Federal Stimulus Funding with quite a bit of audience interaction.
Cy and Jack talk funding.
Bruce Joffe led an interesting discussion surrounding basemaps and public records laws. Peirce Eichelberger and Ed Crane facilitated a discussion about the Land/Structure/Occupancy data model.
Bruce Joffe, GISP makes a point
Of course, the great discussions were not limited to sessions. The URISA conference is a hotbed of great discussions in hallways, during social events...nonstop conversations and connections!
