The 46th Annual Conference of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association
October 7-10, 2008 • New Orleans
Spatially Enabling the Enterprise

What is URISA?

The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) is a non-profit professional and educational association that promotes the effective and ethical use of spatial information and information technologies for the understanding and management of urban and regional systems. It is a multidisciplinary association where professionals from all parts of the spatial data community can come together and share concerns and ideas.

Since 1963, URISA has been the professional home of choice for Public Sector GIS and IT Executives throughout the United States, Canada and other countries worldwide.

URISA was the founding member of the GIS Certification Institute , the organization that administers professional certification and the Code of Ethics for professionals in the field. Other initiatives like the URISA GIS Hall of Fame, Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) Award and the GISCorps , which provides volunteer GIS support for underdeveloped countries and also supports disaster recovery efforts, are also URISA initiatives that have received international recognition.

About the URISA Conference

The URISA Annual Conference traditionally attracts professionals interested in management/policy discussions of IT & GIS issues. URISA 2008 in New Orleans will challenge participants to better manage, analyze, plan and implement technology for more effective and efficient government operations.

The 2008 Annual Conference Program Committee has announced the following program topics for this year's annual conference:

Geospatially Enabled Enterprise
How is GIS being integrated into your organization (both spatially and with non-spatial applications)?

• Asset Management
• Integration with ERP, Web-based, other
• Re-engineering Core Processes
• Enhanced Decision Support
• Mobile GIS
• Other

Data Acquisitions & Conversion

• Data Collection Technologies
• Data Models
• Data Conversion
• Data Distribution and Licensing
• Purchasing Digital Data
• Geospatial Imaging/Remote Sensing
• Addressing
• Data Sharing & Transfer
• Metadata
• Mobile GIS
• Other

Open Source and Open Standards/Google Earth
Google Earth is/has/will change the GIS Industry – how does your organization take up this industry change?

• Google Earth
• Introduction of OSS in companies and Public Administrations
• Impact of OSS on social networks
• Licensing issues in OSS
• Cost and economic models of OSS
• Education and training
• Other

Cross-Jurisdictional Collaboration
How does your organization enable/participate in cooperative initiatives, at the national, state/provincial and local levels of government?

• Cooperative/Integrated Initiatives
• GIS on the National Stage
• Criminal Justice
• Demographics
• Emergency Response
• Housing
• Parcel Mapping
• Planning & Land Use
• Public Works
• Social Services
• Other

Natural Resources & Environment

• Green Mapping
• Land Use
• Natural Resources Management
• Renewable Resources
• Soils
• Sustainability
• Water Resources
• Other

Transportation & Infrastructure

• Asset Management
• Routing/Linear Referencing
• Transportation Modeling
• Transit
• Utilities/Public Works
• Mobile GIS
• Other

Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) or GIS for Communities

• Community Case Studies
• Interactive Web Mapping & Tools
• Metrics of Empowerment
• Use of Participatory Spatial Data
• Other

Emergency Management & Homeland Security

• Public Health and Safety
• Homeland Security/Emergency Services
• Mobile GIS
• Other

3D GIS
3D GIS is becoming more widely used. How does your organization utilize this tool to carry out its mandate?

• 3D City Modeling case studies
• Effective 3D solutions on the web
• 3D data management and updating programs
• 3D standards and spatial data infrastructures
• 3D professional development and staffing challenges
• Other

K-12

• Promoting GIS Curriculum in K-12 Education
• GIS Activities in School and Non-School Programs

Management & Professional Development

• Budgeting & Staffing
• Effective Communications
• GIS Certification
• Jobs, Careers, the GIS Profession
• Public Access, Privacy, Security
• Strategic Planning; Managing Change
• URISA Initiatives & Organization

Student Presentations

• Reserved for student research

Preliminary Conference Schedule

Monday, October 6, 2008

• Board of Directors Meeting
• Chapter Leaders' Forum

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

• Preconference Workshops
• K-12 One-Day Program
• First-Time Attendee Networking Meeting
• Exhibit Hall Installation

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

• Welcome & Keynote Address
• Educational Sessions
• Roundtable Luncheon
• Exhibit Hall Hours
• Exhibit Hall Networking Reception

Thursday, October 9, 2008

• Awards Breakfast
• Educational Sessions
• Exhibit Hall Hours
• Conference Social Event

Friday, October 10, 2008

• Educational Sessions
• Closing Plenary Speaker
• Annual Business Meeting
• "Rebuild New Orleans" Charity Event

Saturday, October 11, 2008

• Board of Directors' Meeting

• Abstracts Due: January 21, 2008 (extended to February 12, 2008)
• Acceptance Notification: March 14, 2008
• Confirmation of Participation Due: March 31, 2008
• Program Distributed: April 21, 2008
• Speaker Registration Deadline: August 1, 2008
• Conference: October 7-10, 2008
• Paper/Presentation Due for Conference
• Proceedings Distribution: October 24, 2008

For Budgeting Purposes:

Discounted conference room rates at Sheraton New Orleans: $165 Single/Double
A limited number of government rate rooms will be available.

Early Conference Registration Rates (includes pre-conference workshop):
$545 URISA International Member; $675 Nonmember

Significant discounts for group/team registrations.

Note: All accepted presenters must register and pay the regular conference registration fee. Acceptance as a presenter does not register you for the conference — registration fees are required. Presenters must register by August 1, 2008.

Conference Site & Headquarters Hotel:

Sheraton New Orleans
500 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Ground Transportation
Guests can choose either a taxi or the Airport Shuttle New Orleans to travel to and from the airport. Both choices are accessible from the airport baggage claim area.

Airport Shuttle reservations can be made by calling 504/522-3500. The cost is $14.00 per person, each way. To purchase your ticket(s) at the airport, proceed to the baggage claim area on the ground level. After you have retrieved your luggage, proceed to the Airport Shuttle ticket desk, located across from most baggage claim carousels. Service is available on a continuous basis with vans departing approximately every 30 minutes. Please make your departure reservations no later than 24 hours prior to your flight. Domestic flights require passengers to arrive two hours prior to flight departure. International flights require passengers to arrive three hours prior to flight departure.

A taxi costs approximately $30.00 per person one-way, and the travel time is approximately 25 minutes without traffic.

Climate
October daytime highs in New Orleans are near 80°F and nighttime lows are usually around 60°F. It's a beautiful time of year in New Orleans!

GISCI at URISA 2008

• GISCI points earned for presenting a paper t URISA 2008 = 1 Contribution Point
• GISCI points earned for being published in the Conference Proceedings = 2 Contribution Points

Watch for news about a URISA “Rebuild New Orleans” charity event taking place in conjunction with the conference!