Caribbean GIS
URISA Caribbean GIS Conference
An occasional specialty conference focusing on the effective application of GIS and other information technologies in Caribbean government agencies.
Watch for news about the 2008 conference!
August 25-29, 2008
Grand Cayman
Objectives of this Conference
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To inform broad cross-section of Caribbean users about GIS technology and applications
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To share experiences regarding GIS implementation and management issues
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To establish new relationships with the vendor/consultant community
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To provide workshops and sessions that are application driven, and are relevant to the Caribbean community of GIS users
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To foster a Caribbean GIS network
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To assess the state of readiness of national and regional Spatial Data Infrastructures
URISA's 2006 Caribbean GIS Conference
Atlantis Resort, Bahamas
October 30-November 2, 2006
URISA’s Third Caribbean GIS Conference - A Review
By Dr. Philip Corbin, Computer Engineering Analyst,
Barbados Light & Power Co. Ltd.
The 3rd Caribbean GIS Conference, hosted by URISA, took place in the Bahamas, October 29 through November 2, 2006 at the beautiful Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island. There were nearly 300 attendees from over 20 countries. The two previous URISA Caribbean GIS Conferences were held in Jamaica (Sept 9-12, 2001) and in Barbados (Sept 13-17, 2004). The current Conference theme was “Shattering Barriers... Building Bridges” and its objectives were:
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To inform a broad cross-section of Caribbean users about GIS technology and applications
-
To share experiences regarding GIS implementation and management issues
-
To establish new relationships with the vendor/consultant community
-
To provide workshops and sessions that are application driven, and are relevant to the Caribbean community of GIS users
-
To foster a Caribbean GIS network
-
To assess the state of readiness of national and regional Spatial Data Infrastructures
The Committee Chairperson was Ms. Carolann Albury, Director of the Bahamas National GIS (BNGIS) Centre in the office of the Prime Minister. Ms. Albury was ably assisted by the Conference Program Committee, a capable cadre of 20 GIS professionals from the USA and 5 Caribbean countries (namely the Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago),
There were three concurrent eight hour URISA Workshops on Monday October 30, on GIS Program Management, Asset Management, and a new course on Caribbean Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). I attended the SDI workshop which was chaired by Jamaican GIS Consultants Valrie Grant-Harry and Garfield Knight. There was excellent interaction amongst the participants. One recommendation coming out of the workshop was the need for a National GIS Committee in countries where the key Government departments which should be contributing towards the SDI are under different ministries. Much progress towards a national GIS with SDI from several contributing agencies has been made in the Cayman Islands and in Jamaica in particular.
The opening ceremony of the Conference, on Tuesday morning featured a keynote address by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie of the Bahamas. A strong supporter of GIS, he gave an excellent speech (without notes), subsequently highlighted by the local newspaper, the Nassau Guardian, in an article accessible online at: http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/293331314236345.php
Peter Croswell, past president of URISA, greeted the attendees on behalf of URISA, and the participants were treated to performances by a local color guard, a primary school choir and the Bahamas Police Force band.
Along with several vendor exhibits, there were 79 presentations over the 3 days of the main conference. A highlight of the Conference was the Thursday keynote address by Jim Geringer, former Governor of Wyoming, who gave a highly informative overview of the role and trends of GIS in policy making, and how policy-makers should be introduced to GIS as an important tool to solve practical problems they are facing.
The Conference finished with a plenary session on the way forwards towards a regional SDI, followed by a closing ceremony embellished by a boisterous and colourful calypso-style band (see photos).
The Conference participants were in general very pleased with its overall standard, and are looking forward to the 2008 Conference. All Caribbean GIS professionals should make a special effort to attend these well-organised and informative URISA Conferences.
Previous Conferences:
URISA 2004 Caribbean GIS Conference
An Instrument for National and Regional Development
September 13-17, 2004
Barbados
To purchase Conference Proceedings CD
URISA 2001 Caribbean GIS Conference
GIS -- The Currency for Modern Governments
September 9-12, 2001
Wyndham Rose Hall
Montego Bay, Jamaica
To purchase Conference Proceedings (printed copy only)