Preliminary Conference Program

September 28-October 1, 2010
Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Orlando, Florida

You are invited to GIS-Pro 2010, URISA’s 48th Annual Conference for GIS Professionals.

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Take advantage of the working sessions designed to help you find solutions, explore ways to collaborate, and take part in the training and education you need to not only advance in your career but also propel your organization to the next level.

GIS-Pro is not 'Show and Tell' ...
It's 'Participate and Learn'!

Conference Themes

The conference program follows these themes, developed through interactive discussions with the participants at URISA’s 2009 Annual Conference in Anaheim, online survey responses, and input from Dr. Barry Wellar, 2009 Keynote speaker:

• Value of GIS – The value of GIS can theoretically be quantified in terms of Return on Investment (ROI), but the methodology for determining ROI for GIS has not been standardized.  Sessions in this theme include information on measured return on investment (as opposed to estimated cost/benefit analysis performed prior to implementation); various methods for funding and justifying funding for GIS implementation; and ways to articulate the financial/liability, economic, social or environmental impact of GIS for a jurisdiction, region or organization.
   
• One Government – This concept is about multiple jurisdictions and overlapping levels of government (federal, state/provincial, regional, local) acting collaboratively.  Sessions include data sharing challenges and approaches; standardization and integration of data, applications and services; collaboration and communication that leads to a "one government" approach, and activities that promote government transparency and accountability.
   
• Business of GIS - GIS as a profession and an industry is coming of age.  Presentations will focus on the work to define the geospatial technology industry and associated occupations, curriculum needs to support current and future GIS technicians and analysts, how we conduct ourselves in terms of duty and standard of care, and learning to present our work in an effective manner.

• Stewardship – The notion of stewardship is one of service and support to a community of data users.  Often, the steward has a vested interest in maintaining particular data set(s) for his/her organization, but no mandate (or funding) to maintain it for the rest of the community.  Sessions focus on data management, maintenance and integration topics, metadata issues and processes, data governance approaches, and methods for treating data as an infrastructure, or other, asset.
  
  
• Place-based Decisions – This is a hot topic in 2010 at every level. U.S. Congressional Hearings are even focusing on ways to drive decisions based on data and "place".  At last year’s Annual Conference, Dr. Wellar’s keynote focused on the need to manage various interrelated information infrastructures to make well-informed, accurate decisions, and the categorical need for GIS technology and geospatial sciences in that endeavor.  Find out about Web 2.0 and social networking tools as a means of bringing information together and presenting it appropriately to everyone; how to promote GIS use to decision makers; better ways to visualize change spatially and temporally; and how to manage interdependent information infrastructures with geospatial tools and techniques.

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Distinguished Speakers

URISA is pleased to welcome Stan Meiburg, Acting Regional Administrator for EPA Region 4 in Atlanta, Georgia, as our opening keynote speaker.

The Closing Plenary Session on Friday is a double-header of GIS Professionalism at its finest!

Zsolt Nagy, GISP, Project Manager at AECOM  - former Coordination Manager for the North Carolina Center for Geographic Information & Analysis - will provide insight during the Closing Plenary session on Friday.

Barry Wellar, PhD, GISP, Emeritus Professor, University of Ottawa and Principal, Wellar Consulting Inc. - in addition to being URISA Past President (1978) - will challenge GIS professionals to excel in his Closing Plenary Address - "Excelling in GIS Means Running with the Big Dogs!".

Don't miss the Thought Leaders' Panel on Thursday!

URISA is honored to welcome an esteemed group of  industry thought leaders to participate on a panel to discuss such topics as:

• Where is the Industry going?
• What are the next hot trends, issues, opportunities, emerging technologies?

Participants to include:

• Ossama Alami, Geo Developer Relations Manager, Google Maps and Earth
• Clint Brown, Director of Software Products, Esri
• Joel Campbell, President, ERDAS
• Donald Fenhagen, GIS Service Area Leader, IBM Global Business Services
• Tim Henderson, Business Development Manager, Microsoft Bing Maps for Enterprise
• Xavier Lopez, Director of Product Management, Oracle Spatial Products Group
• Geoff Zeiss, Director of Technology, Autodesk

Preliminary Conference Schedule

Monday, September 27, 2010

• URISA Board of Directors Meeting
• Chapter Leaders' Forum
• Half-day Asset Management Workshop & AMS Technical Tour at DisneyWorld

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

• Training Courses
• Committee Meetings
• First-Time Attendee Meeting
• Esri User Group Meeting - Join ESRI staff, veteran users of Esri’s geographic information system (GIS) technology, and those interested in learning more about leveraging the software in any industry. You’ll explore the latest in ArcGIS tools and strategies, discover how everyone can leverage the geographic knowledge you create, and get answers to your questions. See demonstrations of quick and easy map publishing and advanced analysis. Plus, hear key information shared at last summer’s Esri International User Conference. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.
• Geospatial Ignite Event

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 (click for agenda)

• Opening Keynote Address - Stan Meiburg
• Exhibits
• Concurrent Educational Sessions & Training Courses
• Project Luncheon
• Committee Meetings
• Networking Reception
• Florida URISA Annual Meeting

Thursday, September 30, 2010 (click for agenda)

• Awards Breakfast - sponsored by CDM
• Concurrent Educational Sessions & Training Courses
• Exhibits
• Committee Meetings
• Industry Thought Leaders Panel Discussion - Future Trends & Directions
• GISP Reception
• Networking Event

Friday, October 1, 2010 (click for agenda)

• Concurrent Educational Sessions & Training Courses
• Committee Meetings
• Plenary Session - Zsolt Nagy, GISP - Barry Wellar, PhD, GISP
• URISA Annual Business Meeting

Saturday, October 2, 2010

• URISA Board of Directors Meeting

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Conference Committee

Conference Chair - Danielle Ayan, GISP, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
Program Chair - Geney Terry, GISP, El Dorado County, Placerville, California
Associate Program Chair - Claudia Paskauskas, GISP, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Altamonte Springs, Florida
Past Chair - Mike Lovett, GISP, CDM, Maitland, Florida

Program Committee Members

• Jason Amadori, GISP, Data Transfer Solutions, Orlando, Florida
• Carl Anderson, GISP, Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia
• Brenda Burroughs, Michael Baker Jr. Co., Orlando, Florida
• Kathrine Cargo, GISP, Orleans Parish Communications District, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Tom Conry, Fairfax County, Fairfax, Virginia
• Randy Fusaro, US Census Bureau, Washington, DC
• Lee Hartsfield, GISP, Tallahasee-Leon County GIS, Tallahasee, Florida
• Alex Hepp, Pictometry International, Rochester, New York
• Rob Houston, GISP, CDM, Dallas, Texas
• Allen Ibaugh, GISP, Data Transfer Solutions, Orlando, Florida
• Wansoo Im, Vertices, New Brunswick, New Jersey
• Randal Krejcarek, GISP, City of Delray Beach, Florida
• Al Little, City of Hamilton, Ontario Canada
• Bob Marmion, GISP, Montgomery Township, Belle Mead, New Jersey
• Bill Mumbleau, GISP, Kleinfelder – Redlands, California
• Hilary Perkins, GISP AICP, Webster Groves, Missouri
• Donna Phillips, GISP, City of Hayden, Idaho
• Jonathan Posner, GISP, CDM, Irvine, California
• Milo Robinson, Federal Geographic Data Committee, Reston, Virginia
• Martin Roche, GISP, GeoPlanning Services, Orlando, Florida
• Yvon Sevigny, GISP, Ville de Montreal, Quebec Canada
• Mark Sievers, Sievers & Associates, Altamonte Springs, Florida
• Ken Sipos, GISP, Philadelphia, PA
• Cy Smith, GISP, State of Oregon DAS/Geospatial Enterprise Office, Salem, Oregon
• Karen Stewart, GISP, ESRI Canada, Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
• Mohammad Tariq, GISP, Peak Technology Solutions Inc, Washington, DC
• David Wallis, GISP, Cowlitz County, Kelso, Washington
• Will Walter, GISP, PBS&J, Tampa, Florida
• Michael Waltuch, GISP, ESRI, New York, New York
• Tobias Wolf, GISP, HDR Inc, San Diego, California

Workshop Chairs
Keri Brennan, GISP, The Schneider Corporation, Indianapolis, Indiana
David Lanter, GISP, CDM, Voorhees, New Jersey

Without the volunteer members of the Conference Committee, there would be no conference.
We thank them in advance for their amazing efforts!

Media Sponsors

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Conference Exhibitors & Sponsors

URISA relies on the generous contributions of GIS-Pro exhibitors and sponsors! Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to learn about our sponsors and spend time at their booths during the conference to learn more!

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Conference Sponsor

URISA, the Association for GIS Professionals - Founded in 1963, the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) is a nonprofit association for professionals involved in improving urban and regional environments through the use of information technology. For more information, visit www.urisa.org 

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