Press Releases
2009 URISA Board of Directors & Presidential Slate Announced
Submitted by wendy on March 13, 2009 - 8:56am. all users | Press Releases2009 URISA Board of Directors & Presidential Slate Announced
Park Ridge, IL (March 13, 2009) The URISA Board of Directors recently approved the slate brought forward by the Leadership Development & Succession Planning Committee for the 2009 Board election. In April, URISA members will receive access to candidate statements and biographical information and will be given instructions to vote in this year's election. The voting period will end on June 16.
The slate for this year's election is as follows:
For President -
URISA Announces Third Annual Student Paper Competition
Submitted by wendy on January 13, 2009 - 4:05pm. all users | Press ReleasesJanuary 13, 2009 (Park Ridge, IL) - The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) is sponsoring its third annual student paper competition. The objective of the competition is to challenge undergraduate and postgraduate students to demonstrate development and effective use of information systems in both their field of study and the community. The competition is open to all eligible students but particularly those interested in careers using geographic information systems, information technology, geospatial technology, planning and/or community development.
The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2009.
URISA will award students cash prizes for best student authored papers. Winners will be recognized at the URISA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California, September 29-October 2, 2009.
Prizes:
First Place
$500 cash. Free conference registration and recognition at the URISA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA. Paper may be published in the URISA Journal.
Second Place
$300 cash. Free conference registration. Paper may be published in the URISA Journal.
Third Place
$150 cash. Free conference registration. Paper may be published in the URISA Journal.
The following types of papers are encouraged:
1. Comprehensive literature review on a spatial technology and its application.
2. Application of spatial statistics.
3. Application of an implemented spatial technology and its demonstrable impact on a public or private sector organization.
4. Treatment and development of spatial technologies and theory.
Application areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Economic development
• Safety or homeland security
• Environmental planning and resource management
• Geographic information systems
• Infrastructure management
• Remote sensing
• Urban land use planning and management
The URISA Student Paper Committee reviews all papers. Winners will be notified in July 2009.
Only papers meeting the evaluation criteria will be considered. Further information regarding eligibility, submission criteria, prizes, and policies are available on the URISA website at http://www.urisa.org/student_paper_competition .
URISA promotes the effective and ethical use of spatial information and information technologies for the understanding and management of urban and regional systems.
Abstracts Sought for GIS in Transit Conference
Submitted by wendy on January 6, 2009 - 4:36pm. all users | Press ReleasesJanuary 6, 2009 (Park Ridge, IL) – URISA and the National Center for Transit Research (NCTR) are pleased to announce a new partnership to present the Fifth National GIS in Transit Conference, taking place in St. Petersburg, Florida, November 10-12, 2009. This biennial conference will focus on the growing role of GIS in supporting planning, service delivery, and decision making in public transit.
The Program Committee will organize an educational program based upon the abstracts submitted through the Call for Participation. All abstract submissions, received by February 27, 2009, will be reviewed and considered for this conference. The Program Committee encourages abstract submissions in one or more of these four general categories - Applications, Tools, Data, and Management & Policy. Examples of topics within each category are included below:
2009 GIS/CAMA Conference - Sharing Knowledge: The Affordable Solution to Today’s Challenges
Submitted by wendy on November 24, 2008 - 6:13pm. all users | Press ReleasesNovember 24, 2008 (Park Ridge, Illinois) - The International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) are pleased to announce the 13th Annual GIS/CAMA Technologies Conference , taking place February 8-11, 2009 in Charleston, SC. This year’s conference theme is “Sharing Knowledge: The Affordable Solution to Today’s Challenges.”
"This year's conference promises to bring together GIS and valuation professionals from around the world. Come share your ideas and hear from others how to tackle the challenges and solve the problems unique to the valuation community in these trying times. As you read through the presentations, take note of the emphasis given to the current economic conditions. You can't afford to miss it." - Bill Nelson, Government of the District of Columbia
The conference will open with an important keynote presentation. Former Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer, a member of the National Research Council/Mapping Sciences Committee, will offer his top-executive perspective of what we can do as Property Information professionals to help our local leaders navigate in this rapidly changing economic and political environment. His awareness of the impact of technology and his daily contact with top state and federal officials gives him a unique feel for what can make a difference. Boulder County, CO Commissioner Cindy Domenico will add her experienced perspective to the discussion, followed by a federal banking official who will assess the impact of the current economic crisis and how the assessment and GIS community can contribute to recovery.
The conference committee felt, given the current global economic climate, that a follow-up general session should take place following the keynote presentation. David Hieber and Rob Scripture from Oakland County (MI) and Nancy von Meyer, GISP, from Fairview Industries will deliver an eye-opening presentation:
Forecasting and Accountability: Parcel and Assessment Information in the Post-Bailout Era
Parcel and assessment information together form the basis for an early warning system for the economy. On a national scale, the economic fallout in the Fall of 2008 was predicted in parcel databases across the country 18 to 24 months before the realization hit Wall Street. Learn how these indicators can be recognized and evaluated.
The conference will feature sessions within from three program tracks (Professional Development & Management Strategies, Property Valuation & Modeling Techniques and Technology & Techniques). Sessions have been developed on a variety of important topics like these:
• Current Housing Recession & Value
• Fraud Leads to Foreclosures
• Seeking a Return on Your GIS Investment
• Assessor’s Office of the Future
• How to Deal with Body-Pierced, Tattooed Millennials in Flip Flops
Attendees are also encouraged to take advantage of full-day preconference workshops on February 8:
• Introduction to GIS & Assessment
• Introduction to Valuation & Spatial Analysis
• Field Automation Options for Local Government
As always, the Exhibit Hall is an important feature of the conference, where attendees will try to find ways of doing more with less. IAAO and URISA greatly appreciate the support of the organizations who have participated as exhibitors at the GIS/CAMA Conference throughout the conference’s history.
Continuing Education Credit: IAAO professional designees will earn 7 hours of recertification credit for attendance at a Preconference Workshop and 10 hours for attendance at all sessions of the regular conference program. GISCI Certification points earned for attending one workshop and this conference = .4 GISCI education points.
Complete Details: The detailed conference program, exhibit, registration and travel/hotel information is available online .
URISA Leadership Academy and URISA Journal Editor Recognized
Submitted by wendy on October 24, 2008 - 11:17am. all users | Press ReleasesOctober 24, 2008 (Park Ridge, IL) – Jochen Albrecht and the URISA Leadership Academy Committee received the 2008 Barbara Hirsch Special Service Award during URISA's 46th Annual Conference in New Orleans this month.
This award was created to honor URISA’s former Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Hirsch. The award is given to individuals or committees who have shown a similar consummate level of service to URISA through an ongoing commitment to our success as an organization.
The 2008 Barbara Hirsch Special Service Award was presented to Jochen Albrecht, Editor of the URISA Journal and also to the Committee and Instructors of the URISA Leadership Academy.
URISA Recognizes Two Members with a 2008 Service Award
Submitted by wendy on October 24, 2008 - 11:04am. all users | Press ReleasesOctober 24, 2008 (Park Ridge, IL) During URISA's 46th Annual Conference in New Orleans this month, the association recognized two members with Service Awards. The URISA Service Award is presented to members who have demonstrated faithful service to URISA and have participated in its programs over a period of several years. The award is for service in a number of programs or committees, and a willingness to take on challenges without regard to the potential for recognition.
C. David Hawker and Bruce Joffe, GISP are both recipients of a 2008 URISA Service Award.
URISA Honors Two Leadership Award Recipients
Submitted by wendy on October 24, 2008 - 10:46am. all users | Press ReleasesOctober 24, 2008 (Park Ridge, IL) - During URISA's 46th Annual Conference in New Orleans this month, the association recognized two recipients of its Leadership Award. The URISA Leadership Award is presented to members who have demonstrated exemplary leadership to URISA, creativity, innovation, and dedicated support of URISA programs. This year’s Leadership Award recipients were Kenneth Dueker and Cindy Domenico.
Kenneth J. Dueker, emeritus professor of urban studies and planning, is an experienced educator and researcher in transportation, land use, and geographic information systems. He directed the Center for Urban Studies from 1979 to 1998 and the Transportation Studies Center from 1997 to 2002 at Portland State University. His areas of interest include: transportation and land use interactions, travel and parking behavior, and Geographic Information Systems - Transportation.
Peirce Eichelberger Receives URISA's Horwood Distinguished Service Award
Submitted by wendy on October 24, 2008 - 10:29am. all users | Press ReleasesOctober 24, 2008 (PARK RIDGE, IL) – Peirce Eichelberger, with a long and distinguished record of leadership and contributions to URISA and the GIS community, was the recent recipient of URISA’s prestigious Horwood Distinguished Service Award during the association’s 46th Annual Conference in New Orleans. This award is URISA’s ultimate award for service and leadership to URISA and the geospatial industry.
Susan Johnson presents Peirce Eichelberger with the Horwood Distinguished Service Award.
URISA Conference Addresses the Important Topics
Submitted by wendy on September 16, 2008 - 3:30pm. all users | Press Releases
September 16, 2008 (Park Ridge, IL) – Next month, GIS Professionals will convene at URISA’s 46th Annual Conference & Exposition in New Orleans, to address the important topics of the day including inter-governmental collaboration for cost savings and efficiencies; infrastructure sustainability and asset management; enterprise solutions; disaster response and readiness; and results-oriented public participation GIS.
URISA President, Susan Johnson, notes, “With the troubled economy and natural disasters impacting the global community, it’s more important than ever for GIS professionals to discuss ways to make our limited technology dollars stretch further and more effectively. I’m looking forward to a number of sessions during the URISA conference that will demonstrate ways of doing more with less.”
URISA 2008 Annual Conference...Moving Forward
Submitted by wendy on September 4, 2008 - 11:35am. all users | Press ReleasesSeptember 4, 2008 (Park Ridge, IL) - Hurricane Gustav, thankfully, passed over the Gulf Coast region without as much damage as had been forecasted. There were a few power outages and very little damage to downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter (where the URISA Annual Conference will be held, October 7-10, 2008). The Sheraton New Orleans confirmed that the hotel is just fine and ready to take reservations for the URISA Conference.
Take advantage of the expertise of more than 150 GIS professionals from across the globe who are presenting in sessions like these:
