URISA'S Caribbean GIS Conference: Evolution and Next Steps
URISA is organising the 4th Caribbeean GIS Conference from 25 to 29 August 2008. The programme lists two special keynote speakers. On Wednesday 27th August David Maguire, the Chief Scientist at ESRI will address everyone at the conference opening ceremony. The second keynote speaker is Vanessa Lawrence of UK Ordnance Survey.
ESRI is showing through the speech of David Maguire the future direction GIS development will take. He will also be available later in the week to deal with technical and other questions "one-on-one" as part of the ESRI sponsor/vendor sessions.
Vanessa Lawrence already spoke at the ESRI World User Conference in San Diego a couple of years ago. The story of how she almost single handedly turned around the UK's Ordnance Survey does not need repeating, although it is indeed a remarkable success story. She will also be available to answer questions as part of two panel sessions later in the week.
The topic of charging for GIS data is a hot one and always guaranteed to spawn heated debate. What is clear, however, is that (politics aside) many Caribbean jurisdictions will only see secure and regular funding for GIS development if revenue can be generated by selling products and services. Ordnance Survey has emerged as a leading example of how to implement a successful GIS and mapping business model. Cayman Land Info is committed to a similar path.
If you check the speaker list you will see some famous names that are guaranteed to provide exceedingly interesting and informative presentations.
There will be a poster galley and all delegates are encouraged to bring along their work for exhibition. The overall winner of the poster/map competition will win a HP Laptop donated by HP Kirkiss. There will be many other exciting prizes.
The Cayman Islands Chief Surveyor, Rupert Vasquez is arranging separate meetings and sessions (sponsored by Cayman Land info) as part of a regional Chief Surveyor's summit.
