URISA, August 22, 2006...The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) is
pleased to announce its third conference focusing on the effective
application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other
information technologies in the Caribbean.
The theme of the conference, taking place October 30 – November 2,
2006 at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas is “Shattering Barriers…
Building Bridges.” More than 300 GIS professionals are expected to
attend the event.
URISA’s Caribbean GIS Conference has been previously presented in Jamaica (2001) and in Barbados (2004).
As in the previous gatherings, the conference objectives are:
* To inform 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 conference begins on Monday, October 30 with three URISA Certified
Workshops, 8-hour comprehensive courses on these topics: Spatial Data
Infrastructure: Planning, Policy, Strategy and Implementation - The
Caribbean Reality; Asset Management: Planning, Strategy and
Implementation; GIS Program Management
URISA’s leadership and the Conference Chair will welcome delegates to
the conference during the Opening Ceremony. This will be followed by an
important keynote address from the Honourable Perry Gladstone Christie,
Bahamas Prime Minister. On Wednesday morning, delegates will gather for
an entertaining plenary session, “From Crypt to Courtroom”, about the
mysterious death of King Tut and how technology was used in the
investigation. Jim Geringer, Director of Policy and Public Sector
Strategy for ESRI, will provide the luncheon keynote address on
Thursday.
Thirty-two
comprehensive educational sessions fill the program with nearly 100
presentations. A variety of social events will provide delegates with
every opportunity to network with their peers and colleagues from
around the globe. An exhibition will provide the opportunity to compare
and contrast technology products and services.
The conference was organized via an abstract submission process. More
than 100 submissions were received for the committee’s review. The
abstracts were submitted in the following topical categories:
* Disaster Management, Law Enforcement, Public Health and Safety
* Standards, Policy and Management
* Land, Environment, Planning and Natural Resources
* Utilities, Business and Organizational GIS
* Education
* Hot Topics
For information about program details and online registration, visit www.urisa.org/conferences/caribbean/main
For information about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.urisa.org/caribbean_exhibits
Wendy Francis (wfrancis@urisa.org)
Phone: 8478246300
