Biggest GIS User Conference set for tomorrow, Jan 26

The 6th Geographical Information Systems (GIS) user conference in the Asia Pacific Region is set tomorrow at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City. The annual conference is the gathering of various industries – from telecommunications, government, and transportation to the academe – to facilitate knowledge transfer of the latest trends, methodologies and techniques on the best way to utilize GIS technology The event is spearheaded by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), a GIS software company based in Redlands, California. Geodata Systems Technologies, a local IT company focused on providing GIS and related geospatial technologies will host the event. The two-day forum is said to be the biggest gathering for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) are expected to attend the annual event. Esri founder, president and Chief Operating Officer Jack Dangermond will be attending the event to share his insights on the latest trends and developments for the GIS technology. This year’s theme, “One Community, One Map" will highlight the need for national and community mapping programs that can provide a common map framework by which organizations and governments can build a share and consistent, authoritative, current physical, social, political, cultural, economic and environmental information. According to Francisca Dayrit, Executive Vice President of Geodata Systems, GIS has become a part of mission critical ICT solutions for many of the economic and environmental challenges happening today and anticipated in the future. “Undoubtedly, GIS has become one of the fastest growing technologies being adopted by nimble-and quick-thinking enterprises and public services in a rapidly changing and challenging world. The beauty of GIS is that it gives a new dimension to seeing everything which has a location or address- it becomes information," said Dayrit. But not everyone realizes or is even aware of the benefits of GIS, laments Dayrit. “Education and awareness are still key, which is why we really make it an effort to come up with mediums and venues where users can learn more about the benefits of GIS". GIS technology integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all form of geographically referenced information. GIS allows users to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts. Dayrit added that GIS also open up limitless possibilities for engaging citizens in community or nation building by making these geographic information systems and data available, access and use by them. The country, Dayrit said, will benefit from providing common geographic data amongst communities in mapping country resources and forecasting the impact of climate changes, especially for disaster mitigation and response. With this conference, Dayrit is hopeful that participants will learn how users in different organizations have used GIS successfully to solve problems and improve processes in industries, organizations and communities. - GMANews.TV