Join Old Friends, Mix with New Users, Share Real-World Experiences

10,000 Users Expected for 20th Annual Esri User Conference

The Annual Esri International User Conference, which will again be held in San Diego, California, is open to all Esri software users with current maintenance or paid registration. The conference will be held June 26–30, 2000, at the San Diego Convention Center in wonderful seaside San Diego. Esri expects nearly 10,000 attendees in 2000.

Excitement Builds

The User Conference is an annual event designed to help users do their work. During the sessions, users will show off applications ranging from involved spatial modeling to simple desktop applications. Learning, training, and growing from real-world experience are what the User Conference is all about. Users share a wealth of practical information, offer ideas for creative problem solving, and help each other achieve GIS goals. Many users—analysts and consultants, trailblazers and newcomers, students and teachers, planners and visionaries—prepare and display maps, demonstrate user applications, and present technical papers.

Phenomenal Changes

The focus this year will be on the phenomenal changes seen in the last five years in the GIS industry. New software, faster machines, and the Internet have all worked together to bring GIS to more people around the world than ever before.

The 2000 User Conference will also include all the programs and activities that have proven popular over the years—the technical workshops, Exhibit Pavilion, user paper presentations, and much more.

Preconference Seminars

More than 1,800 people are expected to attend more than 25 preconference topical seminars the weekend prior to the conference week at the Westin Hotel at Horton Plaza and the Marriott Hotel Saturday and Sunday, June 24–25, 2000. The purpose of these workshops is to provide technical training on a host of subjects. You may choose from several half-day or full-day workshops on specific areas of interest. The registration for these seminars is separate from User Conference registration and requires additional action. Sign up for one or more seminars by visiting our Web site at www.esri.com/events/uc. The registration deadline is May 5, 2000.

Conference Web Site

As the conference draws nearer, you may need to firm up your plans. Numerous materials and a wealth of information are available from the conference Web site.

You can register online for both the conference and the preconference seminars and check out the paper sessions, technical workshops, and exhibitors scheduled for the Exhibit Pavilion. The online agenda gives you the ability to plan your personal agenda prior to the conference. In addition, there are social events, special interest group (SIG) meetings, a special GIS Kids Camp with sessions for primary to high school-aged children, and much more.

More than 800 Papers

More than 800 papers will be presented by Esri's users including sessions that address more than 30 industry areas and countless applications of GIS in real-world situations. The moderated sessions and individual presentations make up one of the most comprehensive collections of GIS papers in the world. In addition, there will be more than 220 technical workshops by Esri development staff.

Esri Showcase

At the Esri Showcase, Esri staff will be on hand during conference hours to answer your technical and marketing questions, demonstrate the latest software, and provide assistance with technical support and application development issues.

GIS Solutions EXPO

The GIS Solutions EXPO will feature nearly 100 Esri Business partners who offer custom applications, commercial data sets, and consulting services to help GIS users.

More Activities

Jack Dangermond will kick off the conference with his welcome address and visions of GIS for the future, followed by important speakers, all underscoring the growing value of geographic information and GIS technology.

The Map Gallery and evening reception will feature an amazing collection of more than 800 maps created by Esri users for display during conference week. All attendees are invited to the Esri Map Gallery and reception to meet and share their work and create new friendships.

Universities and colleges will display information about their GIS degree programs in the Education Fair.

In order to showcase new forums for presenting and using maps, Esri has created a separate event called the Internet and Multimedia Exhibition. This event allows creators of Internet mapping applications and multimedia map presentations a perfect opportunity to raise the profile of these highly effective and growing mediums. For more information on how you can register to be part of the Map Gallery or Internet Multimedia Exhibition, visit our Web site at www.esri.com/events/uc.

The Exhibit Pavilion is one of the more visible components of the User Conference, a complete trade show within the conference. Attendees have the luxury of visiting nearly 200 hardware, software, consulting, and technology companies all in one place.

From Esri's perspective, the conference is an opportunity to get direct feedback from our users via personal discussions and User Conference questionnaires. While the conference will be supported by an improved online messaging system to expedite conference communication, the main intention is to be together and share values and ideas at the personal level.

The User Conference is open to all Esri software users with current maintenance or paid registration. Register today at www.esri.com/events/uc. For more information, contact User Conference information (tel.: 909-793-2853, ext. 1-1363; fax: 909-307-3128; e-mail: uc2000@esri.com).

And it's not too early to mark your calendars for the 21st Annual Esri International User Conference—July 9–13, 2001, also to be held in San Diego.

ArcNews home page