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Speakers Demonstrate the Many Uses of GIS at Czech Esri User Conference

A large crowd gathered November 13-14, 2013, in the Prague Congress Centre to hear speakers talk about the many uses of geospatial technology.
A large crowd gathered November 13-14, 2013, in the Prague Congress Centre to hear speakers talk about the many uses of geospatial technology.

Leading Czech political scientist Tomas Lebeda showed how Esri ArcGIS helped him spatially analyze how people voted in the recent legislative elections in his country when he took the stage at the Czech Esri User Conference in November 2013.

Lebeda spoke to more than 800 people at the meeting in Prague, demonstrating how he used the Hot Spot Analysis tool to compare and contrast the 2013 election results with those from the 2010 election. (In 2013, the left-leaning parties made gains compared to 2010, when the right-leaning parties gained seats in the Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies.)

Lebeda used other Esri software and tools for the project, including ArcGIS 3D Analyst’s ArcScene, the Export To Web 3D Scene tool, and the CityEngine Web Scene Viewer in Mozilla Firefox.

A rapt audience listens to a speaker at the Czech Esri User Conference.
A rapt audience listens to a speaker at the Czech Esri User Conference.

“We really appreciate that Mr. Lebeda accepted our invitation,” said Petr Seidl, general manager of ARCDATA PRAHA, s.r.o., the official Esri distributor that hosted the conference. “The connection between social sciences and geography is essential. With the help of maps, social sciences gain a new dimension.”

Although the Czech Republic is a small European country, geospatial science is quite popular and advanced there. The event marked the 22nd year for the conference, which regularly attracts nearly 1,000 GIS professionals.

People attended a variety of presentations, technical workshops, demonstrations, and seminars. Bern Szukalski, an Esri technical evangelist and product manager based in Redlands, California, USA, spoke to the crowd about web GIS, ArcGIS Online, and current trends in GIS technology.

Technology evangelist Bern Szukalski from Esri headquarters in Redlands, California, brings his message about web GIS to Prague.
Technology evangelist Bern Szukalski from Esri headquarters in Redlands, California, brings his message about web GIS to Prague.

“Web GIS can integrate all types of data, making web maps a new medium to reach an ever-expanding audience of fellow professionals, decision makers, and the public,” Szukalski said. “ArcGIS is being transformed by the cloud, making GIS easier, always available, and more social. We’re moving rapidly from simple web mapping to being able to access full GIS capabilities via the cloud—moving quickly toward a true web GIS.”

The CEZ Group, the largest utility provider in central Europe, with seven million customers in the Czech Republic, Romania, and Bulgaria, is currently implementing GIS as a core enterprise system.

During the conference, CEZ Distribution Services, a member of the CEZ Group, gave a presentation about its mobile GIS implementation based on ArcGIS 10 for Windows Mobile. The application helps crews orient themselves in the field and find the correct electric meters they need to locate. This mobile solution reduces the need to produce paper maps that constantly had to be updated and reprinted, saving money and time.

Szukalski talked about how web GIS will make web maps a new medium in which to communicate with colleagues, decision makers, and the public.
Szukalski talked about how web GIS will make web maps a new medium in which to communicate with colleagues, decision makers, and the public.

Other News from the Conference

Attendees compare data about cities using the Urban Observatory.
Attendees compare data about cities using the Urban Observatory.
The Map Gallery was a popular exhibit.
The Map Gallery was a popular exhibit.