Privacy Issues, E-commerce, and Internet GIS Are Hot Topics This Year

URISA Conference Headed to Orlando

As the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) prepares for its 37th Annual Educational Conference, Zorica Nedovic–Budic, conference chair and professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana, reflects on Florida as the site for the event. "In Florida, technology has cautiously—and wisely—been used to address issues related to settling and living in such an ecologically fragile region, with frequent tropical storms adding to its unpredictability," he says. "This area presents its public managers and planners with a continuous challenge to strike a fine balance between natural and human environments and keep both healthy and prosperous.

"There is much to learn during this conference from local, national, and international information technology managers and technicians. It is an ideal time to connect with colleagues, learn from them, and reflect upon the state of our technologies and the quality of life that they support," continues Nedovic–Budic.

From formal and well-structured workshops and educational sessions, to informal seminars, roundtables, poster displays, and social events, the conference provides a unique mix of technical and information systems areas with application and management topics.

Each day of the conference will begin with a phenomenal keynote address. Jack Pellici, vice president of Global Industries for Oracle Corporation will speak on "E-government and the Role of Spatial Information." Peter Harkness, Editor & Publisher of Governing magazine, will combine his years of covering the government with "The Walls Come Tumbling Down: Ten Ways Government Must Change in the New Economy." And John Landis, renowned educator from University of California–Berkeley, will share his thoughts on urban development policy.

Other highlights of the conference include URISA's certified workshops, known around the world for their intensive GIS education; educational sessions; luncheon seminars; technical tours of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which uses GIS to support development and infrastructure within the Walt Disney World resort; and more.

Complementing the educational presentations and invaluable discussions at URISA 2000 is the opportunity to find solutions to your IT and GIS needs in the exhibition. See what's new, collect information to make wise purchasing decisions, compare products and services, participate in hands-on demonstrations, and get answers to your questions.

Join URISA in Orlando and make connections with your peers, colleagues, and the movers and shakers in state and local government technology. You'll be glad you did! For more information about URISA membership or the conference, call URISA at 847-824-6300, send e-mail to info@urisa.org, or visit www.urisa.org on the Web.

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