By Aly Lawson, Esri Writer
Investing in GIS often means more than buying the software; it also involves attending events such as the 2010 Esri California/Hawaii/Nevada Regional User Group (CA/HI/NV RUG) Conference.
And with Esri's new Conference Center in Redlands, California, as the venue, attendees will be afforded the opportunity to meet with more Esri experts and take advantage of more GIS resources than in years past.
The regional conference, which will be held February 3-4, serves as a forum for Esri technology users from California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands to learn how they can best apply GIS in their work or field of study. The event encourages information sharing among GIS users, Esri staff, and business partners.
The Plenary Session will take place in the Center's new, state-of-the-art amphitheater. Esri president Jack Dangermond will speak to the group about how planners, engineers, scientists, and other professionals can incorporate GIS into planning processes and scientific studies to design a better future for the world.
After the plenary, attendees will take part in sessions and activities geared toward helping them launch and maintain successful GIS projects.
"New to this year's conference is our Hands-On Learning Lab," said Esri's Crystal Dorn, a member of the California regional office's technical staff. "This is where users can solidify what they learn in the technical sessions, having ample opportunity to be hands on with Esri software. Participants can follow tutorials or be self-directed."
Conference participants will also share success stories by presenting papers on how they have adopted geospatial technology, discussing lessons learned, insights, and ideas.
"It was useful to have user presentations that focused on work similar to my own," said Emilio J. Solano, chief cadastral engineer of mapping and GIS services for the Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor. "And the quality of the technical workshops was similar to those at the Esri International User Conference, without the big crowds," he said about last year's regional conference.
Attendees will also get a special sneak peek at the ArcGIS 9.4 beta version and will be able to go to the ArcGIS Desktop Tips and Tricks workshop, a crowd favorite in past years.
The conference will be a great way to learn best practices for working with ArcGIS Server Web APIs and creating fast Web maps, as well as strategies for collaborating and sharing using ArcGIS Online.
Esri technical support analysts and team leaders skilled in different specialties will be on hand to meet with users who need help with technical questions, want insight on using the software, or would like to give feedback. Specific appointment times will also be available.
Participants can also attend presentations on infrastructure, development and planning, public safety, and land administration; meet with business partners in the GIS Solutions EXPO; and attend a roundtable discussion. This discussion will bring together industry leaders to talk about using GIS across sectors for planning, mobility, data management, situational awareness, and more.
For additional information about the conference and to register, visit www.esri.com/cahinvrug.
