NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
March 27, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 119
For more information, contact Deborah Sullivan, GIS Coordinator, 302-739-9021, or Joanna C. Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Delaware’s Annual GIS Conference to Be Held April 23 in Dover
Registration is now open for Delaware’s annual geographic information system conference, “Delaware GIS 2008: A Spatial Network,” which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 23 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Dover. Registration and continental breakfast will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
The conference will feature opening keynote speaker Mark Cleverly of IBM and closing capstone speaker Joseph Kerski of GIS software maker ESRI. Between the two speakers is a full agenda of presentations and discussions on the use of GIS and geospatial data in all aspects of government, education, business and society.
Mr. Cleverly specializes in the emerging strategic business and technology needs of government organizations and will speak about the potentials, challenges and best practices in the evolving use of new technologies. Mr. Kerski, who has created geo-enabled curriculum materials as well as written widely and given workshops, will share his message on transforming teaching through the use of geotechnologies.
GIS is a computer-based mapping tool that takes information from a database about a location, such as streets, buildings, water features, and terrain, and turns it into visual layers. The ability to see geographic features on a map gives users a better understanding of a particular location, enabling planners, analysts, and others to make informed decisions about their communities.
GIS is used daily throughout the world to solve problems related to the environment, health care, land use, business efficiency, education and public safety. The power supply directed to homes, the patrol cars and fire trucks that keep neighborhoods safe, and the delivery trucks on the road all function more efficiently because of GIS. This technology can also help businesses place ATMs and restaurants at more convenient locations, allow people to pull maps off the Internet, and help farmers grow more crops with less chemicals.
In addition to the full-day conference, pre-conference technical workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 at the Sheraton. A post-conference activity, “Pirate Geo-caching at Blackbird Creek Reserve,” will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 24 at the Reserve near Smyrna.
To register or for more information on Delaware GIS 2008: A Spatial Network, please visit www.degis.org.
