May 4, 2007

ESRI Urges Communities to Connect Through Geography at 5th International Symposium on Digital Earth

ESRI Executives Reinforce the Need to Create a Digital Global Community to Manage Natural Resources, People, and the Environment

Redlands, California—ESRI is a Gold sponsor and featured speaker at the 5th Annual International Symposium on Digital Earth (ISDE5) conference in Berkeley, California, on the campus of the University of California, June 5–9, 2007. Bringing together individuals with a vision that any citizen of the planet, linked through the Internet, should freely access a virtual world of data and knowledge resources, this conference offers a forum for dialogue on the importance of digital information. Information includes virtual and 3D representation of the earth with scientific, natural, and cultural data that is spatially referenced and interconnected with digital knowledge archives around the planet to describe the earth, its systems, and human activities.

ESRI staff members will speak on a number of topics addressing making information available to people through geography and geographic information system (GIS) technology. ESRI presenters and topics at the conference will include

• Dr. David Maguire: "Geographic Epistemology and Empowerment," Tuesday, June 5
• Governor Jim Geringer: "Spatial Considerations in the Development of New Governance Models for Indigenous People," Thursday, June 7
• Dr. Joseph Kerski: "Remapping the Education Experience," Thursday, June 7
• Bill Davenhall: "Geospatial Medicine: Using GIS to Improve Your Health," Thursday, June 7
• Dr. David Maguire: "ArcGIS Explorer, Server, and Online," Friday, June 8

ESRI president Jack Dangermond is a strong believer in using GIS and geography to connect people, communities, and the world. "Humans need to have a greater understanding of each other," says Dangermond. "We must accept the shared sense of responsibility for what's going on throughout the planet and have the courage and will to act. Geographic science is the framework necessary for responding to these challenges. This is where GIS can fill a significant role, supporting our personal and collective efforts within organizations and society at large."

As part of this vision, ESRI is offering ArcGIS Explorer, a lightweight ArcGIS Server client that can be used free of charge to access, integrate, and use GIS services, geographic content, and other Web services. ArcGIS Explorer can be used with many GIS services including those published by ESRI's ArcIMS, ArcWeb Services, OGC WMS and other Web map services (WMS). Data from shapefiles, file geodatabases, KML, JPEG 2000, GeoTIFF, MrSID, IMG, and other image formats makes for seamless viewing of the world. ArcGIS Explorer can be seen at the ESRI booth.

The International Symposium on Digital Earth began in 1999 and is sponsored by Digital Earth. This global partnership is nurtured by the Beijing Declaration and composed of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), educators, and business and government leaders all collaborating for a better future. Offered biennially, this is the fifth conference held by the society. More than 500 attendees are expected at the conference.

ISDE5 is offering a special registration fee for NGOs of $350. This fee covers all activities for the week including the gala dinner event. To register for the conference, please visit http://www.isde5.org.

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Press Information:
Karen Richardson, ESRI
Tel.: 909-793-2853, extension 1-3491
E-mail (press only): press@esri.com
General Information: info@esri.com