Between November and next May, many hundreds of GIS users will converge on Singapore and Cape Town, South Africa, where they will attend Esri’s regional user conferences—the biggest celebration of “all things GIS” outside of the Esri International User Conference.
These events are part of a season of regional UCs that begin this month with the Latin America User Conference (LAUC) October 16–18 in Lima, Peru, and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa User Conference (EMEAUC) October 23–25 in Munich, Germany.
Like the LAUC and the EMEAUC, the Esri Asia Pacific User Conference (APUC) and Esri Africa User Conference (AUC) will combine the best of the Esri International User Conference with the best of each region. Each is loaded with Plenary Session keynote presentations, technical workshops, demonstrations, vendor exhibits, paper sessions, seminars, and gala social events.
However, the Esri regional user conferences are so much more, says Esri founder and president Jack Dangermond. “Regional UCs also provide an ideal platform where we can listen to our users and learn what they really want and need. This principle formed our foundation and is still in place today,” Dangermond says. “It has enabled us to develop GIS technology that’s truly driven by our customers.”
His message to Esri users: “Our world is evolving without consideration, and the result is energy issues, congestion in cities, and a loss of biodiversity. But geography, if used correctly, can be used to redesign sustainable and more livable cities.”
Learning to use geography correctly—more precisely, GIS—is the purpose of Esri regional UCs. So if you’re planning to attend, prepare for a total immersion experience—your hours will be filled with training sessions, seminars, and workshops led by Esri staff and world-class experts who not only will hone you to state-of-the-art GIS proficiency but also fine-tune your analytical abilities. You’ll have ample time to make new friends and contacts over lunch, networking breaks, and gala dinners.
You’ll return home with skills, tools, confidence, and connections that will help you contribute to advancing your organization in today’s technically complex, digitally oriented business world.
Esri Asia Pacific User Conference
Esri software users from across the Asia-Pacific region eagerly anticipate a skills-expanding exploration of GIS technology November 12–14 at the Asia Pacific User Conference in the Southeast Asia island city-state of Singapore. Hosted by Esri Singapore, the APUC will be held at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“The Esri APUC provides a unique opportunity for attendees to learn, collaborate, and be inspired by the latest advancements in GIS technology,” says Leslie Wong, managing director of Esri South Asia Pte. Ltd., which includes offices in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. “APUC 2013 will be an exciting event for many of us as we focus on how GIS is playing a pivotal role in a variety of industries across the Asia-Pacific region.”
The APUC will offer a packed agenda, ensuring conference delegates a wide selection of events, including training, plenary sessions, technical workshops, seminars, a GIS Solutions EXPO, luncheons, networking breaks, and opportunities to collaborate and share their best work with colleagues.
“Attendees will notice a strong focus on 3D GIS, real-time GIS, and geodesign—as speakers aim to share Esri’s vision for the future and the direction GIS technology is heading,” Wong says. “Apart from having a chance to hear from local and international specialists, APUC offers the opportunity to meet more than 500 of the region’s leading GIS professionals. With GIS technology—and its scope for application—changing at such a rapid pace, the APUC offers geospatial professionals the opportunity to keep up-to-date with all the latest developments.”
Registration is still available for the event. Visit esri.com/apuc to register and view the full agenda.
Esri Africa User Conference
About 850 tech-savvy GIS users representing sub-Saharan Africa will gather in Cape Town May 6–8 for the 2014 Esri Africa User Conference. Hosted by Esri South Africa (Pty) Ltd., the AUC will be held in the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
“It will be the first-ever Esri Africa User Conference—it’s San Diego comes to Cape Town,” observes Esri South Africa spokesperson Lauren Sweidan.
“For Esri users in Africa, this is a momentous event, one not to be missed. We are working on a program that will raise the profile of GIS in Africa globally and offer capacity building within the region,” Sweidan says.
Participants at AUC, from nations such as Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana, Swaziland, Ghana, and Cameroon, will learn how to make a big difference in their organization, community, and country via several days of seminars, technical workshops, and demonstrations led by top Esri experts. They’ll be able to acquire the latest GIS skills and delve into important industry issues, returning home freshly empowered.
“We will be hosting hands-on training sessions, which are extremely popular with our local users, as well as Lightning Talks,” Sweidan says.
It is expected that approximately 30 exhibitors will be on hand from across the region and the world to put products and services on display. Attendees will have opportunities to question Esri experts and product specialists and to hear presentations from peers sharing best GIS practices.
“Attendees will have a chance to network with hundreds of users from across the continent, sharing stories, best practices, and mostly to be inspired,” says Sweidan. “One of the highlights of the conference will be the Education and Aid and Development tracks.”
Regional users are encouraged to submit abstracts of papers for consideration. The call for papers includes topics such as industries, government, resources, utilities, education, aid and development, mapping, SDI, agriculture, mining, forestry, planning, oil and gas, electricity/water/wastewater, and health.
This abundance of user-to-user communication opportunities is crucial for learning about real-life GIS experiences, best practices, and tips and will ensure a rich AUC experience.
Visit esri.com/auc for more information about this exciting new addition to the regional user conferences.
