All Esri software users—either experienced with or new to GIS—are invited to attend the 2008 Esri International User Conference (Esri UC), August 4�8, 2008, at the San Diego Convention Center in California. Attendees are also invited to play an intrinsic part in the largest GIS conference in the world. From paper presentations to hosting a special interest group meeting, sharing your maps, or exhibiting your solutions, the Esri UC offers numerous ways in which you can get involved and share the value of GIS.

Offering a wide scope of events and opportunities, the Esri UC is a forum for insight and inspiration.

"I've used Esri software continually since the PC ARC/INFO days, during the 1980s, and I never attended the User Conference," says Star Lakavage, from the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. "I'd always heard about the high attendance and figured there was no way I would learn anything in a crowd like that. Boy, was I surprised! Each day I went to four to six tech sessions and exhibit hall island demos and came back with 20 typed pages of notes. I was truly amazed at how well the presentations went! This conference is a great morale booster—it pumps the old blood back into your attitude about your career, something we all need from time to time."

"This conference is at the heart of Esri," says Jack Dangermond, Esri president. "It exemplifies our unique culture and our mission to meet the needs of a broad range of users. The solutions and partnerships developed at this event not only educate but motivate. Solved problems, better decisions, differences made in the way we manage our world—these outcomes are why the User Conference exists."

There's something for everyone at the Esri UC. Dedicated to sharing valuable skills for overcoming all types of challenges, this conference is a one-of-a-kind experience for anyone who has a problem to solve or an issue to address. From the Plenary Session and Jack Dangermond's compelling opening address to seeing ArcGIS 9.3 in action and hearing about the road ahead for geospatial technology, attendees will come away with ways to identify, analyze, and tackle their unique obstacles.

Diversely Designed

Catering to professionals from diverse industries and communities worldwide, the Esri UC offers attendees both breadth and depth, as well as focused gatherings and one-on-one assistance. With such a large collection of activities and sights to see, many sessions are offered twice in case a visitor can't make it the first time.

Due to their popularity, there will be more than twice the number of two-day, hands-on, preconference seminars as last year. These seminars are filled on a first-come-first-served basis, so attendees should make an effort to sign up early. From seminars and showcases to social and sports activities and concurrent conferences (the Esri Survey & Engineering GIS Summit and the Esri Education User Conference), the events offered will give users across disciplines the chance to revisit an old favorite, try something for the first time, make new industry contacts, or get together with old friends.

Something Old, Something New

Each year, the agenda is revisited to best fit the needs of users. New items and traditional highlights help create an all-encompassing event that reflects the growing and evolving GIS community.

This year, GIS Concept and Industry Focus sessions will be back by popular demand. The sessions offer a down-to-earth and insightful introduction to GIS and show how Esri technologies can be used in particular industries. Beneficial for those new to or currently managing GIS technology, these sessions also complement the conference's technical workshops and paper sessions.

There will also be a new, two-day Census Summit involving national and international organizations. The summit will focus on using GIS in different applications involving census and demographic data. Several speakers from government, as well as the private sector, will address problems and opportunities for promoting GIS use in the upcoming national census.

Events and Solutions

Attendees will also want to make time for the Exhibit Pavilion, Esri Showcase, and Map Gallery, where the latest GIS technology will be on display and key contacts will be on hand for discussion. Learn about the newest platforms, services, and data in the Exhibit Pavilion, where approximately 300 business partners will be available to provide GIS project support. Connect with Esri staff in the Esri Showcase and watch software demonstrations; participate in workshops; and bring questions about product upgrades, site licenses, training, and more.

Some of the latest updates include special displays in the Map Gallery. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is creating a display to highlight the many different applications of GIS programs in space. Additionally, the American Botanical Gardens Association, the Association of Zoo Horticulturalists, and the San Diego Zoo will be sharing a large, special display.

More Information

This annual event is for all Esri GIS users. To find out more about the Esri UC, including registration and accommodations, visit www.esri.com/uc. The deadline to register is June 13, 2008. For further information, contact Esri at 909-793-2853, extension 1-1363, or e-mail uc@esri.com.