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ESRI MEA forum in Abu Dhabi to discuss future of geospatial technology

Abu Dhabi is gearing up for the latest edition of the Esri Middle East and Africa User Conference (MEAUC) taking place from December 10 to 12, 2012 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Abu Dhabi is gearing up for the latest edition of the Esri Middle East and Africa User Conference (MEAUC) taking place from December 10 to 12, 2012 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The MEA region’s biggest GIS event will be held under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Government and is being co-organised by the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC), the emirate’s information and communications technology (ICT) authority.

Geographic information systems (GIS) have emerged as one of the most potent development and planning tools for modern governance.

The conference will be a platform for showcasing Abu Dhabi’s advanced geospatial capabilities and experiences and how its spatial data infrastructure is using geospatial technology to modernise government services. ADSIC has been helping mould Abu Dhabi into one of the world’s top governments via strategic geospatial initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Spatial Data Infrastructure (AD-SDI), a unique programme that shares spatial information among various government and private stakeholders.

ADSIC recently conducted a workshop to inform AD-SDI stakeholders and other important parties about the significance of the upcoming conference and prepare them for the full event agenda. During the workshop, participants also joined the world in celebrating GIS Day – commemorated on November 14 of each year. The AD-SDI community is expected to play a huge role in the Esri forum’s success.

Abu Dhabi will also be celebrating the 5th anniversary of AD-SDI during the conference, in the presence of the prominent figures from Abu Dhabi’s government, business and educational sectors and the various beneficiaries of spatial services that will be attending the event.

“Abu Dhabi takes great pride in its successful efforts to integrate strategic geospatial technologies into its development plans over the past five years. The upcoming Esri MEA User Conference provides an ideal platform for the emirate to take stock of the latest GIS technologies and expertise while showcasing its achievements in the field and unveiling its ambitious goals moving forward. We will have an Abu Dhabi Pavilion onsite that will reveal the best-of-breed GIS applications used by 56 member entities of the AD-SDI Community. More importantly, the event will strengthen our partnership with Esri and thus provide us with access to the best geospatial solutions in the market to support the growth of Abu Dhabi’s Spatial Data Infrastructure,” said H.E. Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director General, Abu Dhabi Systems & Information Centre.

Geographic information systems (GIS) have emerged as one of the most potent development and planning tools for modern governance. Esri has been a driving force in enabling governments and companies to gain a deeper understanding of their surrounding geography and its impact on business and society. Its upcoming MEA conference will cast the spotlight on geospatial work and relevant opportunities around the MEA region and how Esri’s expertise can help bolster the local and regional geospatial domains.

More than 1,500 participants from around the region will be hosted by the conference. Attendees will include users of GIS software, GIS experts, decision makers and business owners. Esri users will share interesting and unique stories on GIS implementation and the potential of geospatial technologies to take business and governance to the next level. More event information is available at http://www.esri.com/events/meauc/index.html .