Surveying, Mapping and GIS

The Pennsylvania GIS Conference will convene for the16th year on May 14-15, 2008 at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center in Camp Hill, PA. This year’s theme is “Sustaining and Leveraging Our Geospatial Investment.” Geospatial technology moves ahead, offering us more and more methods and tools for geospatial analysis and information management. Our geospatial assets continue to grow as local governments and private industry invest in data, people, and services. And the Commonwealth continues to build the framework of a Spatial Data Infrastructure through programs like PAMAP. The 2008 PA GIS Conference will explore the challengesand benefits of these continuing trends. David Harding from NASA will offer the keynote speech this year. He will present a fascinating look into NASA’s innovative uses of LiDAR technology.

This year at the PA GIS Conference the PAMAP Program will present its first annual Innovative Application Award to the two GIS applications that make the most creative use of PAMAP orthoimagery and/or LiDAR data. The competition is open to any individual or organization– commercial or non-profit. Application submissions are due by March 29, 2008. Winners will be announced in mid-April and will be presented at the conference. Consider entering your PAMAP applications and becomethe first recipient of the PAMAP Innovative Application Award!

Also this year, Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) will be conducting a map display gallery and competition in the main plenary hall. HACC’s Geospatial Programs Director and conference committee member, Nicole Ernst,will be organizing the event. Students and other GIS professionals are encouraged to make entries. Nicole is also reviving the Education Track at this year’s conference and will be showcasing a number of creative student GIS applications.