CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Go beyond basic technology and applications and contemplate issues related to designing, managing and applying information technology – at its highest and best use – to improve our urban and regional environments. Join your colleagues, peers, thinkers and doers from around the world at URISA's 45th Annual Conference.

• Twelve pre-conference workshops
• Two important keynote presentations
• Interactive issues discussions
• Targeted professional development opportunities
• More than 200 presenters
• Vendor hospitality and user group meetings
• A packed exhibit hall
• Networking activities

Notable Sessions

Hopeworks - Young people from the Hopeworks GIS program will provide a keynote presentation at the URISA conference, demonstrating their accomplishments on Tuesday morning, August 21.
Hopeworks ‘N Camden, developed by three Camden, New Jersey churches enhances the lives of inner-city Camden youth by expanding the learning opportunities available to them, pointing the way to a future full of hope and working together to create that future. The heart of Hopeworks is technology training, provided in a safe, respectful, and celebratory atmosphere. Hopeworks youth are trained in state-of-the art computer applications: website design, GIS, computer networking and repair, and video. Visit www.hopeworks.org.

Interactive Stakeholders Issue Discussion – What are the most pressing issues you're facing in your work today? How can the multidisciplinary nature of URISA help? The conference will open with a facilitated discussion of these issues and solutions will be explored throughout the conference.

New Haven Census Use Study, 1967: Forty years ago, the New Haven Census Use Study presented its initial reports on computer mapping and address matching at the 1967 URISA conference. In this plenary session on Wednesday morning, several former CUS staffers recount their experiences with the Study and URISA, along with their thoughts on the impact of this work on GIS and society.
Distinguished participants: Dorothy Bomberger, George Farnsworth, Matt Jaro, Don Cooke, Bill Maxfield, Ron Crellin, and George Leyland

Click on the image above to read through the Census Use Study, aimed toward making complex technological advancements meaningful to public administrators. We've come a long way!

Summit on Cross-Organizational Collaboration – Conference attendees represent all areas of the spatial data community – government (international, federal, tribal, state/provincial, regional, county, city), academia, nonprofit, vendors – and there is no better venue than the URISA conference to sort out and establish collaborative relationships among the communities represented. The highlight of Thursday afternoon will be this important session.

Conference-At-A-Glance - click on each day below for specific details about presentations, speakers, and events scheduled during each day.

For a downloadable file of the program basics (the brochure that was mailed) and registration form, click here.

Sunday, August 19, 2007
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM URISA Board Meeting
1:00 – 5:00 PM Chapter Leaders Forum
1:00 – 5:00 PM Registration Opens
6:50 - 10:00 PM Optional Washington After Dark Tour

Monday, August 20, 2007
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Hours
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Pre-Conference Workshops
5:00 – 5:30 PM First-Time Attendee Orientation Meeting
5:00 – 7:30 PM Networking Reception

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Registration Hours
8:00 –10:00 AM Opening Session/Keynote Address
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Exhibit Hall Hours
10:00–10:30 AM Break in exhibit hall
10:30 AM – 12:00 Educational Sessions (breakouts)
12:00 – 2:00 PM Roundtable Luncheon
2:00 – 3:30 PM Educational Sessions (breakouts)
3:30 – 4:00 PM Break in exhibit hall
4:00 – 5:00 PM Educational Sessions (breakouts)
5:30 – 6:30 PM Speed Networking
5:30 – 7:30 PM Vendor–sponsored sessions/user group meetings
6:50 - 10:00 PM Optional Washington After Dark Tour

Wednesday, August 22, 2007
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Hours
8:00 – 10:00 AM Plenary Session
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Exhibit Hall Hours
10:00 – 10:30 AM Break in exhibit hall
10:30 AM – 12:00 Educational Sessions (breakouts)
12:00 – 1:30 PM Lunch on own and exhibits
1:30 – 3:00 PM Educational Sessions (breakouts)
3:00 – 4:00 PM Break in exhibit hall
4:00 – 5:00 PM Educational Sessions (breakouts)
6:00 – 10:00 PM Social Event - URISA Takes a Walk on the Wild Side at the National Zoo

Thursday, August 23, 2007
7:30 AM – 4:30 PM Registration Hours
8:30 - 10:00 AM Educational Sessions (breakouts) & K-12 Sessions
8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon Half-day workshop
10:30 AM - 12:00 Interactive Stakeholders Issue Discussion & K-12 Sessions
12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM Lunch on own
1:00 - 4:00 PM Your choice: URISA Summit on Cross-Organizational Collaboration, a half-day workshop or K-12 education sessions
4:00 - 5:00 PM Annual Business Meeting
6:50 - 10:00 PM Optional Washington After Dark Tour

Friday, August 24, 2007
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM Board of Directors Meeting
6:50 - 10:00 PM Optional Washington After Dark Tour

Exhibit Schedule - information about exhibits & sponsorships
Monday, August 20 – installation, 5:00-7:30 PM Networking Reception
Tuesday, August 21- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday, August 22 – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

For more information, please visit http://www.urisa.org/conferences/annual/info.