CaGIS/ASPRS 2013 Specialty Conference • www.asprs.org/Conferences/San-Antonio-2013
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Welcome from the Conference Chairs
CaGIS and ASPRS would like to welcome you to San Antonio for our joint conference on
Imaging and Mapping for Disaster Management. As we planned this conference, wildfires
were again occurring in Colorado, along with devastating floods. Major recent events such
as the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma and Hurricane Sandy’s visit to New England are chang-
ing the manner in which we use geospatial information in disasters.
As mapping, GIS, and remote sensing professionals, we understand the key role that ac-
curate, current geospatial information plays in preventing, preparing for, and responding to
emergencies on all scales. The combined expertise of CaGIS and ASPRS members is critical
in supporting disaster management because it is not enough to collect outstanding data;
we must be prepared to quickly and efficiently exploit it in order to enable critical decisions.
Most importantly, we must understand the information needs of the decision makers and
coordinate geospatial data collections.
To that end, we have assembled an excellent technical program including plenary session
speakers
Rear Admiral Joseph Nimmich
, Associate Administrator for the Office of Response
and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
Dr. Bhudu Bhaduri
from
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and
Mr. Josh Campbell
from the U.S. Department of
State. In addition, we have built a dynamic program of technical, poster and special ses-
sions for this conference that are sure to spark your interest.
New this year, the technical program has been adjusted so that it makes the best possible
use of conference participants’ time. Both technical sessions and exhibit hall hours are con-
centrated over two days – Tuesday (October 29) and Wednesday (October 30) with three
presentations per 90-minute technical session, allowing more time for each presenter and
for discussion. We are looking forward to these strategic changes and hope your confer-
ence experience is enhanced and you are able to make the best use of your time with us.
Exhibit hall hours will be maximized so everyone will have ample opportunity to visit the
exhibit booths.
And last, but, certainly not least, we will have the Exhibitors’ Reception on Tuesday night
followed by a unique opportunity for late-night dancing– including lessons from a Technical
Program Chair and an ASPRS Past President!
This week, we encourage you to take advantage of the many networking opportunities
available, to explore the conference exhibit hall where state-of-the-art innovations are be-
ing presented and don’t forget the opportunity to have some fun deep in the heart of Texas!
We are glad you are here!
Kari Craun
Michael E. Hodgson
CaGIS Technical Program Co-Chair
ASPRS Technical Program Co-Chair
