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 invite you to San Antonio for our joint conference on Imaging
and Mapping for Disaster Management. As we write this letter, wildfires are again occurring
in Colorado. Major recent events such as the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma and Hurricane
Sandy’s visit to New England are changing the manner in which we use geospatial informa-
tion in disasters. As mapping, GIS, and remote sensing professionals, we understand the
key role that accurate, 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 en-
able critical decisions. Most importantly, we must understand the information needs of the
decision makers and coordinate geospatial data collections to meet those needs.
To that end, we have assembled an excellent technical program including plenary session
speakers Rear Admiral Joseph Nimmich, Federal Emergency Management Agency; Dr.
Bhudu Bhaduri, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and Mr. Josh Campbell, U.S. Department
of State. We also have special sessions planned on the Hurricane Sandy response and post-
event data collection and processing; crowdsourcing as part of disaster response; and
unmanned aerial systems.
We have adjusted the technical program so that it makes the best possible use of confer-
ence participants’ time. ASPRS workshops will be offered on Sunday afternoon and Mon-
day, prior to the start of the conference. Then, we will concentrate both technical sessions
and exhibit hall hours over two days – Tuesday (October 29) and Wednesday (October 30).
We also plan to have three presentations for many of the 90-minute technical sessions,
allowing more time for each presenter and for discussion. Exhibit hall hours will be maxi-
mized so everyone will have ample opportunity to visit the exhibit booths.
And last, but, certainly not least, we will have the Exhibitor’s Reception on Tuesday night
followed by an opportunity for late-night dancing near the Riverwalk – including lessons
from at least one of the Technical Program Chairs and an ASPRS Past President!
We are looking forward to seeing all of you in San Antonio for some very important work
and an opportunity to have some fun deep in the heart of Texas!
Kari Craun
Michael E. Hodgson
CaGIS Technical Program Co-Chair
ASPRS Technical Program Co-Chair
