The first annual GEO Huntsville Conference has issued a call for presentations inviting geospatial professionals and students to share their efforts illustrating how geographic information system (GIS) technology is being used in their industry or research. The event will attract local businesses as well as professionals who utilize digital mapping technology and GIS for applications such as environmental protection, economic development, urban planning and critical infrastructure management.

GEO Huntsville is one of Mayor Tommy Battle’s three economic development initiatives. The conference serves to bring together the more than 50 companies, 20 government agencies and three local universities that develop geospatial technology expertise. In addition, the two other mayoral initiatives, Cyber Huntsville and Energy Huntsville, will participate in plenary sessions demonstrating the synergy among the three programs.

"I hope you will consider supporting the conference. I will be there to work with these organizations to improve our understanding of how Huntsville can continue to provide even greater economic opportunities for our citizens and encourage more companies to recognize Huntsville as a great place to do business," said Mayor Battle.

"This conference is a great opportunity to share ideas and connect with others in the region, for major corporations as well as small to medium-sized companies that perhaps had not previously gathered in the same room," said Joe Francica, conference chairman and lead for GEO Huntsville.

The conference will be held November 8 and 9, 2012 in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.  This conference will feature an array of user case studies, technical sessions and vendor presentations through a series of organized tracks.

The conference looks to develop a program featuring these main topic areas:

• Energy, utilities and infrastructure planning
• Cybersecurity and location intelligence
• LiDAR – Data capture and exploitation
• Remote Sensing – Image analysis and processing
• Cloud Computing – Geoprocessing in new platform as a service environments
• Crisis Mapping – Health and human safety during natural and terrorist disasters
• Defense and intelligence applications (GEOINT)
• Mobile location services
• Public safety and law enforcement
• Transportation

All presentation abstracts should be submitted before September 30.

Registration and information
The conference organizers encourage early registration, which will cost only $195. The cost for students is $75. More information about speaking at or sponsoring the conference can be found at the conference website Www.GEOHuntsville.com.

About GEO Huntsville
GEO Huntsville is a collaborative effort among businesses, academic and government entities in the Huntsville region to support workforce growth and economic development. It is one of three initiatives supported by Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.
 
About Directions Media
The conference is produced and managed by Directions Media, the global leader in collectively covering all aspects of location technology: geographic information systems (GIS), location intelligence, digital mapping and location-based services (LBS).  Directions Media, with offices in Huntsville, Alabama and Glencoe, Illinois, encompasses four media properties: Directions Magazine, and All Points Blog, as well as the Location Intelligence and GEO Huntsville annual conferences. More information can be found at www.DirectionsMedia.net.