Meeting to take place in conjunction with 2005 Annual Geospatial Information and Technology Association Conference on May 10, 2005 in Denver, CO

(Denver, CO) – March 10, 2005 – A new Oracle North American Spatial Special Interest Group (SIG) is hosting its first formal meeting on March 10, 2005 in Denver, CO in conjunction with the 2005 Annual Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA) Conference.  The SIG was formed to provide a forum for geospatial professionals to share best practices and meet with Oracle Spatial experts.  Key benefits for SIG members will include the rich interaction between end users, technology partners, service providers and academic professionals.  Members plan to collaborate to drive the market for geospatial technology and data in the enterprise wide applications. 

Oracle Spatial is designed specifically for geographic data storage, analysis and retrieval.  With the latest release, Oracle 10g, it has expanded into management and processing of topologically structured data, logical networks, and Georaster data types.

The meeting will officially launch the new Oracle Spatial SIG with an introduction of the Board of Directors and review of the initial organizational charter.  New members will comment on the goals of the SIG and set the course forward for the organization, including future meetings and plans.

The Oracle Spatial SIG Board of Directors is chaired by Robert Denaro, Vice President and General Manager, Business Solutions and Government business unit for NAVTEQ and Vice Chaired by Robin Parrish, Vice President of Business Development of eSpatial Inc.  There are also six additional Board members representing key players in the spatial industry including David Sonnen, President of Integrated Spatial Solutions, Inc., and Senior Consultant for Spatial Information Management to IDC, and key leaders from  geospatial technology organizations Autodesk, Titan Corporation and the University of Arkansas.

“Spatially enabling the enterprise has been a major theme of geospatial technology conferences for several years.  Oracle Spatial should play a major role in this important industry evolution.  The Oracle Spatial SIG will be a major force in realizing this vision and bringing together the best spatial minds in North America to exchange best practices, customer insight and product development needs,” said Bob Denaro, SIG Chairman.

Several additional meetings of the SIG – both national and regional - will be scheduled in 2005.  For more information about the North American Oracle Spatial SIG and to stay abreast of future meetings, visit the Oracle Spatial section of http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/spatial/index.html