What is it?
To start, let’s look at what exactly the FME UC is and what it’s not. The user conference is exactly that, a USER conference packed with content, presentations, and sessions whose content and placement on the menu card has been driven by the users.

It’s not just another regional training event. Attendees can expect the following:

• words from Safe executives about future releases and the road ahead
• User stories and presentations from Safe software power users (no marketing here!)
• breakout presentations on specific topics of interest addressing problems and solutions that users and would-be users are facing
• Doctor’s office – pick the brains of Safe Software technologists to come up with solutions that are giving you trouble
• Posters – see for yourself how existing FME users are using the product in their workflows.
• Fun – FME Idol is planned for a bit of fun to test the skills of existing users. Solve a problem and win a cool prize!
• Pre-conference training – why not arrive a day or two early and get some training from the FME experts
• Reseller meet-ups and special training for resellers
• Schmoozing – no conference is complete with a bit of socializing. The crew from Safe has arranged an evening of fun and food at a popular local establishment – Storyeum – where attendees will learn about British Columbia while they are entertained – see http://www.storyeum.com/

It’s not simply a training session for existing users. Power users, new or potential users, technicians, programmers and executives will all find the schedule useful and should leave with a good understanding of FME.

STORYEUM is bigger than six hockey rinks combined--or approximately 104,000 sq ft, and is one of the biggest indoor attractions built in British Columbia since Expo 86

Something for everyone

• For the power user – many “experts” will be on hand to provide help and advice.
• For the New user – specialized training sessions will be offered for the 2 days prior to the user conference.
• For the exec… many presentations and sessions will focus on the users and uses of FME, providing attendees with valuable cost/benefit analysis – think of this as a chance to kick the tires so to speak!
• For the International crowd… don’t worry about feeling left out, According to Dale attendance is expected to be roughly 50/50 – that is 50% North American, 50% European.

Perhaps the most valuable part of this event (in my opinion) is hearing from existing users. Lutz and crew have secured a great lineup of power users who will share their FME experiences with attendees. Best of all the lineup covers a wide cross-section of uses so there should be something for everyone. A couple of the sessions that got my attention include:

• David Eagle from Dotted Eyes (UK) will discuss the Ordnance Survey Meridian 2 data production process
• Nadia Namini from the City of Calgary will discuss geomatics and FME from a corporate perspective.
• Jason Birch from the City of Nanaimo, BC will discuss how the city has hit a home run using  FME
• Kim Avery, ESRI will discuss what’s new in the ArcGIS Data Interoperability extension
• Yadayada… I could go on about the lineup! Other topics will focus on the Geodatabase, FME and rasters, FME for defense users, etc…

Finally, to provide you with a bit more ammo to help justify a trip to Vancouver, the following are some of the results of a Q&A I had with Dale Lutz

Glenn: This is the first user conference right? What was the driving force that encouraged you to have this event?

Lutz: Yes this is the first International User Conference. Partners and resellers in Europe (Germany, Sweden, and Austria) have all held multiple user days and they’ve been extremely popular. Coincidentally, Don Murray (that’s Dale’s business partner) is currently in Germany at a 2 day event being attended by about 100 people. A one day event was recently held in Calgary, Alberta and that was very well received.

Glenn: I can’t help but notice the emphasis on “International” in the title of the event. Do you expect much of an International presence?

Lutz: Indeed… I expect about a 50/50 split – 50% European, 50% North American.

Glenn: How will this event differ from a regional training event?

Lutz: We do offer regional training events; however, as the title indicates this is a conference. Expect user presentations and what’s nice for attendees is that they will hear different angles than just from Safe and our employees. Training sessions are being offered for 2 days prior to the conference to satisfy the demand for that component and so that people can take advantage of the time while they are here in our backyard. Recall FME is like an army knife – it offers many tools and it’s tough to please all.

Glenn: what kind of attendees/users do you expect to be there?

Lutz: Expect lots of government people as well as some from the utilities… many verticals will likely be represented in some capacity.

Glenn: Should people be existing users in order to get the most from this event?

Lutz: No. There’s going to be something for everyone. Think of this as a chance to hear from experts as well as an opportunity for kicking tires. Sessions will validate decision making. We were actually overwhelmed with the response we received from users which made it quite simple to fill the sessions with some excellent presentations and success stories.

Glenn: Is the pre-conference training popular with attendees?

Lutz: So far it looks like we’ll be expecting about 50% of the attendees to be taking part in some pre event training.

Glenn: what’s offered for resellers and are you on the hunt for resellers?

Lutz: Training will be provided to resellers in order to get them up to speed with the latest offerings. Many European partners will be taking advantage of this. Reseller meetings will take place during the week. I wouldn’t say that we’re hot for resellers but there are always some areas that we are looking for partners – in specific geographic regions and in certain industries.

A reminder. The first International FME User Conference is scheduled to take place September 21-22, 2006 in Vancouver, BC. Training is scheduled for Sept. 19-20. From yours truly – I can also tell you that September is likely one of the best months to visit Vancouver and the Pacific NW… lots of sunshine, warm weather, and the summer crowds are gone! See http://www.safe.com/company/fmeuc2006/index.php for more details about the event. Judging from my talk with Lutz, I expect the event to be strong on content and solutions, and loaded with great ideas about how any GIS user can take advantage of FME.

Dale tells me that when the company starts planning for a future user conference attendees may have a chance to come to the city during ski season! That aside, if you’ve never been to Vancouver in September you don’t know what you’re missing!

For information about what’s new in FME 2006 GB see http://www.safe.com/2006GB/index.php

2006 FME Worldwide User Conference - Vancouver, BC