AGI publishes AGI GeoCommunity '12 delegate feedback report

Following a questionnaire polling delegates who attended AGI GeoCommunity '12 the AGI has published a report which summarises the key findings.

Of the feedback forms returned, 96.5% of delegates thought the conference provided value for money and 94.7% felt that the conference fulfilled their expectations. Over 60% felt that the accommodation was good, given that this kept the overall cost down, and over 80% were happy with the food. Pleasingly, 96.5% stated their desire to return again next year.

Of the reasons for attending, ‘professional and social networking’ was rated as the main reason closely followed by ‘access to new ideas, methods and technology’.

To read the full report, please click HERE.

We are already working on next year’s conference. You can expect us to build upon all of the successful aspects for this year’s conference and to introduce some exciting new ideas. So put the dates, 16-18 September into your diaries now. And keep your eyes on the AGI website to see details as they unfold.

Conference presentations can be found here.

Conference papers can be found here.

The AGI hopes to see you and all your colleagues next year at AGI GeoCommunity '13!

Changes to the AGI Bank Account

We have been informed by our bankers, Lloyds TSB, that our branch is being closed on Monday 13th November 2012. Subsequently we have been moved to another branch and therefore our bank details have changed.

We would like to apologise for the short notice, but we have only just been informed ourselves.

An email has been sent to all main contacts for corporate memberships, however, if you have not received the email or are an individual who pays via bank transfer, please contact Maureen Nessling.

Exciting new format for AGI events programme!

2013 is going to see a new and exciting format for the AGI events programme, designed to improve and widen the content.

We will be delivering six focused showcase events around the UK. It’s a showcase because it will contain multiple streams, a bit like mini AGI GeoCommunity Conferences!

This new approach is in response to the feedback from members for more regional and varied content which reflects the current ‘hot topics’ in GI.

The programme of events will be:

• 27th February – Glasgow
• 21st March – Bristol 
• June – North (location TBC)  
• October – Belfast
• November - London
• 3rd December – Cardiff

At each of these events we will have multiple streams of presentations throughout the day and it will be a great opportunity to showcase current and topical content.  Each event will give you 4 CPD points.

Delegate costs for members to attend will be £49+VAT per event, this is a £20 reduction on past year’s events.

If you would like to submit a paper for any (or all) of these events, please click here. The papers will be selected one month before each event and as a speaker you will get free entry to the event.

Sponsorship packages are available for these events.  Each sponsor will receive a stand area with a table and chairs, there will be space to have a 3m pop up banner plus logos on event material and the website.  The cost for a Corporate member to exhibit at one event will be £500+VAT; 3 events £1200+VAT and 6 events £2000+VAT. For Small Business, Education, Health, Central Government and Local Government bodies the cost will be £350+VAT for 1 event; £900+VAT for 3 events and £1500+VAT for 6 events.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are available, for example, lunch or refreshment sponsorship.  For more information and to book your place, please email Claire Huppertz.

In addition to these events, we will also have regular evening networking events and Geodrinks during the year around the country and site visits as normal.  AGI GeoCommunity ’13 will be taking place in Nottingham between the 16 th-18 th September.

We have not booked venues yet in the North, Belfast or London.  If you have a venue that we can use, please email Claire Huppertz.

Any questions or suggestions you may have, please do let us know.

Claire Huppertz
Events Manager

AGI Council Elections for the year 2013

An election is being held to fill six (6) seats on AGI Council that will become vacant at the end of 2012.

To vote you must be a paid-up, current member of the AGI. You will need to enter your name and membership number for verification purposes when voting. If you have lost your membership number please contact AGI on 020 7347 5640 or email info@agi.org.uk.

Eight (8) candidates have been nominated. Because the number of nominations received has exceeded the number of places available, an election will now be held from Monday 5th November and Noon on Friday 16th November 2012.

The eight (8) candidates are listed below:

1) NICK AUSTIN, Independent, (Prop: S. Feldman; Sec: S. Eglinton)

2) EMMA BEE, British Geological Survey (Prop: J. Marshall; Sec: R. Home)

3) MIKE COOPER, Leica Geosystems (Prop: A. Baker; Sec: A. Coote)

4) CHRIS HOLCROFT, Royal Meteorological Society (Prop: D. Henderson; Sec: A. Trigg)

5) ABIGAIL PAGE, Central Scotland Forest Trust (Prop: A. Coote; Sec: H. Barron)

6) JAMES REID, EDINA, University of Edinburgh (Prop: H. Barron; Sec: A. Ramage)

7) ANGHARAD STONE, Environment Agency (Prop: J. Marshall; Sec: D. Henderson)

8) GRAHAM WALLACE, Esri UK Ltd (Prop: A. Baker; Sec: S. Bonthrine)

Prop = Proposer
Sec = Seconder

The Personal Election Statements of the candidates are available HERE.

THE VOTING METHODS

1) BY POST: The POSTAL BALLOT form is available HERE. Simply print out, fill in and return by post.

2) ELECTRONICALLY: To vote online electronically the link is HERE.

The AGI Team will be carefully checking all votes received to ensure that they are valid, unspoiled and are not duplicated.

Please take the time to vote in the AGI Council Election. This has been made easier than ever for the convenience of AGI members and gives you the chance to select those candidates who you think can best serve and help shape the AGI.

Peter Capell, AGI CEO

Open Data Group publish The Case for an Open National Address Dataset and Response to PAF Advisory Board Consultation

Open Data Group publish The Case for an Open National Address Dataset and  Response to PAF Advisory Board Consultation

The Open Data User Group, ODUG, has published on 1 November the following documents:

The Case for an Open National Address Dataset :

Main document
Annexes to the main document
ODUG Press Release

Response to PAF Advisory Board Consultation

Main document

These documents will be of particular interest to AGI members, given the fundamental importance of address data to spatial data analysis. ODUG, whose membership includes two AGI council members - Robert Barr and Gesche Schmid, have provided email addresses for anyone who wishes to respond to either document to be able to do so. These are:

addressing@odug.co.uk

and

pafconsultation@odug.co.uk

AGI members are of course free to respond directly to ODUG but if members wish to respond to the AGI we will collate these into an overall AGI response which reflects the range of views received. Please send comments to peter.capell@agi.org.uk.