Epsom, Surrey, 21^st May, 2013

MapAction sends teams to natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and works in complex humanitarian emergencies such as the refugee crisis unfolding in Syria today. Volunteers tend to have expertise in GIS, GPS and other geospatial technologies. Teams trained in disaster response assist NGOs, the UN and other agencies in their planning and decision making by assemblying data from disparate sources and providing a vital mapping resource. 

For the Hackathon, the MapAction team had compiled a list of problems and ideas drawn from their experience in the field. The participants on the day were free to pick those which interested them, leading to a wide range of different approaches. 

Three of the highlights include developing a tool to help display population movement on a map. In a situation like the current Syrian conflict it is important be able to visualise the complex migration of the affected population. Think maps with multiple large sweeping arrows! Updating this regularly as the situation changes on the ground has proved a cartographic challenge. Two separate solutions where created for this using both proprietary and open source tools. 

The second, affectionately called the ‘Dirty Data Dashboard’ was a training objective. This sought to create a tool that could take some good quality data, such as might be available in the UK and jumble it up so that it would be more like the data that the field teams might encounter in the real world. 

The third objective focused on metadata, vital when rapidly assembling disparate datasets for map use. This focused on tweaking an existing Python script to enable the non-technical to produce clean readable (XML) text. 

“It was hugely gratifying to have so many people come to use their talents and enthusiasm to help us with tasks that sometimes get hidden in the background of our work," said Andy Smith (Technical Project Leader) from MapAction. "It’s great that we’ve already been able to pass on the work on population movement to our team working on the Syria Crisis and the Dirty Data Dashboard will get its first real test later this month at our largest annual disaster scenario training exercise. We are very grateful to everyone who turned up and contributed and to Astun Technology and AGI for making the day possible.” 

“We had a pretty good turnout on the day with over 35 of us including some members of the Astun development team and three of our customers,” said Mike Saunt Managing Director of Astun Technology. "It’s terrific when people volunteer and come together to do something for the greater good and very much in the spirit of Open Source which underpins all our work. It was a very enjoyable day and I am sure we will do it again. MapAction is a fantastic organisation." 

+44 (0) 1372 744 009

www.astuntechnology.com

For editorial enquiries and further information please contact:

William Allbrook: +44 (0) 1666826641

E-mail: williamallbrook@astuntechnology.com

MapAction

http://www.mapaction.org

The publication of AGI member press releases is a member service. The AGI neither approves or endorses the contents of member's press releases, nor makes any assurance of their factual accuracy.

16th - 18th September 2013: East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham

The AGI is extremely pleased to announce the first plenary speakers for AGI GeoCommunity '13.

Major Stuart Batey and Colonel John Kedar, 135 Geographic Squadron

135 Geographic Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteers) is the only Unit in the Territorial Army (TA) to provide geospatial support to Defence. The Unit is equipped and trained by the Joint Force Intelligence Group (JFIG) and reinforces their Regular Army counterparts 42 Engineer Regiment (Geo).

Major Stuart Batey is the Officer Commanding 135 Geo Sqn Royal Engineers (Volunteers) – he is a Regular Army Officer with 30 years experience of Geographic support. Stuart started his career as a soldier and was promoted through the ranks, gaining an Open University BSc in Geography along the way. He has served in UK, Europe, Bosnia and Afghanistan and has a passion for maps and mountains – he has led numerous mountaineering expeditions throughout his career to the Himalayas, Peru, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and is a Fellow of the RGS.

Colonel John Kedar has served in the British Army for 30 years. Whilst he has held a range of appointments, he has spent many years within the Royal Engineer (Geospatial) community. Indeed he states that leadership of the Army’s military geospatial community from 2007 to 2010 was undoubtedly the highlight of his career. He served on operations in Belize, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, and on route has amassed much knowledge on the value of geospatial support to the delivery of operational success.

The conference programme is published HERE.

AGI GeoCommunity is the largest and most comprehensive independent conference in the UK digital mapping and data calendar. The conference provides tangible insight and leadership in current geographic information and location based issues via a range of keynote addresses and conference papers, a showcase exhibition, as well as by hands on training and face to face delegate networking. The event is already a 'must attend' for decision makers, practitioners and thought leaders from all aspects of the public and private sectors.

AGI GeoCommunity '13 will open on Monday the 16th September with the popular pre-conference 'Icebreaker' evening event and offer two full days of thought leadership, practical education, knowledge transfer and real world best practice and case studies.

AGI GeoCommunity '13 will also offer a select number of sponsorship spaces to showcase new products and services and network with delegates both at the sponsors' exhibition pods and in the conference sessions and social events. Companies that are AGI members can get additional booking discounts. The conference format will offer our sponsors an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with the key practitioners and influencers across government and the commercial sectors.

Sponsors

To register as a delegate and to see costs for AGI GeoCommunity '13, click HERE.

To register as a sponsor and to see costs and benefits for AGI GeoCommunity '13, click HERE.

Following on from the AGI GeoCommunity '13 conference, the FOSS4G 2013 conference will run from the 17 th to the 21 st September in the same venue. As a delegate at AGI GeoCommunity '13 you are able to receive a 10% discount when booking to attend FOSS4G 2013. Please contact Claire Gilmour for the discount code. 

Yours Sincerely

Claire Gilmour
AGI Events Manager

16th - 18th September 2013: East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham

The AGI GeoCommunity '13 conference committee gathered for 2 days on the 25 and 26 April in order to agree and assemble this year's conference programme.

We have ten streams running over the two days:

• BIM & 3D
• Business Innovation
• Cartography
• Case Studies
• Infrastructure
• Managing Data
• Open Data
• Open Source
• Policy in Practice
• New Technology

The conference programme is published HERE.

Book now to secure YOUR Early Bird savings HERE.

The AGI wishes to thank everyone who submitted paper abstracts for consideration.

AGI GeoCommunity is the largest and most comprehensive independent conference in the UK digital mapping and data calendar. The conference provides tangible insight and leadership in current geographic information and location based issues via a range of keynote addresses and conference papers, a showcase exhibition, as well as by hands on training and face to face delegate networking. The event is already a 'must attend' for decision makers, practitioners and thought leaders from all aspects of the public and private sectors.

AGI GeoCommunity '13 will open on Monday the 16th September with the popular pre-conference 'Icebreaker' evening event and offer two full days of thought leadership, practical education, knowledge transfer and real world best practice and case studies.

AGI GeoCommunity '13 will also offer a select number of sponsorship spaces to showcase new products and services and network with delegates both at the sponsors' exhibition pods and in the conference sessions and social events. Companies that are AGI members can get additional booking discounts. The conference format will offer our sponsors an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with the key practitioners and influencers across government and the commercial sectors.

Sponsors

To register as a delegate and to see costs for AGI GeoCommunity '13, click HERE.

To register as a sponsor and to see costs and benefits for AGI GeoCommunity '13, click HERE.

Following on from the AGI GeoCommunity '13 conference, the FOSS4G 2013 conference will run from the 17 th to the 21 st September in the same venue. As a delegate at AGI GeoCommunity '13 you are able to receive a 10% discount when booking to attend FOSS4G 2013. Please contact Claire Gilmour for the discount code. 

Yours Sincerely

Claire Gilmour
AGI Events Manager

• for Presentations: 12th April, and
• for Maps: May 31st (details to be announced!)

Also of note is the end of the Early Bird Registration: 31st May

Every year, AGI judges and presents a set of industry awards. This is just one of the ways in which AGI encourages best practice, innovation and maximum use of geographic information. It is also a great way for our members to get actively involved and be recognised for their efforts and achievements.

Each Award is announced and presented at the Annual Awards Ceremony, which takes place this year on Friday 6th December 2013. The award categories ensure a spread of entries from across central and local government, the private sector, research and education.

Awards are presented in the following categories:
- Innovation & Best Practice (Central Government)
- Innovation & Best Practice (Local Public Services) - Sponsored by Ordnance Survey
- Innovation & Best Practice (Private Sector) - Sponsored by GiStandards Ltd
- Innovation and Best Practice (Business Case & ROI) - Sponsored by ConsultingWhere Ltd
- Innovation and Best Practice (Charitable Status) - Sponsored by Scisys
- AGI Student of the Year
- Best Paper from the AGI Conference chosen by the Conference Committee
- Best Paper from the AGI Scotland Showcase Event
- Best Paper from the AGI South West Showcase Event
- Best Paper from the AGI London Showcase Event
- Best Paper from the AGI Northern Ireland Showcase Event
- Best Paper from the AGI North Showcase Event
- Best Paper from the AGI Cymru Showcase Event
- Past Chair's Award
- AGI Volunteer of the Year

Venue
AGI
1 Kensington Gore
London
SW7 2AR

To register for the event, click here.

Sponsors
AGI would like to thank the following award sponsors:

The cost to sponsor an award is £400+VAT. Please contact Claire Gilmour for more information

For more information about the awards, click here.

For more information about the awards ceremony, click here.

16th - 18th September 2013: East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham

The period for submission of papers for the AGI GeoCommunity '13 conference is now open. We encourage all of our members, and indeed non-members, to submit a paper on an area of interest to you. If your paper is selected, you will be invited to deliver this paper at the conference on either 17th or 18th September. The call for abstracts is structured around the topic idea areas identified here.

To start with, we are simply asking for abstracts. These are summaries of what your talk will be about. We are requesting that these abstracts should be submitted electronically by the due date.

The topics are suggested to provide some ideas to shape the event and spark the imagination of contributors. AGI GeoCommunity is your conference, so please get involved. The conference programme is built from the content we receive. If we don't receive content that matches your particular interests then we will have no chance to include it. So why not make a submission yourself. These topics are not meant to form a 'straitjacket' so please feel free to submit a paper on a subject not listed here.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: Friday 29th March 2013

AGI GeoCommunity is the largest and most comprehensive independent conference in the UK digital mapping and data calendar. The conference provides tangible insight and leadership in current geographic information and location based issues via a range of keynote addresses and conference papers, a showcase exhibition, as well as by hands on training and face to face delegate networking. The event is already a 'must attend' for decision makers, practitioners and thought leaders from all aspects of the public and private sectors.

AGI GeoCommunity '13 will open on Monday the 16th September with the popular pre-conference 'Icebreaker' evening event and offer two full days of thought leadership, practical education, knowledge transfer and real world best practice and case studies.

AGI GeoCommunity '13 will also offer a select number of sponsorship spaces to showcase new products and services and network with delegates both at the sponsors' exhibition pods and in the conference sessions and social events. Companies that are AGI members can get additional booking discounts. The conference format will offer our sponsors an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with the key practitioners and influencers across government and the commercial sectors.

Sponsors

To register as a delegate and to see costs for AGI GeoCommunity '13, click HERE.

To register as a sponsor and to see costs and benefits for AGI GeoCommunity '13, click HERE.

To submit an abstract at AGI GeoCommunity '13, click HERE.

Following on from the AGI GeoCommunity '13 conference, the FOSS4G 2013 conference will run from the 17 th to the 21 st September in the same venue. As a delegate at AGI GeoCommunity '13 you are able to receive a 10% discount when booking to attend FOSS4G 2013. Please contact Claire Gilmour for the discount code.

Claire Gilmour
AGI Events Manager

The 6th Spatial Socio-Cultural Knowledge Workshop

10-11 June 2013

Defence Academy, Shrivenham, UK    

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY FOR DECISION SUPPORT

Keynote Speakers for 2013

Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB

Director General and Chief Executive, Ordnance Survey and CO-Chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geographic Information (UN-GGIM)

Dr Lee Schwartz

Director, Office of the Geographer and Global Issues, US Department of State

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.

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.

Programme

Stream 1: Opening up environmental GI - Opportunities and challenges
Hosted by the Environment Special Interest Group
Sponsored by SCISYS

Transparency and open data are topical subjects and at the very heart of the governments’ agenda. Initiatives such as data.gov have made it easier to access information from a central national repository, while ‘open data’ and ‘open source’ have gained momentum with the geo-community leading to a number of new and innovative applications.

This event brings together speakers from across the public and private sectors to discuss their approach to data sharing, and show how open solutions can make a difference. There’s much insight to be gained from the organisations leading the way, while those wondering what the fuss is about will also benefit from the introductory workshops.

AGI reserves the right to amend the program without prior notice.

This event will be followed by AGI GeoDrinks in the bar at Colston Hall

CPD

Please note that as a delegate at this event you can allocate 4 points towards the AGI continuing professional development scheme. More information on the scheme can be found here. Attendance certificates can be requested.

Venue

Colston Hall
Colston Street
Bristol
BS1 5AR

Registration

AGI Student Member - £24.50+VAT
AGI Non Practicing Member - £24.50+VAT
AGI Individual Member - £49+VAT
AGI Non Member - £127+VAT (This rate includes 1 year free membership*)

*You will receive a one year individual membership, more information can be found here.
Consider joining the AGI as a corporate member; it's less costly than you think and you may be able to avail your organisation of the bulk discounts for attendees. Click here for more information.

Terms and Conditions

Exhibition and Sponsorship

SCISYS are sponsoring the Environment Stream. Civica GIS, Landmark Solutions and STAR-APIC are exhibiting at this event

Exhibition packages are available for all events. Each exhibitor 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 costs are:
AGI Sponsor and Corporate Members
@ 1 event - £500+VAT
@ 3 events - £1200+VAT

AGI Small Business, Education, Health, Central Government and Local Government Members
@ 1 event - £350+VAT
@ 3 events - £900+VAT

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available, for example, lunch or refreshment sponsorship.

For more information and to book your place, please email Claire Gilmour.

Other AGI Showcase Events in 2013

24th June - RGS, London
10th October - Riddel Hall, Belfast
November - North (location TBC)
3rd December - SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff

We have not booked a venue yet in the North of England. If you have a venue that we can use, please email Claire Gilmour.

  

Date: 6 March 2013

Venue: Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Esri UK and the Association for Geographic Information invite you to a networking evening for professionals interested in applying for the accreditation Chartered Geographer. This will be an opportunity for anyone interested to learn more about the accreditation, the application process, and its value, as well as the requirement for demonstrable Continuing Professional Development. The evening will also provide an excellent opportunity to meet and network with professionals working in industry and elsewhere.This event is aimed particularly at anyone involved in GI and geography, from students to professionals who have just entered work or have a number of years experience.

The event will be held at the Society in London, from 6.30 - 8pm on Wednesday 6 March 2013.

Please RSVP to cgeog@rgs.org or 020 7591 3023 if you wish to attend by Friday 1 March 2013.

For more information on Chartered Geographer:

www.rgs.org/CharteredStatus
For directions to the Society:

www.rgs.org/visitus

The six new showcase events take place at various locations around the United Kingdom.  Each event offers delegates parallel streams of talks on a huge range of topics as well as the opportunity to engage with sponsors at a number of times during each event.

The AGI GeoCommunity’13 conference is of course the AGI’s premier event of the year.  This  runs for three days in Nottingham and is attended by a large number of delegates representing a wide number of market sectors covering suppliers and users from both public and private sectors.

You can find out more information on our website through the links shown below.  Additionally, we would be happy to talk to you about your individual requirements.   Your sponsorship is useful for us and equally we feel that we can offer an outlet for your products that would be useful for you – a mutually beneficial proposition.

Details are as follows: 

Showcase Events
We will be delivering six focused showcase events around the UK, starting with Glasgow on the 27 th February and Bristol on the 21 st March.

Exhibition packages are available for all events. Each exhibitor 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 costs are:
AGI Sponsor and Corporate members @ 1 event - £500+VAT; @ 3 events - £1200+VAT; @ 6 events - £2000+VAT
AGI Small Business and Education members @ 1 event - £350+VAT; @ 3 events - £900+VAT; @ 6 events - £1500+VAT

As you can see taking sponsorship for the full showcase series offers significant discounts.

So far, the following companies are exhibiting: British Geological Survey, Civica GIS, Envitia, Forth Valley GIS, Landmark Solutions, Ordnance Survey, SCISYS and STAR-APIC.

For more information about the Showcase Events, click here.

AGI GeoCommunity '13
AGI is pleased to announce that this year’s AGI Annual Conference - AGI GeoCommunity '13: ‘Open for Business’ - will be held in Nottingham on the 16th to 18th September 2013.

AGI GeoCommunity '13 will also offer a select number of sponsorship spaces to showcase new products and services and network with delegates both at the sponsors' exhibition pods and in the conference sessions and social events. Companies that are AGI members can get additional booking discounts (5% for Corporate members and 10% for Sponsor members. The conference format will offer our sponsors an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with the key practitioners and influencers across government and the commercial sectors.

For the full list of packages and prices, click here.

The earlier you sign up for a sponsorship package, the more pre-conference publicity you will receive.

Esri UK and Ordnance Survey are platinum sponsors and Oce (UK) are a silver sponsor.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss options, please let me know (claire.gilmour@agi.org.uk).

Kind regards
Claire Gilmour
Events Manager