In the 20th year of the AGI's operation and with the development of a UK Spatial Data Infrastructure (UK SDI) now started, this year's theme 'Realising the Value of Place' will address the role of the GeoCommunity at a time of challenge and opportunity in a time of global economic flux. GI and GIS is ever more pervasive, its use ranging through Central and Local Government to utilities, infrastructure, marketing, insurance, retail, business intelligence and consumer applications. As the use of GI grows, its relevance and contribution to addressing the challenges in the modern world becomes ever more important and complex. As a community we want to show and articulate that diversity, importance and value.
The GI industry and GI users alike make a tremendous contribution to the commercial success and good governance of the United Kingdom. AGI GeoCommunity '09 will provide an outstanding opportunity for all involved or interested in GI to network, share experience, educate and debate important issues and policy as well as develop and enhance skills through our conference training and workshop programme.
AGI '08 saw a 20% increase in delegates with over 600 registering for a very successful event. We also found that:
Excluding conference sponsors, over 220 organisations attended in 2008 against 169 last year, a 30% increase.
57 local councils were represented in comparison to 42 in 2007, a jump of 36%.
Over 50 commercial organizations from outside the GI industry attended - an increase of 13%.
Central government bodies attending - including those from devolved governments - increased by 11% in comparison to last year.
The top three delegate reasons for attending were:
Networking
Learning/training
Trade Exhibition
Over 90% of those responding like the format of the exhibition, with nearly 80% preferring the current conference/exhibition format (started in Stratford-Upon-Avon in 2007) to the previous format.
Over 78% of those responding asked to stay at the same conference venue for 2009.
The fully residential conference will be held on the 23rd and 24th of September, 2009. By popular demand we will return to the Holiday Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon. Again we are planning a pre-conference event on the 22nd September to respond to the wishes of a substantial number of delegates arriving the day before. This will be a great 'icebreaker' and also provide an excellent sponsorship opportunity or a day to run your own specialist meeting.
This year's conference will also offer a limited number of sponsors' spaces to showcase new products and services and meet with delegates at their exhibition pods. The conference format will offer our sponsors an unmatched opportunity to achieve close contact with the key participants and influencers in our industry.
AGI GeoCommunity '09 is THE 'must-not-miss' GI event of 2009!
