Survey and GIS Summit - Bridging the Gap 2003 in San Diego

The First Survey and GIS Summit - Bridging the Gap 2003 was held at the Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California, USA July 6-8, 2003. The Summit was held in conjunction to the 23rd ESRI International User Conference which attracted more than 11,000 visitors from 135 countries. The participants of the Summit also attended the opening of the User Conference which highlights were Jack Dangermond's keynote presentation and another keynote presentation given by Peter Hillary, son to Sir Edmund Hillary, who told about his second climb to Mt Everest to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his father's historical climb. FIG further attended the exhibition with a joint stand together with ACSM.

The Survey and GIS Summit was first of its kind and organised to build closer co-operation between surveyors and GIS professionals. The opening keynote presentation was given by Prof. Holger Magel, President of FIG (handouts of his PowerPoint presentation to be downloaded as .pdf-file). The other presentations included different aspects to the topic from technical to organisational aspects. Among speakers were Dr. Eric K. Anderson, President of ACSM, Curt Sumner, Secretary General of ACSM,  Markku Villikka, FIG Director and Lisa Lubeley from URISA. The remaining speakers focussed on the technical points of integrating GIS and surveying.

The Summit attracted 280 participants from 14 countries however majority from the United States. The profile of the participants was in full balance between surveying and GIS. The event will be organised also in 2004.


President Holger Magel making his keynote
presentation at the Survey and GIS Summit.


Prof. Holger Magel and Mike Weir and John Hohol
who were in charge for the arrangements of the event.


Mike Weir from ESRI received a certificate of appreciation
from President Magel.


President Magel together with Jack Dangermond,
President of ESRI and Mike Weir.


Prof. Magel together with Roger Tomlinson and Mike Weir.


FIG participated the ESRI User Conference Exhibition
in a joint stand with ACSM - Curt Sumner, SG of ACSM
and Erik K. Anderson, President of ACSM with an
interested visitor.