Geographic Information System (GIS) users from around the world will gather June 18–22, 2007, at the San Diego Convention Center in California, for the largest annual GIS conference in the world. The Twenty-seventh Annual ESRI International User Conference (ESRI UC) will provide both experienced and new GIS users with the tools to expand their knowledge and use the full potential of geographic information in all levels of government, business operations, and society.

“People helping people is what the conference is all about,” says Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. “Users with decades of GIS experience share knowledge with those who are just starting out and looking to take their capabilities to the next level. It’s a special community and that’s what makes the ESRI User Conference so worthwhile for those who attend.”

The ESRI UC is a unique opportunity to learn, share, and grow at the largest and most comprehensive GIS event of the year. Technical staff, analysts, application developers, decision makers, business owners, and anyone who relies on geographic information will learn about the current direction of the technology and the latest developments.

Throughout the week, meetings, sessions, and presentations form an opportune setting for attendees to network with other GIS users and gain support and insight into their own projects. ESRI staff is on hand to help with any technical issues and demonstrate the new functionality of the latest software releases. Dozens of regional and special interest user group meetings provide additional opportunities for users to meet with others from their industries to share insight and experiences.

The 2007 conference will feature a new Benefits of GIS track, designed for managers and senior executives to discuss the value of GIS technology within government and utilities as well as private sector organizations. This track will explore how GIS is helping organizations realize these benefits by improving collaboration and information sharing while empowering GIS analysts and information officers to deliver more valuable and beneficial services to their user communities.

The ESRI Education User Conference (ESRI EdUC) and the ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit are concurrent events that will take place June 16–19, 2007, in San Diego. The ESRI EdUC is for educators and administrators to share information on geographic learning and the use of GIS in classrooms, museums and libraries, community outreach, and other learning environments. The ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit will bring together surveyors, engineers, and GIS professionals to explore solutions on integrating survey, engineering design, and GIS technology.

For more information about the ESRI International User Conference and concurrent events, visit www.esri.com/uc.