Jack's vision of creating a user community coming together to discuss solving today's world problems utilizing raster and vector data came closer to fruition Sunday as the inaugural Remote Sensing and GIS Summit commenced.

Almost 200 attendees listened to a wide range of speakers discuss how remotely sensed data has been used successfully at their organizations, how it's being used to fight climate change, and what challenges the industry is facing in the future.

Close to 200 ESRI users attended the Remote Sensing and GIS Summit on Sunday, August 3.

"Why has remotely sensed data been ignored in the past?" asked afternoon presenter Berik Davies, global GIS and spatial coordinator, Shell International Exploration and Product B.V. "It may be specialist data, but it is still geographic information."

Managing a global enterprise GIS at Shell Oil, Berick oversees the geospatial strategy for thousands of users in more than 130 countries. He challenged those in the audience to use remotely sensed data more broadly, explaining to listeners that soon there will be major changes in how remotely sensed data is used and managed, as organizations realize its value. He discussed the difficulty of truly understanding users' requirements of the data-something that sounds easy, but is difficult in reality.

Berik Davies, Global GIS and Spatial Coordinator, Shell International Exploration and Product B.V.

This sentiment wove through the morning keynote by Dr. Bradley Doorn, remote sensing program manager, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and lunch speaker Dr. David Zilkoski, director, National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Both presenters discussed the importance of focusing on the end users' needs.

Dr. Bradley Doorn, Remote Sensing Manager, USDA

Working with the USDA to monitor the world's food supply, Doorn has made the information derived from remotely sensed data a key economic indicator for global crop analysis. The data is perfect for deriving valuable information for this as well as other industries, he explained, due to its timeliness, reliability, objectivity, accuracy, global nature, and efficiency.

"When an economist needs the information from the image for a bar graph to show a three point change, that's what we do. We don't make him look at a pretty picture. We bring the data to him."

Zilkowski reiterated this key message. He invited the audience to decrease infrastructure and increase capacity when it comes to remotely sensed data. He also stressed focusing on what is important to the user. "Talk about whether there will be coastal inundation or drought; not what the elevation is," he stressed.

 

David Zilkowski, Director, National Geodetic Survey, NOAA

Another common thread in many presentations was the use of remotely sensed data in global warming and kick-starting social change in regards to the environment. Dr. D. Pandy, director general with the Forest Survey of India, spoke of his experience using raster imagery to legally combat encroachers and accurately inventory India's precious forests.

Communications director with Spot Image, Jennifer Newlands, discussed the company's initiative Project Action, which provides satellite imagery and geographic information in support of local projects tackling climate change by raising awareness and engaging concrete action.

Attendees were also addressed by ESRI's Chief Scientist Dr. David Maguire and given in-depth demonstrations of ESRI's ArcGIS Server Image Extension by product specialists and ESRI's Imagery Project Manager Peter Becker.

The day closed with a panel discussion comprised of top remotely sensed data vendors and moderated by Imaging Notes Publisher/Managing Editor Myrna Yoo. Vendors participating in the panel discussion and hosting the social hour afterward included GeoEye, DigitalGlobe, iTT VIS, BAE Systems, PurView, Overwatch, and ESRI.

For more information on ESRI's solutions for imagery, a great online help is ESRI's Resource Center. Click on Imagery & Raster Data in the graphic to find data, workflows, and more information on how to successfully use raster and remotely sensed data in your ArcGIS solution.