The European Environment Agency (EEA) put a new cloud-configured network GIS network on stage at the UC last year.  Since then, this platform, dubbed the Eye on Earth network, was featured in December at the Eye on Earth Summit in Abu Dhabi. Esri, Microsoft, and EEA pooled their expertise to retool EEA’s Eye on Earth with a cloud-based geospatial content management system modeled after ArcGIS Online.

The Eye on Earth network provides tools for creating maps, accessing thousands of readily available maps and datasets, and managing geospatial content. People can use the network to share content with the public and among groups, or to use privately. The map service makes it possible for citizen scientists to use their phones to add onsite observations about noise levels and water quality.

Cloud services have become pervasive. At this year’s UC many more organizations will present their hosted web services and shared GIS platforms. ArcGIS 10.1, which is designed to support cloud-configured systems, will be prominently featured in the plenary, at technical sessions, and in the Esri Showcase.