Technical sessions during the conference will address the most pressing technologies and their applications including 3D, mobile mapping, cloud data management, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), lidar and the role of cloud computing with these technologies.

The conference will open with 10 workshops covering such topics as mobile lidar, remote sensing, cloud computing, contracting for geospatial services, classified GEOINT activities, and other technical topics. Further information on all of the pre-conference activities may be found at the conference web site  www.asprs.org/Conferences/Tampa-2012.

Dr. Gerald Bowden, United States Geological Survey (USGS), will provide the Keynote address on "Ultra-High Resolution Three and Four Dimensional Point Cloud Analysis Spanning the Earth Sciences.” Dr. Bowden will highlight how terrestrial lidar and laser scanning are enabling 3D site characterization and 4D change detection.

Dr. Jerry Johnston, geospatial information officer, U.S. Department of the Interior will present the results of the National Enhanced Elevation Assessment (NEEA) and outline efforts to develop a national 3D elevation program (3DEP) based on the results of the study.

ASPRS will debut its "ASPRS Airborne Topographic Lidar Manual”, the first comprehensive manual on airborne lidar technology and applications covering best practices and procedures for acquiring, processing and performing quality control and assurance. MAPPS will announce the winners of its annual Geospatial Products and Services Excellence Awards.

The concluding general session features members of MAPPS and ASPRS who will lead a discussion on the future of the geospatial profession, where the market is going, and how technology and the workforce are expected to evolve.

To view the digital preliminary program,  click here. The preliminary program is also available on the conference web site at  www.asprs.org/Conferences/Tampa-2012.

Sponsorships and exhibits for the conference are available and information on how to become part of the conference may be found on the conference web site.

This significant conference is the seventh in a series that originated in 1994 as the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) and the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) began jointly hosting education conferences on emerging mapping and geospatial technologies and applications that have now become an integral part of our everyday lives. The conference seeks to bring geospatial producers, data users, managers, and imaging and geospatial information professionals together to present the latest developments.

About ASPRS

Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 6,000 geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.

About MAPPS

Formed in 1982, MAPPS is the only national association exclusively comprised of private firms in the remote sensing, spatial data and geographic information systems field in the United States. The MAPPS membership spans the entire spectrum of the geospatial community, including Member Firms engaged in satellite and airborne remote sensing, surveying, photogrammetry, aerial photography, LIDAR, hydrography, bathymetry, charting, aerial and satellite image processing, GPS, and GIS data collection and conversion services. MAPPS also includes Associate Member Firms, which are companies that provide hardware, software, products and services to the geospatial profession in the United States and other firms from around the world. Independent Consultant Members are sole proprietors engaged in consulting in or to the geospatial profession, or provides a consulting service of interest to the geospatial profession.

MAPPS provides its 160+ member firms opportunities for networking and developing business-to-business relationships, information sharing, education, public policy advocacy, market growth, and professional development and image enhancement.