[Board] GIS for the United Nations and the International Community Conference

[Massimiliano Cannata]

Deaar all,
the same happens here in Ticino (southern Switzerland).

There is a gis-Ticino group that yearly have a meeting in Lugano, but only
ESRI or representative of ESRI or "friend" of ESRI are invited to talk.
Also demonstration of ESRI products usually are conducted.

ESRI push this event, even if I don't think to remember this is an ESRI
meeting ;-)

But what to do, that's the marketing: let people believe that only esri can
do that stuff :-P

Maxi

2015-04-30 15:00 GMT+02:00 Jeff McKenna <jmckenna at gatewaygeomatics.com>:

> Hi Madi,
>
> Thank you for pointing to this event.
>
> To be honest, this is a tough one to handle (likely why no one else
> responded to you yet), but I definitely see your point.  Its audience is
> supposed to be "The International Community", but it is invite only. There
> are so many questionable items here.
>
> The only point that I could make for their side, is that other than the
> event title, it is clear that this event is for Esri "partners".  And that
> this event seems to run every year (since 2012 it appears).
>
> I'm not sure how to handle this one.  Maybe we can start a discussion with
> the organizers/Esri, in hopes that for next year's event OSGeo can be
> involved.  But the only way to contact the organizers appears to be through
> exhibits(at)esri
>
> I am hoping my response awakens other readers and those who are able to
> share their thoughts.  Worst case scenario: we will discuss this item at
> the next Board meeting (I've added it to the agenda).
>
> Madi, not to change the subject on purpose, but while I am talking with
> you here, I'd like you to consider joining the OSGeo Board.  I think you'd
> be a great representative of the community.  (keep this in mind for when
> the next Board elections begin)  Maybe we can chat about this at
> FOSS4G-Europe.
>
> -jeff
>
>
>
>
> On 2015-04-29 12:17 PM, Margherita Di Leo wrote:
>
>> Dears,
>>
>> with some colleagues we noticed the following event organized at UN:
>> http://www.gisfortheun.com called "GIS for the United Nations and the
>> International Community Conference". At a closer look at the agenda
>> (http://www.gisfortheun.com/agenda/index.html), it turned out that the
>> only GIS mentioned is Esri.
>>
>> At the beginning we thought that Esri was a sponsor, but apparently it
>> does not seem to be the case
>> http://www.gisfortheun.com/sponsors/index.html
>> However, although the very general title, turns out that the event is
>> co-organized by Esri. Indeed in the home page, it reads:
>>
>> "The event is jointly hosted by UNITAR’s Operational Satellite
>> Application Programme (UNOSAT) and Esri."
>>
>> I don't have anything against Esri but with such general title, it seems
>> misleading that no other software representative is invited. For the
>> sake of diversity, some OSGeo software might as well be part of this
>> event. Just to be sure that people do not think that Esri is the only
>> GIS on Earth. Otherwise, if it is an advertising event, it could just be
>> clear in the title: instead of just GIS, it could as well be called
>> "Esri GIS for the United Nations and the International Community
>> Conference".
>>
>> What do you think? Could OSGeo politely ask Esri to clarify the
>> situation and either open up to the broader GIS community or just change
>> the title of this event? Would the board take action in this sense?
>>
>> Thank you
>>
>> --
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Dr. Margherita DI LEO
>> Scientific / technical project officer
>>
>> European Commission - DG JRC
>> Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES)
>> Via Fermi, 2749
>> I-21027 Ispra (VA) - Italy - TP 261
>> Tel. +39 0332 78 3600
>> margherita.di-leo at jrc.ec.europa.eu
>> <mailto:margherita.di-leo at jrc.ec.europa.eu>
>>
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-- 
*Massimiliano Cannata*

Professore SUPSI in ingegneria Geomatica

Responsabile settore Geomatica


Istituto scienze della Terra

Dipartimento ambiente costruzione e design

Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana

Campus Trevano, CH - 6952 Canobbio

Tel. +41 (0)58 666 62 14

Fax +41 (0)58 666 62 09

massimiliano.cannata at supsi.ch

*www.supsi.ch/ist <http://www.supsi.ch/ist>*
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