Map World Forum: A Global Confluence of Geospatial Thought

Largest congregation of geospatial professionals, experts and leaders to be held in Hyderabad from February 10 - 13, 2009 to discuss applications of geospatial technologies to create a Sustainable Planet Earth.

New Delhi, India, February 5, 2009 – More than 2000 global experts and users of geospatial technologies will gather together at Hyderabad International Convention Centre from February 10 - 13, 2009 to
discuss, deliberate and evolve ways to create a Sustainable Planet Earth for the conference, Map World Forum. The conference is being organized by GIS Development, which is a leading geospatial media company based in Noida. The Forum promises to be a Global Congregation for thought and discussion between experts from various fields like Environment, Finance, Management, Technology and Governance with Geospatial specialists striving to make our planet a sustainable one. It aims to bring the geospatial community into limelight with regards to mainstream development organizations at a global level.

Planet Earth has become susceptible to disasters since the past few decades because of various
infrastructure development activities, which has resulted in immense strain on available natural resources.
Keeping in view this background, the theme chosen for the Forum is “Geospatial Technologies for
Sustainable Planet Earth”. The factors affecting the sustainability of Planet Earth are all interrelated and
in order to combat them, we need to have a tool, which can associate and analyse them in a seamless
manner. Geospatial technologies, because of their geospatial information dependent nature, provide the
only way to look at these issues from a holistic viewpoint. Today, there exists a notable lack of geographic
data and literature on observed changes, with marked scarcity in developing countries. The need of the
hour is to build an exhaustive geospatial database that is going to serve as an enabling platform for the
various stakeholders of this community. Map World Forum will strive to address this urgent need in order to
safeguarded our beautiful planet for our future generations.

Founded in the year 2007, this is the second biennial conference, being organized under the patronage of
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Kapil Sibal, Minister of Science and
Technology and Earth Sciences is the Patron of the conference. The conference will be formally opened by
the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Mohd Hamid Ansari on February 10, 2009. A host of other
governmental agencies, like Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), National Remote Sensing
Centre (NRSC), Department of Information Technology (DIT), which are providers of geospatial data as
well as users of the data will be participating in the four-day event.

The Honorable Minister for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences, Government of India, Kapil Sibal
states, “Government of India stands committed to create, update, manage and disseminate geospatial
information and use it to the best possible manner to improve the quality of the life of its citizens and
development of the nation. Keeping this in mind we organized 'Map World Forum' which brought the global
leadership in geospatial sciences on one mega platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the
geospatial science and technology growth and its role for human development in the next decade.
Overwhelmed with the need and positive response of such a forum, Government of India is privileged to
host the Second Map World Forum”

Geospatial technologies have evolved tremendously since its genesis from simple 2D paper maps to 3D
digital maps and web based tools that can now be used not only by experts for planning and decision
making but by common man too for a variety of purposes. The applications of the technology has spread
its wings right from disaster management and mitigation, defense and internal security to infrastructure
management, planning and maintenance or locating your favourite restaurant in your locality. Now is the
time when this core infrastructural tool can be used by more governmental agencies, planning authoritites
and non-governmental bodies for analyzing the affect that developmental activities have on the
environment. It is also the right time for the decision makers to use this essential guiding tool to evolve
ways to save planet Earth from further damage.

During the Plenary Sessions of the conference, many experts from different backgrounds and focus areas
will present their views and opinions on how geospatial technologies are being used or have the potential
to solve the problems of the environment. In addition to the Plenary Sessions, the technical agenda of the
conference will include a host of other activities from Panel Discussions, Symposiums, Seminars, Forums,
Summit, and Technical Sessions. These sessions will cover the various aspects of map making like
Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Cartography, 3D laser scanning to its application areas like Agriculture
and Food Security, Infrastructure Development, Climate Change, Energy and many more.

Map World Forum will also host a 3000 sq mtr exhibition area where 60 companies dealing with geospatial
technologies will showcase the state-of-the-art equipments, software/hardware demos and the user
segments will display the innovative usage they have put these latest maps to.

Sanjay Kumar, the Chief Executive Officer of GIS Development and Convenor of the Forum invites
participation of delegates by stating, “Map World Forum will not just be a conference, it will be a Forum that
will aim to Converge Ideas and Expand Horizons for Sustainable Planet Earth. It will aim beyond speeches
and discussions to find practical ways to protect the Earth and improve people's lives. Its mission,
therefore, will be to encourage the geospatial family and the society at large to function in ways that protect
the Earth's natural environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of present and
future generations. I welcome participation of all the individuals and organisations who would like to
contribute to this goal for making our planet a better place to live in.”

About GIS Development
GIS Development is an organisation dedicated to developing a Global Geospatial Communications
Network. It strives to promote and propagate the use of geospatial technologies in various application
areas for economic and social development. It remains dedicated to foster the growing network of those
interested in geo-informatics worldwide and particularly in Asia. Through its activities - Magazine, Portal,
Conferences, Training, Education and Research - it assists communities and governments in developing
capabilities, policies and programmes as well as facilitates knowledge transfer to grassroot level.
www.GISdevelopment.net