The start of SSSC2011 is only days away and all indications are pointing to a bumper turn-out.
For the first time in NZ, exhibitors have an opportunity to showcase their wares during a public open day/expo on Tuesday the 22nd of November. The sponsors have turned out in numbers, and exhibition space sold out weeks ago.
The doors are also open to students and teachers from the region who will be given presentations on spatial careers and education, a live demonstration of laser scanning, and have the opportunity to take part in a fun geocaching treasure hunt with equipment provided by Geosystems.
Wellington is a great place to hold a public expo as the Convention Centre is located in the centre of downtown Wellington.
Delegates also have access to many pre-conference workshops, and there are enough community presentations to fill seven streams during the concurrent sessions. They will enjoy a strong line-up of internationally renowned keynote speakers covering such diverse areas as government, business, culture and research.
The highlight of the social programme is the conference dinner at Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand. Courtesy of sponsors Quickmap, the venue is ours for the evening with guests free to wander around the exhibits prior to dinner and the Asia-Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards showcase.
SSSC2011 is the first joint venture between the SSSI and the NZ Institute of Surveyors, and the combined event serves as the NZIS annual conference, the SSSI bi-ennial conference, and also incorporates the annual conference of the ESRI user group.
SSSC2011 also enjoys the support of New Zealand and Australian government agencies with LINZ as the conference's Platinum sponsor, and Geoscience Australia joining global giants Trimble, ESRI and Leica Geosystems as gold sponsors.
More information can be found at the SSSC2011 website.