Stephen F. Austin State University

A conference designed to bring together GIS and forestry professionals, addressing coordinators and emergency response specialists for a networking and learning opportunity will begin Nov. 7 at the Fredonia Hotel.

The second annual East Texas Geospatial Conference is titled “Improving Public Safety and Public Service Delivery.” It is sponsored by the Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center, the East Texas GIS & GPS Users Group, and the South Central Arc User Group.

The $45 registration fee includes a social event, Wednesday and Thursday lunches, and a one-year membership in the South Central Arc User Group. The cost for current group members is $15.

Oral presentations, a poster competition and vendor exhibits are included on the conference program.

Bob Koenig, incident management team coordinator for the Texas Forest Service, will be the keynote speaker at the Wednesday luncheon. Koenig is responsible for the development and maintenance of Texas’ eight all-hazard incident management teams.

“Reservations also are available at a reduced charge for guests who aren’t attending the remainder of the conference but who want to attend the luncheon and hear Mr. Koenig’s presentation,” said Dr. Darrel McDonald, associate director of the Columbia Center and an organizer of the event.

Four workshops will be offered at an additional cost of $10 each. Wednesday morning workshop topics include the use of ArcPad, software used to collect GIS information from the field, and Metadata, which refers to a national requirement that data sets be formatted for incorporation in a variety of electronic files. Thursday afternoon sessions will include geocoding, which supports 911, and professional Geographic Information System Professional certification.

The event will conclude with Public Safety and Health Day on Friday, Nov. 9, on the streets of downtown Nacogdoches. Regional emergency response vehicles and trailers will be set up for tours, and representatives from Nacogdoches, San Augustine and Shelby counties and the city of Longview will be in attendance.

Other upcoming events planned by the Columbia Center include a Nov. 6 workshop titled “What in the World Can You Do with Google Earth?” It will be led by Devon Humphrey of Waypoint Mapping and is designed for businesses, real estate executives and educators. The workshop is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and the cost is $50.

Also planned is a workshop for pre-service and in-service teachers on Saturday, Nov. 10. The workshop is a Wetland Education Through Maps and Aerial Photography production that will help participants understand wetland mapping, digital databases and geographic information system technology. It is designed for geology and geography teachers and meets TEKS requirements for fourth-grade through high-school curriculum.

For more information or reservations, call (936) 468-6100.