Good morning from San Diego, California. I’m glad to say that I’m well rested and ready for a busy week at the 20th Annual ESRI User Conference.

Actually, I was hoping to have spent an exciting Saturday evening and fun-filled Sunday in San Diego. Unfortunately, thanks to Delta airlines the R&R part of my week was nicely messed up!

Our originating flight was delayed for about 2 hours and things went downhill from there. Delta managed to get us as far as LA, arriving at LAX at about 2:30 AM early Sunday morning!

We did manage to catch a flight in the morning in order to finish our journey to beautiful San Diego and commence a shortened day of non-conference activities.

So, here I sit, Monday morning, composing my first report!

To start, the GeoCommunity crew checked in to the San Diego convention center bright and early this morning. After checking in, I left the rest of the gang and proceeded directly to the Press Room in order to get a sneak peek at today’s announcements.

Before I brief you on some announcements of interest, let me give you my "first impressions" of this year's event...

First Impressions

I have to say there doesn’t seem to be the usual buzz and excitement in the air that one typically senses at such a large event (mind you, it’s still early!).

As I checked in and began my day, I was trying to figure out what the hot announcements would be. Could it be hype about the long awaited ArcIMS 3? Perhaps we will hear more about ArcInfo 8? How about ArcPad 5? Or, perhaps we’ll be surprised with an announcement regarding ArcView 3.3...

I am not sure, at this point. Personally, I don’t think any of these topics will get people too worked up, particularly since ESRI users have waited sooooooo long for the latest ArcIMS, and since ArcInfo 8 was last years big ticket.

It’s shaping up like today’s big announcement is going to be about The Geography Network. If you’re not familiar with it, then don’t be surprised. So far there’s been very little mentioned about it and I’ve just received the first official press release that describes exactly what it is.

The Geography Network

The Geography Network can be thought of as an on-line library of distributed GIS information, available to everyone. Professional users can connect to the Geography Network and directly use the data and application services provided by other participants.

GIS browser software on the Network allows users to freely visualize, query, and analyze data. The Geography Network is said to be an open system designed using industry standards and protocols, serving as a test bed for data providers and the Open GIS consortium.

Hundreds of data layers are available through the Geography Network, including political, elevation, vegetation, socioeconomic data, and satellite imagery. The majority of the data will be freely available in the public domain.

Data providers include GDT, DTN weather services, National Atlas, Navigation Technologies, ORBIMAGE, PAGIC, Pennwell, and several others. Of course there will also be a digital marketplace where companies can sell commercial imagery… sounds a lot like an enhanced ESRI Data Hound!

I’ll be attending an official press conference describing the Geography Network, taking place tomorrow, Tuesday June 27, at 3:30 PM. I’m sure I’ll have more details after that. The Geography Network is accessible at www.GeographyNetwork.com.

Announcing MapShop

Something else I found to be noteworthy is an article that appeared in today’s New York Times. The column discussed the MapShop, a web based program developed to enable journalists to create in minutes sophisticated information-rich maps that normally would take hours to produce.

The Associated Press will charge a fee based on a sliding scale, large media companies paying as much as $50,000 per year for access! Initial reactions by journalists seem to be mixed, some of them excited by the technology being made available affording journalists a time saving tool, others see it as too complex and expensive.

Today’s Schedule

It's been said that this year more than 10,000 users will attend the ESRI User Conference. I think those numbers may be down a bit. I overheard some ESRI crew speculate that the number will likely be closer to 9,000...

Shortly, I’ll be heading off to Jack Dangermond’s welcome message and vision for the future. Of course, I will bring you the scoop.

Following that, I will attend a public presentation about the Geography Network, with the keynote address by Charles Groat, director of the USGS. I will conclude my day's activities with the ever popular Map Gallery and Opening Day Reception.

Look for my next article "from the floor", real soon!