UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A Conference Titled "geographic Information Systems For Local Government" Will Be Offered By Penn State’s College Of Agricultural Sciences, Oct. 17-18 At The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel At University Park. The Event Is Sponsored By The Penn State Cooperative Extension Geospatial Technology Program, In Cooperation With The National Consortium For Rural Geospatial Innovation In America, The Pennsylvan

The conference is designed to help local government officials and their staffs to understand how geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to address such issues as planning for future growth, responding to emergencies and managing utility infrastructures. The conference is aimed at both novices and advanced users, with sessions geared to those with varying levels of technical knowledge.

Specific topics to be addressed include homeland security, emergency response, planning and visualization, parcel mapping and small water systems. In addition, a series of mini-workshops will provide hands-on training in effectively using the technology to accomplish specific tasks within a local government agency.

After the conference, there will be a series of one-day technical workshops that cover such topics as using mobile units to map communities, setting up online Web mapping services, establishing a GIS for a small water system, and using GIS technology to model water flow in streams. In addition, a two-day workshop, "Introduction to ArcView 9 Software," will be provided free to the first 20 people who register for the conference.

The conference registration fee is $195. Additional fees will apply to post-conference workshops and registrations received after Oct. 6. To receive additional registration information or a brochure, contact the Office of Conferences and Short Courses by phone at 814-865-8301, or toll-free at (877) 778-2937, or by e-mail at shortcourse@psu.edu. For program information, visit the conference Web site at http://lal.cas.psu.edu, send e-mail to gisconference@psu.edu, or contact Rick Day or Stewart Bruce at 814-863-7609.

###

Writer: Ryan Szivos

Editor: Gary Abdullah Office 814-863-2708