Who: Scientists, professionals, and other users of GIS and The National Map

What: The inaugural Users Conference for The National Map, held in tandem with the USGS GIS Workshop

When: May 10-13, 2011

Where: The GIS Workshop was held at the USGS National Training Center, located on the Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, Colorado, on May 10-11. The National Map Users Conference was held directly after the GIS Workshop at the Denver Marriott West, in Golden, Colorado, on May 12-13.

Why: The goal of the interactive workshop and conference was to serve and enhance communications among the communities of users of The National Map, Federal GIS specialists and scientists, and data providers. Topics included existing applications and visions for future scientific and modeling applications using The National Map, opportunities for partnerships, and advances in geospatial technologies. The event focused on user and partner interaction using various formats: interactive panels, lightening sessions, poster presentations, workshops, as well as presentations and demonstrations. This gathering is designed to provide a relaxed, collaborative, and informative venue to explore the direction of The National Map, mapping trends, and GIS applications.