#ESRIUC: A good show for exhibitors?

Most every user conference and other major conference that I’ve attended this year…and I’ve been to many of them (GITA, PBBI’s user conference, Intergraph’s user conference, ESRI FEDUC, Map World Forum [India], Geodiffusion)...has experienced the pinch of the recession. The attendance has been reduced by as much as 30% in some cases putting extra pressure on exhibitors to thoroughly evaluate the return on investment of their sponsorship both now and in the future.

With respect to the ESRI User Conference this past week in San Diego, I heard mostly glowing reports from the exhibitors with whom I spoke. While the number of attendees "seemed" less, especially during the Map Gallery on Monday evening, the numbers both reported and rumored of the attendance was still exceptionally high…probably on the order of 12,000+. That number was perhaps flat or a little below from previous years. But this year, flat is good.

I thought one exhibitor put it well: "The noise was gone" referring to the fact that the leads they received "exceeded expectations" and were of a high quality. This was echoed by several exhibitors. Another exhibitor told me, "I gave my team a goal of 500 leads and by Wednesday we had 560." So, all in all, the investment in the UC paid off this year.

And for some reason, everyone was jumping on the bandwagon of giving rides in GPS-enabled vans. Topcon, Trimble, and NAVTEQ were canvassing attendees to show off their technology. (see images below)

Hard-working NAVTEQ marketing guy

Top Tweets from Thursday #ESRIUC

14 new 3D analyst functions in ArcGIS 9.4 including use of vector geometry in LOS but apparently viewshed tool is raster based.
@chirrupinsanjay

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Following Up on Some #ESRIUC Threads

One of the truly great things about ESRI User Conference is that if you have a question “THE” person who has the answer is here! I put that to the test during my last afternoon on the floor to follow up on a few threads I’d been following.

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Top Tweets from Wednesday #ESRIUC

Is the spatial analysis extension available in the standard edition of ArcGIS Server? Nope, part of the advanced edition.
@david_cordes

We need more ppl room 30 e
@runneals

Is there a web 2.0 solution to “please fill out your evaluations forms?” someone please invent one! @geoparadigm

definitely check out the GeoEye booth and play some Ubisoft HAWX. I will buy and review it soon. Way fun and cool!
@Nojopar

Scott Murray is a model builder guru, I’m totally impressed
@kirrilian

AGS 9.4 Query Layers…where have you been all my life?!
@NateStrout

Alright, I’ll bite. What is it with kool-aid at #esriuc?
@amandahstaub

can use SQL straight from the services with ArcGIS server- this stuff is just excellent
@craigmmills

I am watching ArcGIS Server show walmart taking over the US. Pretty cool time study.
@GISBREWMASTER

Looking for great geo/gis news? Follow @directionsapb They are providing great #esriuc coverage this week.
@brady

Fascinated by a young woman signing for the hearing impaired during a GIS Data Reviewer seminar at the #esriuc. Very impressive!
@richardlewis

Pretty bad when the other presenter is falling asleep but the topic is Oracle/ArcSDE. I feel for you Juliet. #esriuc WOW!! :(
@DirtyJeep

As usual the next release of ArcGIS is the best ever. Session 1 desktop/Session 2 server.
@GISBREWMASTER

What question would you like Jack to answer during the closing session Friday? Vote today! http://tr.im/suZi
@ESRIUC

getting Geofatigue
@craigmmills

These are just tweets I found interesting. All tweets tagged #ESRIUC are eligible to win $100. See the rules for alternate entry methods and good luck!

LiDAR Data Gets Squeezed by LizardTech’s LiDAR Image Compressor (#esriuc)

Light Imaging Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data collection provides an interesting dilemma for geospatial professionals who know the value of the information but find the huge file sizes (100’s megabits to gigabits) difficult to store and manage. Most users have typically used either the first and or last returns, these derivative data sets of LiDAR, which, for example, can yield tree canopy profiles or elevation model data, respectively. However, using all (multiple returns) of the LiDAR, the entire “point cloud,” has proven hard, again, because of file sizes. With the decrease cost of data acquisition and market growth, LizardTech saw an opportunity to use it’s expertise in data compression technology to exploit this opportunity for LiDAR data management.

LizarTech’s new LiDAR Compressor (See image at right; click for larger image) product can compress LAS and ASCII files to MrSID 4 format with approximately a 4:1 lossless result. It’s a simple compression utility and includes a simple “viewer” of point clouds.  Once compressed, the product allows the user to selectively decode an entire image by a bounding cube with geographic bounds. The product will sell for $2995 for a single user license. The product is considered so revolutionary that the company has applied for a patent for the technology behind the product.