ITS Australia has announced that the founder of Esri, an international digital mapping industry, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the 23rd ITS World Congress, which is taking place in Melbourne, Australia, on October 10-14.
Esri president Jack Dangermond (below) and his wife Laura founded the company in 1969, with a vision that computer mapping and analysis could help design a better future. Today, this technology serves 350,000 clients around the world, who collectively create more than 150 million maps per day. Locally, Esri Australia partners with more than 1,000 of the country’s leading government agencies and commercial enterprises, across industries including: federal, state and local government; national security; law enforcement, utilities, transport, resources and petroleum; agribusiness; banking, insurance; and retail.
Dangermond will present his keynote speech on day three of the World Congress, in the plenary session ‘Smart Cities’, and will explore how technology plays a part in future liveability. Considering more than half the world’s population live in cities, and with projections suggesting this will grow by a further 2.5 billion people by 2050, transport technology, travel demand and individual mobility will be key factors in what makes a city smart. The ‘Smart Cities’ plenary session will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 9.00am-10.30am, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
World Congress host, ITS Australia CEO Susan Harris, said, “Attracting speakers of Mr Dangermond’s caliber highlights the significance of the Congress, the draw of Australia, and how digital mapping has become an important technology in tackling traffic congestion in major cities around the world.
“Connectivity of a truly ‘Smart City’ affects all facets of the community, from how individuals make personalized daily travel choices, through to infrastructure that remains resilient in the face of disruption or disaster. With the Congress theme of ‘ITS – Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities’, Jack’s insight and experience in digital mapping and infrastructure will be timely and relevant. ITS Australia looks forward to welcoming Jack Dangermond to Melbourne, the world’s most liveable city, and learning from one of the great influencers in digital mapping and spatial technology – a cornerstone of future smart cities.”
