Technical tracks

Track 1	What's new and the Road Ahead... This track will include sessions which identify the new functionality available at the 9.3 release for ArcGIS Desktop & Extensions, ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Mobile, ArcGIS Engine, the Geodatabase and ArcGIS Explorer. The Road Ahead beyond 9.3 will also be discussed for each of the ESRI technologies. Attendees of sessions in this track will leave with an overview of the key functionality in the 9.3 release and a good understanding of what will be introduced in future releases of the ESRI product suite.
Track 2	The fundamentals of ESRI GIS... This track is designed for newer users of ESRI technology. It will cover a variety of topics that are designed to offer best practice advice including managing data in an Enterprise Geodatabase, streamlining workflow through use of geoprocessing and model builder, methods for presenting your data to a wider audience, editing data in ArcMap, utilising data formats through the Data Interoperability Extension and FME and storing raster data in the geodatabase. Attendees of sessions in this track will leave with sound advice for moving forward in the best possible way with their ESRI technology.
Track 3	ESRI Solution products... This track will focus on ESRI built solutions and will cover Instant Atlas – a web solution for the visual communication of location-based statistical data - the ArcGIS Job Tracking Extension (JTX), PLTS Foundation, ArcLogistic Route, Locators solutions and building focused mobile solutions using ArcPad. Attendees of sessions in this track will gain a good understanding of the benefits that ESRI solutions can bring to their organisation.
Track 4	Developing with ESRI GIS... This track is targeted at developers who are building solutions based on ESRI technology. Sessions in this track will look at development options for ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Engine, ArcGIS Mobile and ArcGIS Desktop. It will provide details about developing with the WebADF, the new Javascript API’s and ArcGIS Explorer, with sessions targeting both .NET and Java developers. Attendees of sessions in this track will gain a good understanding of the available options across the ESRI technology stack and how to evaluate which technology should be used based on solution requirements.
Track 5	Tips and Tricks... This track will include sessions which are aimed at providing best practise advice across a number of ESRI technologies. It will include guidelines that can be used to ensure that your ArcGIS Server map and geoprocessing services are optimized to perform, tips for working with 3D data, best practise for implementing security in your ArcGIS Server environment and how to ensure that you architect solutions that can scale. Attendees of sessions in this track will leave with real examples of how their ESRI implementation could be improved by following the best practise advice offered.

Wednesday 29^th October 2008

Time	What's new and the Road Ahead	The fundamentals of ESRI GIS	ESRI Solution products	Developing with ESRI GIS	Tips & Tricks
8.30	What’s new for the Desktop and Extensions?	An introduction to ESRI GIS	Introducing Instant Atlas	The developer's road map for ArcGIS	Using python scripting to evolve your geoprocessing models
10.00	Break
10.45	What's new for ArcGIS Server?	Editing data in ArcMap	Working with core ArcGIS Desktop extensions	Developing ArcGIS Engine applications using .NET and Java	Working with 3D data in ArcGIS
12.15	Lunch
13.30	What's new for ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad?	Using geoprocessing models to streamline workflow	Production Line Toolset (PLTS); streamlining your production workflow and ensuring data quality	Building applications using the ArcGIS Server web ADF and Java	Implementing security for ArcGIS Server solutions
15.00	Break
15.45	Managing raster data in ArcGIS	Presenting your data; map preparation, graphs, visualisation, hard copy, map services	Where are you? Introducing ESRI (UK) LocatorHub	Developing solutions with ArcGIS Explorer SDK	Best practice for publishing content through ArcGIS Server

Thursday 30^th October 2008

Time	What's new and the Road Ahead	The fundamentals of ESRI GIS	ESRI Solution products	Developing with ESRI GIS	Tips & Tricks
8.30	What's new for ArcGIS Explorer	Enterprise data management and the geodatabase	Building mobile solutions using ArcPad	Creating mashups using the ArcGIS Javascript API	Performing network analysis in ArcGIS
10.00	Break
10.45	What's new for the Geodatabase	Data interoperability and the FME extension	Making a better looking map in ArcGIS, using Maplex and cartographic representations	Developing applications with the ArcGIS Server Mobile SDK	Designing a good user interface; creating a UI for an improved user experience
12.15	Lunch
13.30	Getting to grips with ArcGIS Image Server Extension	Working with UK data	The Job Tracking Extension (JTX) for ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Server	Building applications using the ArcGIS Server web ADF and ASP.NET AJAX	Architecting ArcGIS Server solutions for performance and scalability
15.00
15.45 - 17.00	Closing Plenary Prepare your questions from the conference and take the opportunity to ask our panel of ESRI and ESRI (UK) Senior Management.

Technical Track Abstracts

What's new and the Road Ahead

Damian Spangrud, Jim Henderson ESRI Inc
What's new for the Desktop and Extensions
The 9.3 release of ArcGIS Desktop and Extensions includes many productivity enhancements and performance improvements, among which are the following.

• Enhancements to handling Bookmarks, Convert Graphics to Features tool, improvements to aliasing and sorting of Tables, as well as honoring joined table properties
• Layers have new properties and Legends now mimic transparency
• PDF conversion now supports PDF Layers and Attribute Export
• Better information regarding progress feedback and error handling of Geoprocessing functions
• Maplex has new options for logically continuous features and options for polygon placement

Other improvements and enhancements in Desktop extensions include Scatter Plot Matrix charting, Time Series Animation, stronger OGC support, as well as full support for Microsoft Vista, certification for Intel and AMD 64 bit processors and updates to the License Manager. Finally, in this session there will be a brief look beyond ArcGIS 9.3 to what's coming in version 9.4 and future releases.
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Eric Bader, ESRI Inc Rob Jones, ESRI (UK)
What's New in ArcGIS Server 9.3?
ArcGIS Server 9.3 continues the tradition set in previous releases of providing a complete, interoperable, and integrated server-based GIS that come with out-of-the-box, end-user applications and services for spatial data management, visualization, and spatial analysis. The ArcGIS 9.3 release is both a quality and an enhancement release for ArcGIS Server. Join this session to learn more about what this new release has to offer, from the new map caching tools to the new JavaScript APIs, improvements in the WebADF, and much more.
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Damian Spangrud, ESRI IncElvin Slavik - MapTel Pty Ltd
Managing Raster Data in a Geodatabase
ArcGIS Mobile is the newest client for the ArcGIS platform, and along with ArcPad 7.2, it is enabling organizations to rapidly deploy mobile mapping and GIS editing tools to their field-workers. This session will provide an introduction to the new ArcGIS Mobile 9.3 release, covering the out-of-the-box Windows Mobile applications and the software development kit provided with ArcGIS Server, as well as new features in ArcPad 7.2 that enable better integration for mobile GIS applications. Also during this session will be a brief discussion of how the technology is evolving beyond the 9.3 release.
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Craig Gillgrass, Damian Spangrud, ESRI Inc
What's New in ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad?
Raster data can be stored and managed in a geodatabase (ArcSDE, personal, or file geodatabase). This session will discuss the three raster data models supported in a geodatabase: raster dataset, raster catalog, and a feature class with a raster field as well as the recommended data loading workflows within an enterprise geodatabase environment for each of them.
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Rob Elkins, ESRI IncMike Branscomb, ESRI (UK)
What's New for the Geodatabase?
ArcGIS 9.3 continues to build on the improvements to the Geodatabase from previous releases, focusing on; how users distribute and share data, conflict and change detection management and access to the Geodatabase with support for more data sources such as PostGreSQL and support for Direct Connect to previous releases of the Geodatabase. ArcGIS 9.3 is also a quality focused released for the Geodatabase. Attend this session to learn about these enhancements and how they can help you and your organization, as well as a discussion of what we’re planning for future releases.
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The fundamentals of ESRI GIS

Sarah Lewin, Peter Wilkinson – ESRI (UK)
An Introduction to ESRI GIS
ESRI has been developing GIS software for 38 years. Over that time a significant number of organisations and individuals have invested their time and trust in ESRI. As technology has developed over these past decades ESRI software has continued to provide the very best GIS software possible.
This session is intended as an introduction to the ESRI product stack for and will provide a solid platform for the presentations that follow. We will introduce ArcGIS Desktop, Server, Mobile and the Geodatabase, demonstrating their capabilities and how they can benefit your organisation.
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Mark Tudball - ESRI (UK)
Editing data in ArcMap
To minimize the cost of maintaining and updating geographic information, it is important that the tools and workflows for data editing be as streamlined and productive as possible. ArcMap supports this through the provision of a rich editing environment for efficiently handling different editing practices and tasks.
This session will explore how to improve editing performance, maintain spatial data integrity, and better leverage the available tools and functions. It will also look at how editors can find the tools they need to use.
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Will White, Paul O’Pray – ESRI (UK)
Using geoprocessing models to streamline workflow
Geoprocessing allows the automation of GIS tasks and is a vital part of most GIS operations. Using ModelBuilder a user can work in a graphical environment to chain together these operations to create, manage and perform complex spatial analysis.
This session will cover how to implement key aspects of Geoprocessing and will illustrate the use of Modelbuilder. It will demonstrate how to export your models to scripts to produce documented workflows that can be repeated and shared amongst users.
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Emma Sandison, Mark Clews – ESRI (UK)
Presenting your data – map preparation, graphs, visualisation, hard copy, map services
This session introduces the many ways in which you can present your data in an accurate, meaningful and informative way to a wide audience of GIS and non-GIS users.
It will demonstrate the use of ArcMap to set up data, work in the layout view, make use of representations for symbology editing, and the new graphing tools. It will also explore the various export, printing and publishing tools in ArcMap to save and distribute maps.
It will conclude by looking at the creation of map services using ArcGIS Server and how these can be consumed in applications including web browsers and ArcGIS Explorer.
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Alan Sampson, Rob McPherson - ESRI (UK)
Data interoperability and the FME extension
The ESRI ArcGIS Data Interoperability Extension offers comprehensive data integration capabilities across the ArcGIS Desktop, Engine and Server products.
This session will cover the added data format support available in the Desktop applications and how to work with them. Geoprocessing integration will be explored looking at data translation using the Data Interoperability Tools toolbox and the use of interoperability data sources within ArcGIS Geoprocessing tools, models, and scripts. The Workbench application will also be discussed in the context of data transformation and creating custom formats (dynamic data transformation).
The session will conclude with an introduction to the use of ArcGIS Engine and ArcGIS Server Data Interoperability extensions, which will include using ArcGIS Server as a data download hub.
Demonstrations will be used throughout the presentation to illustrate key concepts and where possible, tips n tricks learnt through real world experience.
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Simon Weaver, Miguel Paredes - ESRI (UK)
Working with GB data - OS MasterMap
ESRI (UK)'s Productivity Suite provides a comprehensive set of productivity tools for ArcGIS to enable users to improve business processes and reduce workload using GB dataset from Ordnance Survey.
This workshop will explore the key features of the ProductivitySuite for succeeding with OS MasterMap data. It will demonstrate a number of scenarios; using ESRI (UK)'s Locator Hub with OS MasterMap Address Layer 2, OS MasterMap Topography Layer change only update and routing using Network Analyst and OS MasterMap Integrated Transport Network (ITN) Layer. It will also look at the new features in the latest 1.3 release, including the benefits of the change-only update preview tools.
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ESRI Solution Products

Gareth Walters - ESRI (UK), GeoWise
Introducing Instant Atlas
InstantAtlas enables information analysts and GIS professionals to create highly-interactive web solutions that combine statistics and GIS data to improve data visualization, enhance communication, and engage people in more informed decision making. Professional analysts and researchers use InstantAtlas to present data behind issues, monitor key indicators and track performance against targets at local, regional and national levels in a wide variety of public and private organisations.
The InstantAtlas platform comprises of three off-the-shelf, scalable software solutions:

• InstantAtlas Desktop
• InstantAtlas Data Server
• InstantAtlas Spatial Server

The presentation will focus on the InstantAtlas Desktop application in partnership with ArcGIS and the Microsoft Office data managers. We shall also present how to use templates, the wizard driven publisher and design editor to generate creative and simple to use Flash map reports.
So come along and see how ArcGIS and InstantAtlas can enhance visual communication of location-based statistical data by integrating InstantAtlas reports and server technology.
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Emily Martin, Dave Tong – ESRI (UK)
Working with core ArcGIS Desktop extensions
This session is an introduction to the ESRI ArcGIS Desktop extensions. It will show how they can be used not just for analysis, but also to improve productivity or to provide a complete solution toolset. Through a selection of real world demonstrations attendees will gain a better understanding of the core extensions and how they can be applied in everyday life.
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Sandi Belson - ESRI Inc, Robert Sharpe - ESRI (UK)
PLTS - Streamlining your production workflow and ensuring data quality
In a production environment, an efficient system is the key to getting the job done on time while maintaining a high level of quality. The Production Line Tool Sets (PLTS) for ArcGIS is a collection of turnkey software applications developed to extend ArcGIS for high-volume database production, maintenance, quality control (QC) and cartographic product generation. The Job Tracking for ArcGIS (JTX) extension, a component of PLTS, offers workflow management tools that help guide GIS processes within an organization. This seminar will cover using JTX and PLTS together in a data and cartographic map production environment. Topics include the JTX interface, editing and data QC with PLTS, and creating a map series using MPS-Atlas.
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Elvin Slavik – MapTel, Mark Shaw, ESRI (UK)
Building mobile solutions using ArcPad
This session will provide an overview of building mobile solutions with ArcPad, ESRI's software for mobile GIS and field mapping. The emphasis being on the current release of ArcPad, 7.1.1, and the upcoming ArcPad 7.2 release.
Topics will include:

• ArcPad's out-of-the-box functionality and operating principles
• How ArcPad integrates with ArcGIS in the enterprise, geodatabases and mobile GIS workflows
• ArcPad desktop tools, including the ArcPad Data Manager, its purpose and improvements in the mobile GIS workflow
• Introduction to the ArcPad AXF "lightweight geodabase" format and how it integrates with the enterprise ArcGIS geodatabase delivering new capabilities such as support for domains, sub types and related tables without the need for customisation, and simplified deployment of data to the field
• Customisation capabilities to deliver focused field solutions with tailored toolbars, data input forms and scripts
• New geoprocessing tools to automate workflow activities using ArcGIS models
• Demonstrations of ArcPad and it associated to tools
• What’s coming in ArcPad 7.2, including the user interface improvements and the integration of ArcGIS Server into the ArcPad field workflow

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Paul Hardy, Rob Sharpe – ESRI (UK)
Making a better looking map in ArcGIS, using Maplex and cartographic representations
This seminar will present an overview of the advanced cartographic functionality and text placement capabilities of ArcGIS, then go into detail on practical aspects of using them for clear visual presentation and map production.
It will demonstrate the power of Cartographic Representations and of the Maplex for ArcGIS labelling extension, to produce high quality mapping output. We will concentrate on ArcGIS Desktop but will briefly cover the considerations that need to be made when deploying cartography via ArcGIS Server.
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Sandi Belso, Susan Herdinan - ESRI Inc. Tammy Cooper, ESRI (UK)
The Job Tracking Extension (JTX) for ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Server
Job Tracking for ArcGIS (JTX) extends ArcGIS to incorporate a spatially enabled enterprise workflow management system that lets you centrally manage your GIS operations from within the ArcGIS framework while integrating seamlessly with your non-GIS enterprise workflows. Join the JTX team for demonstrations of this extension, which is available for ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Server. See how the new Job Tracking for ArcGIS Server complements JTX for ArcGIS Desktop by allowing users to organize, centralize, and standardize project workflows in a flexible and distributed environment.

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Developing with ESRI GIS

Rob Elkins - ESRI Inc
The Developers road map for ArcGIS
ArcGIS 9.3 is a complete developer platform that includes a rich framework for developers to build a wide range of GIS applications. This session provides an overview of the ArcGIS developer options. It will cover the various APIs available and the different types of applications that can be developed by Web, Mobile, and Desktop developers. This session will also provide a roadmap to the other developer sessions offered at the conference.
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Rob Elkins - ESRI Inc. Mark Lewin - ESRI (UK) Developing ArcGIS Engine applications using .NET and Java
ArcGIS Engine offers a complete solution for building GIS applications with .NET or Java. The product contains a rich set of software components and an accompanying software developer kit (SDK) that developers can use to build a wide variety of specialized applications. The ArcGIS Engine 9.2 SDK for .NET includes a number of getting started tutorials, migration documents, and "how to" help topics, along with a set of integrated Visual Studio .NET tools that enable developers to be more productive with everyday programming tasks. This session will introduce ArcGIS Engine to developers and illustrate how the software can be used to build a number of real-world applications right out of the box with very little programming.
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Stuart Mellanby, Will Crick - ESRI (UK)
Delivering Solutions with ArcGIS Server Java Edition
This presentation will discuss how to leverage the architecture and developer APIs of ArcGIS Server Java Edition for Windows and Linux, to deliver enterprise web based solutions. The underlying architecture of the Java Edition of ArcGIS Server will be presented, followed by information on how to deploy, configure and secure the platform in an enterprise environment.
The Java Web ADF developer API will then be presented and its framework discussed. Examples of how to create applications using Geoprocessing and the Task framework will be demonstrated along with patterns of how to extend the Web ADF with AJAX.
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Rob Elkins, Robert Dunfey - ESRI Inc. Mike Branscomb - ESRI (UK)
Developing solutions with ArcGIS Explorer SDK
ArcGIS Explorer offers a powerful platform for deploying ArcGIS capabilities throughout an organisation or on the Web. This session will focus on customising and extending ArcGIS Explorer using custom tasks and GIS services. In this session, you will learn what the ArcGIS Explorer Object Model is and what can be done using it, how to implement a custom task, how to share and deploy custom tasks, and how to integrate ArcGIS Explorer with other Web services.
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Paul Barnes, Matt Toon - ESRI (UK)
Creating mashups using the ArcGIS Javascript API
ArcGIS Server 9.3 introduces a new ArcGIS JavaScript API and ArcGIS JavaScript extensions for Google Maps and Virtual Earth that are powered by a new REST API. Attend this session to learn about these APIs and explore the online SDKs. The main focus will be to show you how to build applications with each of the JavaScript APIs by walking you through the online samples in the SDK and covering best practices.
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Mark Shaw, Steve Dickinson - ESRI (UK)
Developing applications with the ArcGIS Server Mobile SDK
ArcGIS Mobile offers a new software developer kit (SDK) for deployment of occasionally connected mobile mapping and GIS editing applications. This session will look at mobile application development using the SDK to provide an enterprise-ready deployment extending the value of ArcGIS Server.
It will include architecture overview of the framework, best practices for development, publishing ArcGIS Server application-based mobile solutions for on Windows XP and Windows Mobile operating systems, and integration of key mobile technologies such as the Global Positioning System and wireless data services.
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Mark Lewin, Ed Boiling - ESRI (UK)
Building applications using the ArcGIS Server web ADF and ASP.NET AJAX
The ArcGIS Server 9.3 .NET Web Application Developer Framework (ADF) is built on ASP.NET AJAX. This framework has a wealth of new features and options that developers can take advantage of to build dynamic Web applications. This session will discuss techniques for developing Web applications with the ArcGIS Server .NET Web ADF. Attend this session to learn how to utilize AJAX patterns and leverage enhanced capabilities of the .NET Web ADF.
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Track 5 - Hints and Tips

Manal El Sayed - Kacec (ME Region)
Using python scripting to evolve your geoprocessing models
Geoprocessing is a vital part of most GIS operations and it is important to have an efficient and effective framework for managing geoprocessing needs. This session will introduce the ArcGIS geoprocessing framework placing specific emphasis on the scripting environment for automating geoprocessing. The session will discuss how scripting allows the execution of both simple and complex processes highlighting how they can be usd for batch processing. This session will also review the scripting support for geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS, focusing on the use of Python to access and automate geoprocessing functionality.
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Waleed Effat - ESRI NE AfricaWorking with 3d data
3d data is an increasingly important component of a GIS application that enables new levels of analysis and visualisation. ESRI s 3D Analyst is a three-dimensional visualization and analysis extension to ArcGIS. 3D Analyst adds two special map-viewing packages called ArcScene and ArcGlobe to your desktop. ArcScene and ArcGlobe have much the same look and feel of ArcMap, with additional tools for navigating, manipulating, and analyzing 3D data. 3D Analyst also adds additional functionality for creating and editing 3D data to ArcCatalog and ArcMap.
The Session will illustrate on how users can deal with ArcScene and ArcGlobe in a simple way with the help of some Demos emphasizing the following points;

• Components of 3D Analyst
• 3D Data (Creation and Manipulation)
• TIN and raster surface models
• Displaying 3D Data
• 3D Symbols
• Navigating and Viewing in 3D
• Fly-Through and Animation
  
  

Eric Bader - ESRI Inc
Best practice for publishing content through ArcGIS Server
In this session, you will learn tips and tricks for creating maps that are optimized in terms of design and performance for online use. You will also learn guidelines and procedures for (1) organizing and referencing data, (2) presenting and symbolizing information clearly, and (3) optimizing the drawing performance of ArcMap documents. All these will be discussed in reference to optimization for online uses.
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Eric Bader - ESRI Inc.
Implementing security for ArcGIS Server Solutions
Building a secure ArcGIS Server site is a common requirement and concern. This session will focus on understanding the architecture from a security perspective and how it interoperates with native/standard security mechanisms and discuss recommended practices. Topics will include management of users, roles and permissions to GIS services and Web applications, and deployment options. Audience: Anyone involved with ArcGIS Server administration or programming. Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of ArcGIS Server.
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Mark Corbin, Scott Tansley - ESRI (UK)
Performing Network Analysis in ArcGIS
ArcGIS Network Analyst is a powerful extension that enables spatial analysis on transport networks including generating service areas, identifying closest facilities, creating origin/destination cost matrices, and solving vehicle routing problems. This session will provide an introduction to the key features and functions of Network Analyst. Key topics covered will include network specification and construction, use of analysis tools in ArcMap, and integration with the geoprocessing framework. Demonstrations will include operation of the network solvers, addition of custom attributes to a network dataset, the use of dynamic parameters, and automation of network analysis using geoprocessing. The session will also introduce the underlying network dataset which provides an improved connectivity and navigation attribute model for transportation networks.
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Charles Kennelly - ESRI (UK)
Designing a good user interface; creating a UI for an improved user experience
Considered user interface design allows a technically complex process or job to be presented through a usable front end. The absence of this stage in the development process can lead to un-intuitive and cumbersome systems requiring more training and a lack of user acceptance.
This session will introduce the basic concepts of usability in the context of a GIS and how you can apply these to your interface design to improve the user experience.
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Charles Kennelly, Jon Gregson - ESRI (UK)
Architecting ArcGIS Server solutions for performance and scalability
There are a number of aspects to consider when attempting to improve the performance of ArcGIS Server. However, you may not be aware of just how many factors can affect its speed. From simple tweaks to architectural design, this session will discuss how you can go about the process of tuning your applications for ArcGIS Server. Based on real world experience, the session will look at what you need to consider when thinking about the scalability of your system. It will introduce a number of techniques that can be utilised on straightforward test sites to critical enterprise systems with the ability to support hundreds of concurrent users. Whilst based on ArcGIS 9.2, this talk will also look at what's new in ArcGIS 9.3 to help with performance, tuning and scalability.
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