WELCOME TO THE GSDI 11 WORLDWIDE CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT MAURO SALEVMINI

GSDI 11 World Conference
Spatial Data Infrastructure Convergence – Building SDI Bridges to address Global Challenges
June 15-19, 2009 - Rotterdam, The Netherlands

See the complete document prepared for distribution to all the participants of the GSDI 11 Conference

The GSDI 11 Conference is a major global event to which organisation EUROGI has been involved since its early start back in 2006.

EUROGI welcomes all the participants to this unique event for all the GI/SDI stakeholders.

WELCOME

EUROGI is proud to celebrate its 15th Anniversary in 2009.

Since the establishment of EUROGI, formally performed on 20 May 1994, many changes have taken place in the world at large and, more specifically, within the European GI community. EUROGI has since its inception both responded to these changes and, within Europe in our GI/SDI sphere have to some extent helped shape the changes.

It has for example consistently collaborated with and complemented the actions of the European Commission, most recently by participating actively in evangelising the SDI principles which form part of the INSPIRE Directive.

Over the last 15 years many relevant achievements may be reported, among which are actions in the 1990s which helped create the climate of support for a European SDI, of which INSPIRE is the product. EUROGI also played an active role as a founding member of the GSDI Association.
EUROGI is however looking into the future through active participation in European GI/SDI projects and the active analysis of the challenges and opportunities being faced by our GI/SDI community.

From the outset EUROGI’s strength has been that it has been built on National GI Associations. However more recently, although still relying on the core representation by National entities, EUROGI has opened up its membership to all European GI/SDI stakeholders, all of whom are now welcome to join us.

The GSDI 11 Conference is taking place at a time of particular crisis, when major challenges of global governance loom large. Building SDI Bridges to address Global Challenges is surely a most appropriate theme in these turbulent times.

EUROGI is firmly of the view that these unsettled times represent a unique opportunity for the GI/SDI communities in Europe and the world to affirm the crucial role that GI/SDI can play in addressing the pressing issues of sustainable economic growth, poverty and underdevelopment, and climate change to name but a few.

On the international level EUROGI has in recent years made a concerted effort to make contributions in an international context, with a particular focus on Africa and Central and Eastern Europe, and also through our involvement in the GSDI Association.

In this context it is probably appropriate to note that in 2007 EUROGI with its Dutch National Association member made the case for GSDI 11 to be held in The Netherlands. Back then we were of the view that in association with the GSDI Association and the National Associations we would be able to organise a most successful conference.

I hope that you the delegates will find the conference informative and useful, and in so doing prove that the trust shown by the GSDI Association in agreeing to our proposal was well founded.
Finally, it is my pleasure on behalf of EUROGI to welcome you all at this GSDI 11 Worldwide Conference.

EUROGI wishes you a fruitful and unforgettable GI/SDI week.

Mauro Salvemini
EUROGI President