Can't believe it's nearly a year ago.  Once again we are in full preparation mode for the AGI annual conference and looking forward to it.

We've got a few tricks up our sleeves for this year's exhibition. But I'm just going to have to keep you in suspense. Don't want to let the cat out of the bag too early!

But this is what I can tell you...

We're really proud that we've had both of our papers accepted. So make sure you plan a visit to one of our infamous presentations by either our CTO, Eddie Curtis or our MD, Ian Painter:

Presentation by Eddie Curtis - Wednesday 29 September: 14:30 - 15:00 (Delivering on policy track)

 

Oi! Sir Tim: Hand off my spreadsheet!

Who would have thought that the inventor of the internet would be interested in that spreadsheet on your computer? That’s Open Data for you.

 

More than just a hot topic, recent legislative and government policies such as data.gov.uk and INSPIRE have made it a reality. But do you know what it really means, how it affects you and what you can do to unlock and exploit the benefits?

 

In true Snowflake style, Ian Painter will present this paper to demonstrate real business benefits of Open Data and how you can easily achieve them, big or small, through user communities.

 

You can follow Ian on Twitter: @iapainter

We'll also be submitting the two presentations above as full papers, so if you enjoyed the sessions, read the papers. And if you find it interesting, useful or you just enjoy the read, why not  vote for it in the 'Best Paper' category?!

The infamous georant - A.K.A. The 'AGI Soapbox'

So last year, Ian Painter wowed us all with his Soapbox (honest, we didn't know he had it in him). Nevertheless, it was a resounding victory for Ian on the hot topic of paleaotards vs. neogeo's.

If you didn't catch it, or you're wondering what the soapbox is - take a look at his winning rant.

Behind every neogeographer there is a paleotard > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5IcyFFA1zg

This year, Ian will be attempting to defend his title. Be sure to watch. It's a great session and there is often free 'geo-beer' to get you in the mood.

The INSPIRE framework and all its supporting legislation, implementation dates and general terminology can be very daunting. But it doesn't need to be.

For many, INSPIRE is not a choice. It's a framework that must be complied with. The framework impacts many organisations from service delivery to policy implementation. Yet the benefits extend far beyond just INSPIRE compliance:

• Easier access to spatial data
• Enhanced, structured data infrastructure
• Interoperability through open standards

Many organisations are major data users and producers of spatial data and need to take steps to comply.

But do you know what steps you need to take to comply, when, why and how? 

Well, to help you find out we've created a really short quiz so you can test your basic knowledge. Think of it as INSPIRE for beginners.  There are only four questions, so have a go and find out whether you're INSPIRE ready.

Take the INSPIRE Quiz >>>

And if you think you could benefit with a bit more information, why not take a look at attending one of our popular INSPIRE Essentials training courses. On the course you'll get the lowdown from our INSPIRE guru, Debbie Wilson, from the very beginning right down to action you need to take by when and also what you don't need to do.

Take the INSPIRE Quiz >>>

 Good Luck!

Melissa Burns | Marketing Manager | melissa.burns@snowflakesoftware.com | www.twitter.com/sflakesoftware.com 

Phew. What a week it's been.

Last week saw the annual INSPIRE conference, held in the beautiful city of Krakow. 

With a delegate attendance of over 600 across the four days, the conference agenda was packed with hands on workshops, packed plenary sessions, seven presentation tracks and a comprehensive exhibition.

As silver sponsors of the event, we spent alot of our time getting to meet the delegates down in the exhibition area (did you know it was a converted car park?!).

And when we weren't doing that, we were either taking the other sessions in, presenting our own findings or hosting workshops and demos.

It was a jam-packed agenda. And if I had to sum up my thoughts, here's what I'd say:

• INSPIRE is now on the agenda for organisations across Europe in a very serious way.
• Transformation and schema translation were the buzz words of the conference.
• INSPIRE forms part of a bigger process in data harmonisation and consistency.
• Cross boundary data (across EU/non-EU zones) is an unnecessary challenge.
• Open Standards are key for interoperability and future proofing (think OGC and ISO).
• Real implementations and examples of deployments of INSPIRE services demonstrate real business and organisational benefits.
• Spatial Data and National Spatial Data Infrastructures continue to be top of the agenda for INSPIRE.
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is key. Working out the TCO of an open source versus commercial off-the-shelf implementation (or perhaps a combination of the two) is important for implementations.
• Eye candy is important for exhibitors (think maps, mash ups, 3D visualisations and Google Earth).
• The Wieliczka salt mine is a beautiful tourist attraction well worth a visit, but beware the cave troll guarding the entrance ;)

Did you attend the conference? Have you got any thoughts or take-outs? Let us know in the comments below.

You don't have to miss out

At the conference we unveiled our web feature service (GO Publisher WFS 2.0) product and offered delegates the opportunity to take out a pre-release version, free for 30 days. The great news is that you don't have to miss out.

You can register for your copy of the pre-release version here: http://www.snowflakesoftware.com/campaigns/prerelease.htm

And this is what you can expect:

• INSPIRE ready
• Off-the-shelf software based on open standards
• Works on top of your existing infrastructure - no need for change or costly investments
• Easy to use, easy to deploy, point and click user interface
• Full support for the OGC WFS 2.0 web feature service standard
• On-the-fly-schema translation
• Stored queries
• Temporal queries
• Proven, robust and scaleable

Our CTO, Eddie Curtis also held a workshop and hosted subsequent demonstration sessions on Schema Translations for WFS 2.0. Once again, if you'd like to see a repeat of the popular 20 minute sessions, get in touch with me at melissa.burns@snowflakesoftware.com as I'm currently arranging some webinars.

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave us a message in the comments if you're feeling INSPIRE'd, INSPIRational, un-INSPIRE'd etc etc... (Sorry, couldn't resist it.).

Melissa Burns | Marketing Manager | melissa.burns@snowflakesoftware.com | www.twitter.com/sflakesoftware

With all the final preparations well under way for next week's INSPIRE Conference, here's a reminder of what you can expect from Snowflake and the team.

Workshop

Eddie Curtis will be kicking off the conference agenda with his workshop on Schema translation at 9am on Tuesday 22nd June.

Title: Demonstration of data exchange and reporting within SEIS using INSPIRE Services

When:  Tuesday 22/06/2010 09:00

Where:  Sala Seminaryjna room

Track: Number 6

More information: http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/events/conferences/inspire_2010/abstracts/50.docx

Speaker slot

Debbie Wilson, Snowflake's very own INSPIRE guru will be presenting her paper on some recent work within the Aviation industry on the OGC OWS-7 testbed. A key feature being the final testing and delivery of the WFS 2.0 standard that is being offered as an exclusive pre-release to any INSPIRE attendees.

Title: Modernising Aeronautical Information Management

When: Friday 25/06/2010 14:00 (Please note change of time from original)

Where: Aula Mala 

Track: European Research Projects for GEOSS track

More information: http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/events/conferences/inspire_2010/abstracts/49.docx

Exhibition

Snowflake Software will be in the Auditorium Maximum with their team on hand to help you with any queries at their exhibition stand. They'll be running regular demonstrations with their INSPIRE partner, Envitia of their new unified INSPIRE capability and they'll be taking pre-registration requests for the hot off the shelf GO Publisher WFS 2.0.

Product launch

Snowflake will be unveiling their brand new GO Publisher WFS 2.0 and will be taking registrations for a pre-release copy of the full product.  This is an exclusive for anyone at the INSPIRE conference and can benefit you with the following:

• INSPIRE ready
• Off-the-shelf software based on open standards
• Works on top of your existing infrastructure - no need for change or costly investments
• Easy to use, easy to deploy, point and click user interface
• Full support and testing for the OGC WFS 2.0 standard - a requirement of INSPIRE
• On-the-fly schema translation
• Stored queries
• Temporal queries
• Proven, robust and scalable 

(If you're unable to attend the conference but you're interested in the GO Publisher WFS 2.0 pre-release please get in touch with the team: info@snowflakesoftware.com).

Friends and colleagues at the conference

In addition to our own speaker sessions and workshops, here's a lits of our customers, friends and colleagues who will be speaking about their own projects, that have used GO Publisher to successfully achieve their INSPIRE requirements:

Thursday 24th June - 12:00:  Romanian Integrated Biodiversity Information System (IBIS) - Room: Aula Srednia I

Friday 25th June - 15:00: Benefits of a European Air Quality Data Model for CAFE reporting and Data Exchange - Room: Aula Srednia II

Looking forward to seeing you all next week. Please pop by the stand to say hello.

Melissa Burns | Marketing Manager | melissa.burns@snowflakesoftware.com | www.twitter.com/sflakesoftware  

This weekend, our Chairman, Peter Woodsford received an MBE for his services to the Geographic Information Industry in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. The award is recognition of his contribution to the growing maturity and importance of the Geographic Information industry.

Member of the British Empire

For our overseas friends and colleagues, you might be interested to know that an MBE is an order of chivalry awarded by The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. It is awarded by the Sovereign on advice of the Government.

So naturally we're very proud to have him as our Chairman.

“Although the award is to me personally, I see it as a mark of the growing maturity and importance of the GI industry, and of the contributions towards this of my two companies, 1Spatial (formerly Laser-Scan) and Snowflake Software, the organisations I have worked with (AGI, EuroSDR, OGC and ISPRS) and universities I have been associated with (UCL, Edinburgh and Nottingham) to name those that come most readily to mind".