Esri Ireland to host Dublin GIS infrastructure conference
Esri Ireland will hold its first user conference in Dublin, with up to 500 people expected to attend.
The event, titled Building a Stronger Future, will take place at The Round Room in the Mansion House. It will focus on the use of location intelligence in Ireland's critical infrastructure sector and will open with an address by Minister of State for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Frank Feighan.
The conference will bring together GIS professionals, industry leaders and other stakeholders from across the island. The agenda will examine how geospatial data supports decision-making in sectors including energy, transport, broadband and water.
Customer cases
Several organisations will outline how they use mapping and geospatial tools in major infrastructure projects and day-to-day operations. ESB is expected to discuss the role of GIS in work linked to Ireland's Climate Action Plan and its target of reaching net zero emissions by 2040.
Dublin Airport will present how it uses location intelligence to plan infrastructure investment for future growth and expansion. Broadband provider Fibrus will explain how geospatial technology supports its fibre network rollout, while Northern Ireland Water will describe how evidence-led approaches are helping to reduce pressure on wastewater infrastructure.
The programme also includes a panel discussion on infrastructure development, hosted by Gordon Smith, that will explore the sector's challenges and opportunities.
Technology themes
Esri Ireland specialists are also scheduled to speak on topics that are becoming more prominent in infrastructure planning and operations, including artificial intelligence, field operations, GeoBIM and digital twins.
The company specialises in geographic information systems, which help organisations record where events occur and analyse spatial patterns. These tools are widely used by public bodies, utilities, transport operators and private companies to map assets, plan investments and manage networks.
Esri Ireland has operated in Ireland and Northern Ireland since 2002 as Esri's official presence in the market. It works with public and private sector customers and is part of the wider Esri network, a privately held software company with nearly 6,000 employees worldwide.
The conference marks a step up in Esri Ireland's efforts to build a local forum around GIS and infrastructure issues, at a time when governments, utilities and network operators are under pressure to upgrade systems, meet environmental targets and manage demand with tighter budgets and greater scrutiny.
Attendance is free and aimed at professionals involved in infrastructure planning, delivery and operations.