ACSM Bulletin | August 2011 | #252
Post Survey Summit 2011
"Unity" has been the motto for the Summit since its inauguration in 2003. In at least one aspect the 2011 event did achieve unity—a unity of purpose and goals. It's purpose, to bring surveyors and other geospatial professionals together in the realm of emerging technology, was accomplished. All of us went to San Diego to learn, interact, and come home better equipped for a future where technology is constantly changing how we work, communicate, associate, and, yes, live as private citizens. Naturally, at a Survey Summit, one would be mostly exposed to emerging surveying technology, and we have a glimpse of such technology in several articles in this issue. Stan Pilny's letter, written from the perspective of a young person now entering the field of surveying, is instructive. So is the report on page 10 highlighting parts of the Summit's program or the opinion on page 14 about the role of government in mapmaking. The latter article got me thinking about citizen mapping, and from there it was only a hop to social media. That's the next frontier for associations, especially those attempting to establish and maintain relationships in professional areas they have not been very active in and so build a professional reputation which would communicate the brand they wish to be perceived by. Hence it's pertinent that we address the issue of strategic uses of social media—together with a continued focus on cloud computing because both will change how we work—in forthcoming issues of the ACSM Bulletin. In the meantime, I invite you to enjoy your summer edition of the magazine.