How Geospatial Conferences are Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak

by | Mar 16, 2020

With various health organizations advocating against gatherings in large crowds, many conferences are having to decided whether or not to go ahead with their scheduled conferences this spring. Here's a growing list of how geospatial conferences are reacting to the novel coronavirus outbreak (known as COVID-19). Conference are listed in order of original events dates with organizations issuing blanket COVID-19 policies covering multiple events listed first.

Send updates about your geospatial conference to [email protected] to be added to this page.

Blanket Conference Policies

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has issued a statement on the impact of COVID-19 on IHO activities noting, the IHO is actively monitoring the situation in order to maintain as best as possible the activities of the Secretariat while striving to protect the health of its personnel and Member State representatives Depending on the evolution of the virus, measures may affect the regular operations of the Secretariat, the participation of Secretariat´s staff members in events outside Monaco and the conduct of meetings of IHO bodies in Monaco. More: Impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on IHO activities

March Geospatial Conferences

RSCy2020 Conference on Remote Sensing and Geoinformation of Environment “ Postponed

The ʽEighth International Conference on Remote Sensing and Geoinformation of Environmentʼ  that was scheduled to take placed between 16-18 March, 2020 in Cyprus has been postponed. More: RSCy2020

Ramsey Map Center Talks “ Postponed

Two upcoming March talks at the David Ramsey Map Center have been postponed: the Emanuele Lugli talk “ March 16, 3.15 pm and the Peter Hiller talk “ March 31, 3pm. These talks will be rescheduled once concerns dissipate. More: Current and Upcoming Events “ David Ramsey Map Center

International Lidar Mapping Forum (ILMF) Geo Week “ Postponed

Organizers made the decision on March 10 to postpone Geo Week 2020. Geo Week will no longer be held from March 23 “ 25 in Washington D.C. The new conference date will be announced at a later time. More: Novel Coronavirus Update “ Geo Week.

Geo Connect Asia “ Postponed to 2021

Geo Connect Asia 2020 has been postponed until 2021 in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Originally schedule from March 18 “ 19, 2002, the conference will be held from March 24 to 25, 2021 in Singapore. More: Announcement of new dates for Geo Connect Asia

FME World Tour 2020 “ Postponed

The planned FME World Tour 2020 events in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia has been postponed. From the organizers, offer two web sessions on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in which we will present the news of the new version of FME 2020. More: FME World Tour 2020

GXP360° Professional Exchange and Workshop “ Cancelled

BAE Systems has cancelled the GXP360° Professional Exchange and Workshop  which was scheduled to held the week of March 23 “ 27, 2020 in San Diego, California. All registered attendees will be receiving a refund. More information about the cancellation can be found on the GXP360° page.

GIS/Valuation Technologies Conference “ No Change

Sponsored by URISA and IAAO, the  GIS/Valuation Technologies Conference being held from March 23-26, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky will proceed. From the sponsors: URISA and IAAO are taking all developments concerning the coronavirus (Covid-19) very seriously and will continue to closely monitor the situation. There are no plans to postpone or cancel the GIS/Valuation Technologies Conference. We have received no cancellations from exhibitors at the event, and registrations are tracking higher than previous years. In the meantime, we are working on a case-by-case basis with each of our members and participants who have specific travel issues due to the virus. More information can be accessed from the GIS/Valuation Technologies Conference page.

GIS/SIG 29th Annual Conference “ Postponed

The GIS/SIG 29th Annual Conference originally set to take place on March 30 in New York State has been postponed. More: Annual Conference Postponed

April Geospatial Conferences

AAG Annual Meeting “ Cancelled

The upcoming April 6 “ 10 annual AAG meeting in Denver, Colorado has been cancelled. The organizers note, In-person Annual Meeting in Denver is cancelled. AAG looks to facilitate virtual meeting options and postpone key aspects of the meeting More information about the status of this geography conference can be found on the AAG Annual Meeting page.

ICA Mountain Cartography Workshop “ Cancelled

Originally set to take place from April 14 “ 18 in Snow Mountain Ranch, CO, this workshop has been cancelled.

California Geographical Society “ Spring Meeting “ Cancelled

Guided by an abundance of caution about the current outbreak of COVID-19 in the Bay Area, the California Geographical Society board has made the decision to cancel this year's conference, scheduled April 17-19 in Oakland. More: CGS Conferences

GEOINT 2020 Symposium “ No change

The GEOINT 2020 Symposium will proceed as planned in Tampa, Florida from April 26 to 29. Organizers are monitoring reports on the COVID-19 situation. More: GEOINT 2020 Symposium and COVID-19

GIS for a Sustainable World Conference “ No Change

Co-hosted by UNOSAT and Esri, this conference is being held from April 28“29, 2020 in Geneva, Switzerland is being held as scheduled. Read more details.

May Geospatial Conferences

Esri Petroleum GIS Conference “ No Change

This Esri-hosted conference will be held as scheduled from May 6 to 7 2020 in Houston, Texas. Read more details.

GeoHab 2020 “ Postponed

Originally slated to take place in Venice, Italy from May 18 “ 22, this marine geology and biological mapping conference has been postponed. The new dates for GeoHab 2020 are still being considered by the organizers. More: GeoHab 2020 conference page.

June Geospatial Conferences

Collision Conference “ Moved Online

Originally scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada from June 22 “ 25, 2020, the Collision Conference is being moved online for 2020. Attendees who purchases tickets for the 2020 event will have those tickets moved to the 2021 event. More about the decision can be found in the Collision Conference press release about the move.

September Geospatial Conferences

GIScience 2020 “ No Change

Organizers are closely monitoring the novel coronavirus situation. Currently, there are no plans to alter the current schedule or location. GIScience 2020 is set to take place in PoznaÅ„, Poland from September 15 “ 18, 2020. More: GIScience 2020.  

Past Conferences (Original Dates Have Already Passed)

Esri Partner Conference “ No Change

The Esri Partner Conference is still slated to be held from March 7 “ 9 in Palm Springs. More information about the steps Esri is taking in response to the novel Coronavirus can be found on the Partner Conference FAQ page.

Esri Developer Summit “ Moved Online

Esri recently announced that it has canceled its in-person conference in Palm Springs, California and will be offering the Developer Summit as a virtual conference instead. The Plenary Session will be live-streamed on Tuesday, March 10, at 8:30 a.m. (PDT). All pre-conference workshops will be moved to a MOOC setting to be announced at a later date. More information about Esri's decision can be found via the 2020 Esri Developer Summit FAQ page.

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