April 9, 2015 (Reston, VA) – MAPPS today announced its annual Federal Programs Conference will be held on Tuesday, April 14 in Crystal City (Arlington), Virginia with presentations by leading Federal agencies.
MAPPS member firm principals will hear presentations by Federal agency officials on programs, budgets, and requirements for the acquisition of geospatial services, data and products by contract from the private sector that are on the horizon. The association will also host a series of liaison meetings with key agencies. These small group discussions between agencies and the private sector focus on issues affecting the relationship between the government and private geospatial firms. Joining MAPPS will be members of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). The day’s events are part of the national surveying, mapping, and geospatial conference, “Collaboration: The Map to the Future”, April 13-16, 2015.
Among the agencies participating in the conference are the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Departments of Agriculture and Homeland Security, as well as USGS, US Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, Army Geospatial Center, BLM, World Bank, National Science Foundation and the Census Bureau.
The keynote address will be presented by Jim Williams, Manager of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Mr. Williams will discuss the current plan for the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace and how private geospatial businesses can become authorized to engage in commercial UAS operation.
“For nearly 25 years, MAPPS has been the only organization in the geospatial community to host a conference of this kind,” said MAPPS Executive Director John Palatiello. “Our members gain valuable insights into business opportunities with Federal agencies.”
MAPPS provides its member firms opportunities for networking and developing business-to-business relationships, information sharing, education, public policy advocacy, market growth, and professional development and image enhancement.