Conference to move to Houston in 2015
April 24, 2014 (Portland, Maine) – The 11th annual SPAR International 3D Measurement & Imaging Conference wrapped up last week at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, gaining accolades from exhibitors and attendees alike as an unparalleled venue for learning about the latest 3D capture, processing and visualization technologies; for comparing and qualifying products in a platform-neutral environment; and for networking with thought-leaders and peers. 862 professionals attended SPAR International 2014, April 14-17.
Casey Fardoun, Sr. Application Specialist at Burns & McDonnell, who was attending SPAR for the third time, said, “What we’ve learned here will save us a lot of time and effort and money, too, because we’ve been exposed to a lot of vendors and technology. It makes you think about what you’re going to do the next time you do a project. I learned something that will save me weeks that I didn’t know existed.”
Matt Byrd, Director of 3D Services for DeWalt Corporation, who was attending his first SPAR, appreciated that SPAR is a platform-neutral event, exposing him to various technologies and the people behind them. “The reason I like SPAR is that it’s open to all hardware and software vendors so you really get to explore all options as far as what type of scanners and technologies are out there,” said Mr. Byrd. “I can do a lot of research on the technology, but I don’t get to meet the people sitting in my office at home.”
The event boasted 130 presenters and panelists who shared best practices for using 3D technologies to save time and money. The conference program had 8 tracks—New Technologies; Civil Infrastructure; Industrial Facilities; Building & Architecture; Forensic and Legal for 3D/Court; 3D Data Management, 3D Resource Utilization and 3D Business Development.
Running alongside the conference program was an exhibition showcasing solutions from leading 3D hardware manufacturers, software suppliers and service providers. Market leaders Autodesk, AVEVA LFM, Bentley, Esri, FARO, Leica Geosystems, Optech, RIEGL USA, Surphaser, Topcon, Trimble, Z+F were among the exhibiting companies. There were 90 booths in all, including 17 first-time exhibitors showcasing innovative products and services.
Exhibitors had the opportunity to showcase their products and services to an audience of decision-makers across multiple markets. Sharad Oberoi, Technical Development Manager for Sanborn, a first-time exhibitor, was at SPAR with an indoor mobile mapping solution. “The response has been amazing,” said Mr. Oberoi. “We thought that people would be excited, but they’re way more excited than I envisioned.” The company was exhibiting to sell its scanning services, but instead found a market it wasn’t expecting, when other service providers expressed their desire to purchase the system. “We also have had interest from government agencies, airports and armed forces who have huge buildings they are struggling to scan with static LiDAR,” said Mr. Oberoi.
Esri’s Terry Martin, who runs the company’s U.S. Air Force Accounts, said “This is an absolutely transformational conference this year– great people, great exhibitors. It’s transformed the way we look at GIS. I’ve seen so many systems here that just make the whole collection of LiDAR and imagery easier, faster, cheaper, and it gives us a way to test our GIS and as-built data. I can’t think of any other place I could have seen so many things in one week.”
“SPAR International is a key event for anyone involved in 3D measurement and imaging,” said Lisa Murray, SPAR Director. “It’s where 3D professionals can access the expert education, strategic contacts, and cutting-edge hardware and software that will have an immediate impact on their work processes and bottom line.”
The next edition of SPAR International will take place March 30 – April 2, 2015 in Houston Texas. For more information, visit www.SPARPointGroup.com/International.
About SPAR International
SPAR International, presented by SPAR Point Group, brings together professionals from diverse markets to discover the newest 3D technologies and workflows to drive efficiency, reduce timelines, save money, improve safety and mitigate risk. For more information, visit www.SPARPointGroup.com/International.
About SPAR Point Group
SPAR Point Group organizes conferences and provides news and information for professionals involved in 3D imaging technologies. Content– delivered in-person and online– gives practitioners tools and information to make better business decisions. SPAR Point Group is wholly-owned by Diversified Communications. For more information, visit www.SPARPointGroup.com.