Regional Integration Seminar in MundoGEO 2014

(Sao Paulo, May 9^th, 2014). With the purpose of highlighting best practices in Latin America regarding the use of geospatial information in support of the establishment of public policies, CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, sponsored a regional integration seminar in the framework of the Conference and Fair on Geomatics and Geospatial Solutions, held at MundoGEO#Connect LatinAmerica 2014. 

As in previous years, this edition gathered Latin American experts and decision-makers in Sao Paulo. The program included diverse activities such as informative courses, forums, seminars, workshops, and a fair was held to display products and services. These activities addressed geospatial, conceptual, and managerial issues, as well as technological developments, and expert testimonies. 

The relationship between CAF and MundoGEO goes back to 2012 when, through the GeoSUR Program, Webinars were carried out regarding subjects of interest, and news and articles related to this initiative were published. In 2013, GeoSUR won one of the three special awards granted by MundoGeoConnect. 

Founded in 1998, MundoGEO is the specialized communications media company in the geospatial area in the region, connecting professionals of the Geomatic and Geospatial Solutions field who are connected with  governments, the private sector, universities, institutions, and related associations. 

The seminar was chaired by Santiago Borrero, Senior Consultant of GeoSUR, and during the seminar, Eric Van Praag, Program Coordinator, presented the achievements and scope of this initiative and its use for decision-making in Latin America. 

Geospatial initiatives that are considered emblematic due to their development level and their possible impact on public policies in the region, as well as the winners of the GeoSUR Prize in 2012 and 2013, were also presented. Among them stands out the system developed by the International Tropical Agriculture Center in Colombia (CIAT, for its acronym in Spanish). Using this system it is possible to measure deforestation and changes in land coverage in real time in Latin America; develop an integrated map of Mesoamerica created by all the geographic institutes of the region and IDECA, Bogota's Spatial Data Infrastructure. 

During the seminar, the GeoSUR platform was presented as an integrating system of spatial and digital map services in Latin America. 

More information regarding the GeoSUR Program at www.geosur.info