The world’s cartographers, an internationally minded and intellectually curious group of people, meet every second year at their International Cartographic Conference (ICC). Organised under the auspices of the ICA, the most recent ICCs have been held across our planet on four separate continents: Ottawa (1999), Beijing (2001), Durban (2003) and A Coruña (2005). At each venue the message of the continuing importance of cartography has been broadcast. In 2007 the global cartographic community will meet in Moscow from 4th to 10th August for the 23rd ICC. Full details can be found on the conference website at
www.icc2007.com. The Programme Committee is already considering the wide range of abstracts which have been submitted, assisted in this task by the chairs of ICA Commissions and Working Groups who together constitute the leading researchers in cartography today. The full scope of cartographic research, as shown by the titles of the Commissions alongside this column, will be addressed in Moscow.

In addition, practical cartographic activity will be considered. ICA is an important co-ordinating body for national mapping agencies, commercial map publishers and software producers. Together these organisations define the nature of contemporary cartographic design, production and dissemination. In addition to their contribution to the conference, such organisations, many of which are affiliate members of ICA, will be participating in the large International Map Exhibition, a long-established part of the ICC. Such exhibitions display the very best cartographic products and, indeed, there are competitions for the most striking and effective map representations in a number of categories. There will also be a technical exhibition by commercial and industrial companies and sponsors showing the latest Geomatics technology to assist in the handling of spatial data.

National delegates to the fourteenth General Assembly, held alongside the ICA, will consider the administration of ICA. Elections are held during GA for officers of the association and votes taken on the establishment of the commissions. International meetings such as this provide an ideal opportunity for cartographic researchers and practitioners to network and exchange ideas. The geomatics disciplines are experienced in presenting prestigious conferences and in providing good quality events for delegates. The prime associations in our field, those making regular contributions to this magazine (FIG, ISPRS, ICA), ensure that the timing of such conferences is co-ordinated such that geomatics is addressed at a high level every year somewhere in the world.

This year all GIM International readers are encouraged to travel to Moscow, a fascinating, historic and appropriate venue for our meeting. Note the dates in your diary, and “Welcome to Russia”.