Interest and News Round Out SPAR 2009

SPAR 2009, held from 29th March to 1st April 2009 in Denver (CO, USA) by Spar Point Research welcomed 633 attendees from 27 countries. More than 35 percent of attendees were new to the conference, and 65 percent were end users.  

Areas of high participation included a standing room only inaugural 3D Laser Scanning Boot Camp presented by a subcommittee of the SPAR 2009 Advisory Board; the Mobile Surveying and Mapping track and several exhibitors offering these solutions; data conversion and exporting solution providers; digital heritage preservation and industrial plant presentations; and BIM opportunities. Attendees further strengthened their understanding of 3D imaging capabilities and prospects through six keynote presentations and additional tracks focused on forensic and security planning, civil/transportation, nuclear facilities, managing and leveraging geospatial information, new software technologies and business opportunities, an ASTM E57 3D Imaging Systems Standards update, and a first-time Service Provider Briefings Forum.

Discussions included topics of data collection, integration, processing and use. The range of 3D scanning capabilities and applications has broadened, as have individual and partnering opportunities for engineering firms, surveyors and other service providers. Spar Point CEO Tom Greaves remarked: "The pace of innovation for static and mobile 3D laser scanning technologies both hardware and software has accelerated in the past 12 months. SPAR 2009 attendees were treated with new hardware, new software and new work flows from both established firms and newcomers. The can-do and make-do  spirit of SPAR 2009 attendees is remarkable because it spans the public sector, engineering and surveying organizations both large and small, and some of the industry's most talented and innovative hardware and software firms."