The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) will finalise its 2021 calendar of events with the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Symposium slated for November 15th, 2021. This year’s GIS event boasts several top-tier presentations from the region’s leading utility GIS experts. The symposium will also be accompanied by a training workshop on ‘Vegetation Management with GIS’, to be held on November 16th, 2021. This workshop will be facilitated by a highly competent GIS Consultant, Mr. Dave Williams from TruInsights. Its main aim is to empower GIS field teams to leverage GIS in Vegetation Management. CARILEC is confident that this year’s addition of a GIS training workshop will enable not only the sharing of best practices among regional GIS colleagues, but more importantly will facilitate the acquisition of useful GIS application skills and expertise to meet various organisational needs.
Key presentations featured in this year’s event include ‘GIS-driven Operations for a Resilient Electric Grid During a Pandemic’ delivered by Dr. Shawn Charles, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Grenada Electricity Services Limited; ‘Using GIS to Support Business Continuity’, presented by Mr. Ian McKay, Consultant at the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI); and ‘Open-Source Enterprise GIS Tool’, presented by Mr. Rhys Stewart, from the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCO).
CARILEC’s Learning & Development Manager, Ms. Sophia Primus, offered further insight into this year’s GIS Symposium: “The pandemic has not in any way reduced the importance or use of GIS; for that matter, it has received increased attention as a tool to help manage utility decision-making, through interoperability and integration. Therefore, the theme ‘Resilience. Sustainability. Continuity’ accurately highlights the role of GIS in the world’s current climate crisis, disaster restoration, and continuity planning. It is my hope that the symposium’s sessions, discussions, and presentations exceed our delegates’ expectations and that their return on the investment of time, brings superlative value to their GIS related work.”