Humans are endowed by an intriguing mind having limitless potential. One of the unique indicators of the vastness of human capability is the development of what we now know as ‘geospatial technologies’. Right from pre-historic age, which marked the genesis of spatial sciences, humans have taken massive steps towards understanding their world spatially. This understanding helped broadened their perspective of themselves and their environment. The ascent of the digital age further enhanced this understanding leading to many innovations in procurement, assessment and application of geospatial data, which greatly contributed to societal growth.

The past decade, specifically, has seen a surge in geospatial technologies. The obscure technology of the 1990s turned into an intense topic of discussion, debate and acceptance within many developing economies. Yet, there were many countries that were struggling for basic infrastructure and incorporation of geospatial technologies seemed somewhat like a luxury to them. Meanwhile, the west which had already assessed the enormous potential of this vital technology moved ahead and created even more sophisticated equipments and thought of even more unique and creative applications of the same. Currently, geospatial is being incorporated in diverse domains from agriculture to banking; urban development to disaster management and climate change to development sector. The list is endless.

As we stand at the turn of the second decade of this century, we are now at the threshold of another milestone in the life cycle of geospatial science, where this technology is being prepared to connect with the masses - the common man. The future seems extremely potent. Map World Forum 2011 shall prove to be one attempt to explore the potency of this science and look at how it can be used to reach to the masses. At this conference, we invite professionals, scientists, researcher scholars and citizens alike from across the globe to come together and explore the various Dimensions and Directions that this industry can achieve in the coming years.

At the heart of this conference is the belief that each one of us has something unique to contribute to another’s growth. There is hope that if countries lend a hand to one another to develop geospatial capabilities, we can create a world that offers a life full of possibilities and comfort for each and every citizen of this planet.