As I begin to review the submissions for the Younger Geospatial Professional of the Year Award, co-sponsored by SPAR 3D 2019 and Leica Geosystems, it reminded me that I need to make my travel plans.
HxGN LIVE 2019 occurs a couple of weeks after SPAR 3D in Las Vegas, NV. I have not attended HxGN LIVE for a number of years, but I think it’s a great opportunity to see and hear the latest from Leica Geosystems and the other companies that make up Hexagon, including Autonomous Stuff.
Ola Rollen, Hexagon CEO, a few years ago said he was not interested in the automotive lidar market because the profit margins were too slim, but he has obviously changed his mind. AutonomouStuff is more of a systems integrator than a lidar manufacturer which is admittedly a big difference.
So let’s take a brief, high level look at both events in order to help you to make your decision about whether it makes sense for you to attend. First of all, although it may be obvious, these are two very different conferences in concept. One is a vendor-neutral industry event and the other is a user conference. You have to decide which meets your needs.
SPAR 3D takes place May 21 – 23 in Anaheim, CA and HxGN LIVE will be held in Las Vegas, NV from June 11 – 14. The SPAR 3D tag line is “The Future of 3D Technology is Here.” The HxGN LIVE theme is “Shaping Smart Change.” They sound pretty similar. HxGN LIVE is at the Venetian while SPAR 3D is at the Anaheim Convention Center – big difference.
From a technology point of view SPAR 3D 2019 will provide a broad overview of the 3D industry with a trade show hall full of vendors. Right now the website is showing 93 exhibitors are signed up. SPAR 3D is co-located with AEC NEXT which is an attempt to expose the two groups to each other mainly through the common exhibit area and social events.
HxGN has a trade show that they refer to as The Zone. You have to be invited by Hexagon to exhibit. It is reserved for their business partners which is a major difference when comparing the two events.
HxGN LIVE has six major tracks which mirror their business divisions while SPAR 3D’s content is focused on application areas such as industrial facilities, process and power, infrastructure, surveying and mapping and large construction. Wait a minute, that is a major shift from the past where the emphasis was on application areas, not market segments. These application areas are quite similar to the Hexagon business divisions. Take note!
That’s it for now. I may do a follow-up on the programs, but I think you have the big picture.
For more information on SPAR 3D 2019 click here and for HxGN LIVE 2019 click here.
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