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A Commemoration of the Geospatial Response to the Attack on the World Trade Center and Reflections on 25 Years of Progress
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Hybrid Event
Presented by
Center for Advanced Research of Spatial Information (CARSI)
Hunter College
Master of Ceremonies
Professor Sean Ahearn
Director, CARSI, Hunter College
Hosted by
Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College
47-49 East 65th Street
(between Park and Madison Avenues)
[ Printed Program | View Recording | Photos | Press Release ]
SCHEDULE
4:30 PM – Map Exhibit
First and Second Floors
Guests are invited to view historic maps from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and a commemorative slideshow honoring the role of geospatial technology in the emergency response. In the hours following the attacks, NYCMap—the City’s geographic basemap—became an essential tool for first responders navigating the disaster site. As Professor Ahearn describes in his retrospective for The Explorers Club, firefighters used GIS maps to locate hydrants and guide crews through dense smoke when “it was like feeling parts of an elephant without seeing the whole.” These maps document how geospatial technology helped responders understand the scale of destruction, monitor the evolving “geographic footprint” of Ground Zero, and coordinate recovery efforts in an unprecedented crisis. The materials on display commemorate both the lives lost and the technological innovations that have since transformed emergency management.
5:00 PM – Presentations
Auditorium
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Professor Sean AhearnGreetings from Distinguished Leaders
Provost Manoj Pardasani, Hunter College
Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson, The City of New York
Commissioner Christina Farrell, NYC Emergency Management
Jack Dangermond, Founder & President, Esri
President Dara Mendeloff, NYC GISMOBuilding NYC’s Enterprise GIS (1980-2001)
Professor Sean Ahearn
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Formation of the Emergency Mapping & Data Center
Director Alan Leidner, EMDC, with Deputy Director Wendy Dorf
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GIS Innovations Born from 9/11
Professor Sean Ahearn
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Twenty-Five Years of Geospatial Progress
Executive Director, GIS Joshua Friedman, NYC Emergency Management
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Advancing GIS Leadership & Governance
Alan Leidner, National Geospatial Advisory Committee
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New Horizons in Geospatial Innovation
Professor Sean Ahearn
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Concluding Remarks
Chief Operating Officer Henry Jackson, NYC Emergency ManagementAdjournment for reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres.
7:00 PM – Reception
Four Freedoms Room
This event would not be possible without the generosity and support of the New York City Emergency Management, Esri, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, GISMO, the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, and members of the Hunter College community. CARSI would like to extend our gratitude and sincere appreciation to all involved.
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