ISPRS at ASPRS AGM

ISPRS Council met on the occasion of the ASPRS annual conference in Reno, Nevada held from April 30th to May 5th. This was an excellent opportunity for council members to meet with the ASPRS executive committee as well as to promote ISPRS. President Ian Dowman addressed more than 1,300 attendees during the opening ceremony, while Secretary-general Orhan Altan and 2008 Congress director Chen Jun met potential exhibitors and other Society dignitaries. Chen Jun was invited to address ASPRS Sustaining Members at their annual breakfast: a perfect opportunity to invite them to participate in the 2008 Congress in Beijing. A stand was set aside in the exhibition hall at which ISPRS was able to show its newly released 15-minute video on photogrammetry, remote sensing and geographic information science. This proved a popular attraction during the Exhibitors’ Reception on Wednesday evening. Promotional material on ISPRS, the Foundation, coming mid-term symposia and the 2008 Congress were also distributed from the stand.

In addition to usual Council business there were several announcements made at the ASPRS meeting that have worldwide implications. The official purchase of Vexcel by Microsoft was formalised at a reception held on May 4th. Also it was announced that Dr Vincent Tao, well known in ISPRS circles, is now director of Microsoft’s MSN Virtual Earth. Several technical and discussion sessions were organised around the theme of Landsat data continuity and proposed government policies on future data access from both government and private-sector satellite data providers. The future of Landsat was featured as a ‘hot topic’ at the Interactive Networking sessions and drew a ‘standing-room only’ crowd.

Representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA presented material on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM, now called Landsat 8) and on the Future of Land Imaging (FLI) Interagency Working Group (IWG). The IWG is conducting a survey to help formulate recommendations for land-imaging policy beyond the LDCM. A final report on its findings is due to be submitted to the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in February 2007. Those interested in this topic may view more information at www.landimaging.gov. The community is invited to provide input and make comments via email addressed to survey@landimaging.gov.

As a special note, Secretary-general Altan celebrated his sixtieth birthday with his ISPRS friends at an intimate dinner held in a beautiful setting alongside Lake Tahoe.