International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS)

International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

In 1910, the International Society for Photogrammetry (ISP) was founded under the leadership of its first President, Eduard Dolezal, from Austria. After 70 years of functioning under its original name, the Society changed its name in 1980 to the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS).

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing is the art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable information from noncontact imaging and other sensor systems about the Earth and its environment, and other physical objects and processes through recording, measuring, analyzing and representation.

The term of photogrammetry was first used in published work in 1867 when the art and science of photography itself was still in its infancy. Over the last 80 years the principal application of photogrammetry has been the compilation of maps from aerial photographs. During the most recent decade, photogrammetry and remote sensing has provided the primary source data for Geographic Information Systems. There has been in addition a continuing development of applications of photogrammetric close-range techniques to many other fields – engineering, architecture, archeology, medicine, industrial quality control, robotics etc.

Surveillance and environmental imaging and interpretative studies from aircraft and earth satellites, using sensors which operate in the various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum -ultraviolet, visible, infrared, thermal, and microwave – have come to be called “Remote Sensing”. There is no special significance, however, in the degree of “remoteness” of the sensor from the object surveyed, and any form of non-contact observation can be regarded as remote sensing. There is no clear-cut distinction between photogrammetry and remote sensing, and it is for this reason that the Society changed its name in 1980.

Except for interruptions during World Wars I and II, the Society has carried on its activities continuously since its founding. These activities culminate every four years at the International Congress on Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. The Congress includes the presentation of scientific and technical papers, technical tours, scientific and commercial exhibits, meetings to conduct the business of the Society, and a social program. The locations of the Congresses from 1910 to 2000 are as follows:

  1. 1913 Vienna, Austria
  2. 1926 Berlin, Germany
  3. 1930 Zurich, Switzerland
  4. 1934 Paris, France
  5. 1938 Rome, Italy
  6. 1948 The Hague, The Netherlands
  7. 1952 Washington, DC, USA
  8. 1956 Stockholm, Sweden
  9. 1960 London, United Kingdom
  10. 1964 Lisbon, Portugal
  11. 1968 Lausanne, Switzerland
  12. 1972 Ottawa, Canada
  13. 1976 Helsinki, Finland
  14. 1980 Hamburg, F.R. Germany
  15. 1984 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  16. 1988 Kyoto, Japan
  17. 1992 Washington, DC, USA
  18. 1996 Vienna, Austria
  19. 2000 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  20. 2004 Istanbul, Turkey
  21. 2008 Beijing, China

The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing is a non-governmental organization devoted to the development of international cooperation for the advancement of photogrammetry and remote sensing and their applications. The Society operates without any discrimination on grounds of race, religion, nationality, or political philosophy. The official languages are English, French and German.

The Society’s scientific interests include photogrammetry, remote sensing, spatial information systems and related disciplines, as well as applications in cartography, geodesy, surveying, natural, Earth and engineering sciences, and environmental monitoring and protection. Further applications include industrial design and manufacturing, architecture and monument preservation, medicine and others.

The principal activities of the Society are:

  1. Stimulating the formation of national or regional Societies of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.
  2. Initiating and coordinating research in photogrammetry and remote sensing.
  3. Holding international Symposia and Congresses at regular intervals.
  4. Ensuring worldwide circulation of the records of discussion and the results of research by publication of the International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.
  5. Encouraging the publication and exchange of scientific papers and journals dealing with photogrammetry and remote sensing.
  6. Promoting cooperation and coordination with related international scientific organizations

The operations of the Society are governed by Statutes and Bylaws adopted in 1968 and as amended in 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008.

To find out more about ISPRS please visit their website: http://www.isprs.org

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