News and Resources

BETHESDA Md. January 7 2015 – The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) presented a number of prestigious awards during the Pecora 19 Symposium in conjunction with the Joint Symposium of ISPRS Technical Commission I and IAG Commission 4 in Denver Colorado November 17 – 20 2014.  

On Tuesday November 18th Dr. Frank Kelly Director USGS EROS presented the 2014 William T. Pecora Awards. The William T. Pecora Award is presented annually to individuals or groups that make outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth by means of remote sensing. The award is sponsored jointly by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

2014 Group Award – Landsat 8 Team – For outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth’s land surface and surrounding coastal regions.
The Landsat Data Continuity Mission was successfully launched on February 11 2013. Renamed Landsat 8 on May 30 2013 this mission continues the goals established by William Pecora and other visionaries 50 years ago. The Landsat 8 Team consisting of NASA USGS and industry partners has performed at the highest levels from the beginning of mission development to the present.

BETHESDA Md. December 22 2014 – The Pecora 19 Symposium in conjunction with the Joint Symposium of ISPRS Technical Commission I and IAG Commission 4 was held November 17 – 20 2014 at the Renaissance Denver Hotel in Denver Colorado with great success for all involved and in attendance. 

The Symposium welcomed over 480 attendees from more than 25 countries around the globe for a unique and thought provoking two and a half days of technical sessions. All industry segments were well represented with 39% of the attendee base from the Commercial side 29% from Academia and 32% from Government.  More than 190 speakers presented in 35 sessions ranging in topic from “UAS and Data Analysis” to “Landsat and Sentinel” “Land Cover Change” “Mobile Mapping Technologies” and many more. “The caliber of sessions at this symposium has been the best I’ve experienced …” said one attendee.

BETHESDA Md. May 5 2014 – John R. Jensen and Stanley A. Morain were inducted as Honorary Members of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) on Tuesday March 25 at the ASPRS 2014 Annual Conference in Louisville Kentucky.

Initiated in 1937 this life-time award is given for professional excellence in recognition of individuals who have rendered distinguished service to ASPRS and/or who have attained distinction in advancing the science and use of the geospatial information sciences.  It is awarded for professional excellence and for at least 20 years of service to ASPRS.

John R. Jensen PhD

Dr. John Jensen was made an ASPRS Honorary Member for his lasting contributions to the field of remote sensing and GIScience in the geographical environmental biophysical and urban sciences through his research publications leadership and undergraduate and graduate teaching.  He taught hundreds of undergraduate students and mentored 62 Masters and 35 PhD graduate students to completion in the Department of Geography at the University of South Carolina. In effect he helped educate a generation of remote-sensing scientists who are now making significant contributions in academia government and industry.

Stanley A. Morain PhD

Dr. Stanley Morain was made an ASPRS Honorary member for his service of over 38 years Dr. Morain carved a distinguished career in remote sensing recognized locally nationally and internationally. His contributions focused on educating his students and developing professional ties to research communities in many developing countries on the applications of remote sensing in several societal benefit areas but primarily in agriculture transportation and public health. In pursuit of his vision he worked with many research teams and governments in Latin America Asia and Africa.

Dr. Jensen and Dr. Morain received their awards at the ASPRS 2014 Annual Conference in Louisville Kentucky on Tuesday March 25. The Honorary Member is the highest award an ASPRS member can receive and there are only 25 living Honorary Members of the Society at any given time. Candidates are chosen by a Nominating Committee made up of the past five recipients of the award and chaired by the most recent recipient. The award consists of a plaque and certificate and presented by the ASPRS Foundation.

BETHESDA Md. May 6 2014 — The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) held their 2014 annual conference for the first time with the co-located Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) Workshop in Louisville Kentucky March 23 through 28 with great success and an effective partnership.

BETHESDA Md. August 18 2014 – The first mapping calibration test course for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will be established by ASPRS at the Reno Stead airport an FAA-designated UAS test site.  The course will include ground surveyed targets of varying height radiometric targets undulating surfaces “surprise” targets and simulated flight restricted areas.  The first UAS flights of the test course will be conducted in conjunction with the UAS MAPPING 2014 RENO symposium on October 21-22 2014 in Reno Nevada.

Scott Perkins John McCombs Jason Stoker and Frank Taylor elected as Assistant Division Directors

BETHESDA MD MARCH 7 2014 — ASPRS The Imaging and Geospatial Information Society announces the results of its 2014 elections for National Officers. The Tellers Committee reported that Charles Toth of The Ohio State University (OSU) won the election to become ASPRS Vice President for 2014. With the installation of officers at the ASPRS Annual Conference in March Stewart Walker moves into the position of President; Lynn Usery becomes President-Elect; and Stephen DeGloria becomes Immediate Past President.

Vice President-Elect Charles K. Toth is a Research Professor in the Department of Civil Environmental and Geodetic Engineering at OSU. He received his MSc in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Geo-Information Sciences from the Technical University of Budapest Hungary. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal and proceedings papers and he is the co-editor of the widely popular book LiDAR: Topographic Ranging and Scanning Principles and Processing. Toth joined ASPRS in 1988. From 2004-2008 he served as Assistant Director then Director of the Photogrammetric Applications Division (PAD). Since 2008 he has served as the ASPRS Eastern Great Lakes Region National Director. He is also President for the 2012-2016 Congress Period of Technical Commission I for the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS).

Toth said “ASPRS is the premier society for geospatial information science and engineering professionals uniquely blending government the private sector and academia. It is absolutely essential for the entire society to maintain its position of leadership as the broad use and application of remote sensing and geospatial data reaches many users who are not traditional members of ASPRS.” Toth continued “we must be more proactive demonstrating our knowledge and competence to solve problems for humankind including disaster response environment climate change peacekeeping and food supply… I look forward to serving as an officer of ASPRS with honor and responsibility.”

January 27 2014 (Portland Maine) – Organizers of the International LiDAR Mapping Forum (ILMF) taking place February 17-19 2014 in Denver are delighted to announce that Michael Hauck PhD. the new Executive Director of ASPRS will be speaking at ILMF 2014.  “We’re thrilled to have Dr. Hauck address the ILMF audience at the 11th annual ILMF,” said Lisa Murray Director of International LiDAR Mapping Forum. “ASPRS plays a vital role in the LiDAR industry as it is the key organization that sets data format and accuracy standards for kinematic laser scanning and we are grateful for its support of ILMF.”