PE&RS 2014 Yearbook

2014 Yearbook Introduction

ASPRS: THE IMAGING AND GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION SOCIETY

The mission of ASPRS: The Imaging and Geospatial Information Society is to promote the ethical application of active and passive sensors the disciplines of photogrammetry remote sensing geographic information systems and other supporting technologies; to advance the understanding of the geospatial and related sciences; to expand public awareness of the profession; and to promote a balanced representation of the interests of government academia and private enterprise.

Geospatial information answers the questions who what when and primarily where. ASPRS is committed to providing the highest quality spatial information to all people for effective decision making and better understanding to improve their quality of life.

The ASPRS Strategic Plan sets forth the goals which represent the focus of the organization that are to be adopted on the national regional and local levels.

Founded in 1934 ASPRS has given increasing service to the scientific user communities and the nation through development of the art and science of photogrammetry remote sensing and geographic information systems.

Scope of Society Interest

Initially the core technologies represented by ASPRS are photogrammetry remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). Supporting technologies include but are not limited to cartography spatial positioning image processing and photo interpretation.

The Society’s integration of core and supporting technologies to real-world applications are currently concentrated in the areas of: mapping; environmental and natural resources; modeling; simulation; visualization; close range; and sociocultural. The Society advances responsible practice through its professional certification program continuing education and workshops publications standards and venues for social and career networking. The ASPRS Certification Program was accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) in January 2013.

Dissemination of Scientific Information

The Society disseminates scientific information through meetings and publications. Publications of the Society include our journal, Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing (PE&RS) published monthly and the basic manuals of the science — Manual of Airborne Topographic Lidar Manual of Photogrammetry Sixth edition; Manual of Remote Sensing Third edition; Manual of Photographic Interpretation Second edition; Manual of Geographic Information Systems DEM Users Manual Second edition; proceedings from technical meetings and symposia; compendiums and monographs on the industry’s hottest topics; and an index to the Journal.

In addition to its publications the Society thrives through local and national meetings and specialty conferences to disseminate knowledge of the science as rapidly and effectively as possible. The national Society is responsible for the development and presentation of the Annual Convention and specialty meetings to help keep professionals up-to-date on new developments and technology in the field. The Society is the U.S. Member of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.

Society Membership

Seven classes of members constitute our Society: Honorary Members who stand preeminent having rendered outstanding service to the Society and the profession; Fellow Members who have been active for at least ten years and who have performed exceptional service in advancing the science and use of the technologies; Active Members — those from whom the Society draws its officers directors and committees; Associate Member — those individuals who are moving from being students to beginning their careers; Student Members — a special class of members established to assure a continuing flow of scientific capability in the field of photogrammetry and remote sensing; Sustaining Members — commercial companies and government agencies who desire to render monetary support to the Society; and Emeritus (life) Members who have maintained continuous membership for 25 years and have reached the age of 65 or for 35 consecutive years and have reached the age of 60.

Governance of the Society

The governance of the national Society is vested in its Board of Directors and its Officers. Responsibility for the day-to-day management of Society affairs rests with the Executive Director. The Society has established and supports a series of committees which are responsible to the President. Their function is advisory. However committee chairpersons may act for the President when directed to do so. The Society is subdivided geographically into 17 Regions some of which have organized additional Chapters. Each of these regions selects its own officers and directors and elects one member to the Board of Directors of the national Society. The Society organization includes six Technical Divisions: Remote Sensing Applications Division Primary Data Acquisition Division Professional Practice Division Photogrammetric Applications Division Lidar Division and Geographic Information Systems Division. The purpose of these Divisions is to bring the Society closer to its members who are ordinarily specialists in a limited phase of the discipline. The Division Directors are members of the Board of Directors of the Society. In addition the Chair of the Sustaining Members Council represents that segment of the membership on the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Student Advisory Council is a non-voting representative of that segment of the membership.

Society Foundation

In 2004 ASPRS launched the ASPRS Foundation Inc. an independent 501 (c) 3 organization that raises invests and grants funds to the ASPRS Awards and Scholarships Program. The original American Society of Photogrammetry (ASP) Foundation was formed initially in 1979 and later transformed to become the International Geographic Information Foundation (IGIF). In late 2003 oversight of IGIF was transferred to The Association of American Geographers (AAG) a sister society and longtime co-sponsor of the IGIF. ASPRS subsequently negotiated an agreement with the AAG for ASPRS to re-establish stewardship over the organization.

The ASPRS Foundation maintains an extensive and broadlybased program that provides grants scholarships loans and other forms of aid to individuals or organizations pursuing knowledge of imaging and geospatial information science and technology and their applications across the scientific governmental and commercial sectors. A key short-term goal of the Foundation is to fully endow all existing ASPRS awards and scholarships. ASPRS has set aside funds from the Society’s reserve fund to match individual ASPRS member and regional contributions to the Foundation. The activities bylaws operating procedures and Board of Trustees are listed at www.asprsfoundation.org and donations may be made online at https://www.asprs.org/Foundation/Donate-to-the-ASPRS-Foundation.html.