Professional Practice Division

Vision Statement

The quality of spatial data is the responsibility of professionals who practice the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrate their professional activities into all spatial information systems. The Professional Practice Division provides a structured and supportive environment in which the mapping community can establish standards ethical guidelines certification and educational programs to enhance the development and well-being of the Professional science practitioners.

Mission Statement
The mission of the ASPRS Professional Practice Division is to establish and maintain the professional aspects of the mapping sciences.

Niche Statement
The Professional Practice Division will fill these niches:

• Protect the professional stature of the members engaged in the mapping sciences through the thoughtful use application and adherence to the ASPRS Code of Ethics;
• Maintain an open forum for responsible practice for ASPRS and other professional societies;
• Promote prepare support and produce publications workshops and forums regarding professional mapping science applications.
• Initiate and interact with appropriate organizations in the development of standards for ASPRS and the mapping science applications.

Goals and Tactical Actions
Goal 1: Expand and enhance the roles of the private government and academic sectors within the Professional Practice Division.

Tactical Actions:

• Publish an article in PE&RS defining the goals and objectives of PPD mentioning the need for increased participation in PPD activities by representatives of all sectors in the mapping science community;
• Establish a deputy chair position (past Director) to provide support for the incumbent Chair and to insure continuity of PPD activities;
• Solicit (by whatever means are appropriate least expensive and most effective) the identification of issues that are of serious concern to ASPRS members. Provide a mechanism for members to respond to and to participate in the resolution;
• Develop mechanisms to promulgate knowledge of purposes goals and objectives of ASPRS and of the PPD to the general public and others engaged in the mapping sciences.

Goal 2: Maintain productive cooperation between ASPRS and the Management Association of Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS).

Tactical Actions:

• Invite MAPPS participation in ASPRS and PPD activities whenever appropriate;
• Continue coordination of conference sessions and workshops regarding Federal contracting of professional architect and engineering services especially with respect to mapping sciences represented by ASPRS and MAPPS;
• Continue participation in Joint Government Affairs.

Goal 3: Actively support ANSI GIS Standards Committee.

Tactical Actions:

• Establish linkages with the Committee through direct membership. ASPRS will be represented by PPD;
• Report on Standards Committee activities at PPD ASPRS Executive Committee Division Directors and Board of Directors meetings;
• Establish or contribute to a PE&RS column on mapping science activities.
• Continue leadership role within ASPRS by coordinating “standing” sessions or workshops at annual GIS/LIS meetings on standards;
• Coordinate standards activities through the ASPRS Standards Committee.

Goal 4: Coordinate the development and refinement of government and private sector occupational classification guidelines for disciplines represented by ASPRS.

Tactical Actions:

• Continue to represent ASPRS in activities in coordination with the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and the Federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM);
• Communicate goals and objectives of position classification and qualification standards initiatives to ASPRS membership;
• Publish draft classification guidelines in PE&RS for appropriate membership review and comment when an if judged appropriate by OPM;
• Design and implement activities that enhance the visibility prestige and reputation of professional and technical practitioners engaged in the disciplines advanced by ASPRS. Public relations campaigns including public service and educational promotional announcements and use of the printed media as examples.

Goal 5: Provide leadership for the professional certification for photogrammetrist remote sensing scientist and GIS specialist.

Tactical Actions:

• Maintain high visibility of certification programs through appropriate communication mechanisms and continue to monitor the programs in a rigorous professional manner;
• Advocate and promote use of ASPRS certification program to state governments as a means to provide specific supplemental professional registration to practitioners of the mapping sciences;
• Investigate potential for ASPRS certification to evolve into national registration since many states are abandoning sunsetting or failing to commission licensing boards for photogrammetry and GIS