ASPRS Awards

The Estes Memorial Teaching Award was inaugurated in 2003 in honor of Professor John E. “Jack" Estes, teacher, mentor, scientist, and friend of ASPRS. Funding for the Award, initially provided by a corporate sponsor, lapsed in 2016. In 2020-21, the ASPRS Foundation trustees, in recognition of the important niche this Award occupies in ASPRS, reallocated a portion of the Foundation’s general-purpose funds to fully endow the Award.

This Award, which includes a presentation plaque and a check, is intended to be presented annually. The purpose of the Award to recognize individual achievement in the promotion of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) technology and applications through educational efforts. Award recipients are chosen based on documented excellence in education, teaching, mentoring, and training.

Nominations for the Award are solicited from active members of ASPRS, including representatives from ASPRS’s Regions, by the Estes Award Selection Committee and are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Professional duties with a significant role in education, teaching, mentoring, and training in the areas of remote sensing and GIS
• Documented excellence in education, teaching, mentoring, and training
• A demonstrated commitment to the advancement of student learning in remote sensing and GIS

The Photogrammetric Award (Fairchild) is presented by ASPRS through the ASPRS Foundation, with the support of Lockheed Martin. The purpose of the Award is to stimulate the development of the art of aerial photogrammetry in the United States.

The Award consists of a silver presentation plaque mounted on a walnut wood panel. Eligibility to receive the Award is restricted to current ASPRS members who have been members for at least three years prior to the date of selection as recipient.

The selection committee may solicit nominations from the general membership or specific organizational structures such as the Divisions or Regions of ASPRS. The selection committee evaluates each nominee for his or her contribution during the year(s) preceding the Award. The merits of candidates are considered by the Committee with respect to the following points:

1. An outstanding invention or design involving any type of equipment that applies to the art of aerial photogrammetry.
2. Any outstanding method developed for the use of aerial photographs and/or imagery. This does not relate only to the use of photographs for mapping but is intended in a general sense.
3. Outstanding research for study along aerial photogrammetric lines.
4. Outstanding effort for the general advancement of the art of photogrammetry.

The designation of Fellow Member is the second highest honor ASPRS bestows on any individual.

As outlined in the Society’s bylaws, a Fellow Member shall be an individual who is an active member of the Society and has performed exceptional service in advancing the science and use of the mapping sciences. Fellow Member status is awarded for professional excellence and for service to the Society.

Nominees must have made outstanding contributions in a recognized Society specialization whether in practice, research, development, administration, or education in the mapping sciences. Nominees must be active members of the Society at the time of their nomination and must have been active members for the last ten consecutive years.

Candidates are nominated by any active member of the Society, except members of the ASPRS Board of Directors, recommended to the Fellows Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Awards Committee, and elected by the ASPRS Board of Directors.

Up to 0.3 percent of the Society’s active members may be elected as Fellows in any one year. Members of the ASPRS Board of Directors are ineligible for election.

Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor ASPRS bestows on any individual.

The Lifetime Achievement award recipient shall be an individual who has rendered distinguished service to the Society and/or who has attained distinction in photogrammetry, remote sensing or the related sciences, deserving of recognition by the Society; and shall be elected for life. The total number of Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, however, shall not exceed twenty-five at any given time and no more than two shall be elected in any year.

Lifetime Achievement recipients shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Society without payment of dues, but they shall not have the right to vote or hold office therein except when they have been elected from the Member or Emeritus Member classification.

This award is not applied for but shall be conferred upon selected individuals by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Lifetime Achievement Award Committee by secret ballot at a duly advertised meeting, or by mail ballot.

Background

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) through the ASPRS Foundation is pleased to offer the annual Outstanding Technical Achievement Award (OTAA). The purpose of this Award is to recognize developers of specific breakthrough technologies that causes major advances in the practice of photogrammetry, remote sensing or geographic information systems in the United States. Practicality is the essence of the Award and the selection committee evaluates candidates to determine:

• An outstanding invention or design involving any type of development that applies to photogrammetry, remote sensing or geographic information management or,
• Any outstanding method developed for the use of photogrammetry, remote sensing or geographic information.

The Award consists of a silver plaque and a cash award of $5,500. The presentation of the Award will take place during the annual (spring) ASPRS Conference.

Eligibility

The Award is for an individual or team of developers responsible for the innovation. However, the award is not made to the companies, agencies, bureaus, or associations for whom they work. The Award Selection Committee representing the commercial, academic, and government sectors of the ASPRS membership convenes annually to nominate and to review candidates for the Award. Nominations must show specific breakthrough research or technology that enabled significant advances in the practice and applications of photogrammetry, remote sensing or geographic information systems.

The Selection Committee rates nominations for overall effectiveness, economic and scientific impact, innovativeness and extensiveness of use.

This award is designed to ensure that all ASPRS members have access and opportunities within the geospatial profession by providing financial support to members who require resources to achieve professional growth and excellence.

Highly skilled and motivated individuals, including students, early career professionals and academics (within five years of attaining a geospatial professional position) who face barriers to their professional development are encouraged to apply.

All members of ASPRS are eligible to apply, regardless of their current professional standing or stage in career development, if they face equity gaps in their career advancement. To be considered for the award, applicants must submit an on-line application that includes the following items:

• A listing of courses taken, and/or those to be taken, in photogrammetry and other related geospatial information technologies, recognizing that instruction in remote sensing is often embedded in courses taught in many different disciplines.
• A transcript of all college/university level courses or high school courses for applicants entering directly from high school completed and grades received to demonstrate scholastic ability.
• A listing of internships, special projects, or work experience; technical papers, research reports or other documents; courses taught as a lecturer or teaching assistant; and presentations made that demonstrate the applicant’s capabilities in this field.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members or professionals having knowledge of the applicant’s capabilities (demonstrated or potential).
• A statement, not to exceed 1000 words, detailing the applicant’s educational and research goals that relate to the advancement of photogrammetry and related geospatial information technologies and the applications of these technologies.

This award is presented by ASPRS through the ASPRS Foundation, with funding provided by a grant from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).

Established in 1991, the purpose of the award is to encourage and commend those who publish papers of scientific merit in the advancement of knowledge about Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the ASPRS journal, PE&RS. The Award consists of:

1. First prize: A certificate and $1,000.
2. Second prize: A certificate and $600.
3. Third prize: A certificate and $400.

Eligibility to receive the award is not restricted to ASPRS members; the award is made to the individual, or collaborating individuals who, in the opinion of the award selection committee, best meets the established criteria. No application is required since the nominees are determined by the selection committee.

Factors to be considered by the committee in making its selection are the scientific contributions that the paper makes toward the advancement of knowledge about GIS. The award may be given for, but not limited to, any of the following types of achievement in the GIS disciplines:

1. The development of a new and valuable technique, method, or application.
2. A case of such a development where an exceptional degree of technical skill, judgment, or initiative is demonstrated.
3. An outstanding design or invention of equipment or material, or a new or unusual application of existing equipment or software is achieved.

The Award is normally made to individuals whose article was published in the ASPRS journal, PE&RS, during the calendar year preceding the year of the Award presentation. All articles are eligible for consideration including Highlight and Feature articles.

This Award is presented by ASPRS with funding provided by the ASPRS Foundation through unrestricted donations.

The purpose of the Award is to encourage and commend those who publish papers of practical or applied value in PE&RS, the official journal of ASPRS. The Award consists of:

1. First prize: An engraved pewter tankard, a certificate, and $1,000.
2. Second prize: A certificate and $600.
3. Third prize: A certificate and $400.

Eligibility to receive the Award shall not be restricted to members of ASPRS and is intended for those who qualify under the selection criteria. No application is required since the nominees are determined by an award selection committee.

The Award is made to the author, or collaborating authors, (provided each played a major role in the publication) who, in the opinion of the majority of the award selection committee, best meets the criteria established. The Award is not made to companies, agencies, bureaus, schools, or associations. However, their personnel are eligible to receive the Award.

The key factor to be considered by the committee in making its selection is the practical or applied value of the paper in advancing the state of the art in our profession. The Award may be given for, but not limited to, any of the following types of achievement in the fields of photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geographic information systems:

1. A case of practical application or adaptation, where an exceptional degree of technical skill, judgment, or initiative is demonstrated, or where a significant increase in operating efficiency or productivity is achieved.
2. The development of a new and valuable technique or method.
3. An outstanding design or invention of equipment or material, or a new or unusual application of existing equipment or material.

The Award is normally made to individuals whose article was published in ASPRS journal during the calendar year preceding the year of the Award presentation.

This Award is presented by the ASPRS Foundation on behalf of Mr. Talbert Abrams, a distinguished charter member of ASPRS.

The purpose of the Award is to encourage the authorship and recording of current, historical, engineering, and scientific developments in photogrammetry. The Award consists of:

1. A Grand Award which includes a presentation plaque with the name of the recipient permanently affixed to it and $3,000.
2. First and second honorable mention. These two awards include a certificate [one each] to those authors who were given second and third place honors by the selection committee.

If an award goes to a single-authored paper, the author must be a member of ASPRS who has been a member in good standing for at least one year prior to the date of selection as recipient of the Award. If a multiple-authored paper is selected for any of the awards, at least one author must have been a member in good standing of ASPRS for at least one year prior to the date of selection as recipient of the Award. If a multiple-authored paper is selected for any of the Awards, the senior author is presented the award plaque. The other recipients will receive certificates. No application is required since the nominees are determined by an award selection committee.

The committee will evaluate each author-nominee for their article that appeared in PE&RS during the 12-month period ending with, and including, the November issue of the year prior to the year of the annual meeting of ASPRS. The committee will determine the publication having the greatest merit by any or all of the recognized standards of originality, practical and theoretical value, clarity of exposition, and general interest.

First awarded in 1968, the Region of the Year Award recognizes excellence at the regional level in providing service to members and to the profession at large.

The winning Region receives a hand-engrossed certificate and possession of the Region of the Year Banner for one year.

First awarded in 1980, the Region Newsletter of the Year Award recognizes excellence at the regional level in providing service to members and to the profession at large through publication of a newsletter.

The winning Region receives a hand-engrossed certificate.

First awarded in 2003, the Region Website of the Year Award recognizes excellence among the regions in providing service to members and to the profession at large through website publication.

Selection is made by the ASPRS Region Website Selection Committee using a scoring and weighting system to decide the winners.

The winning website(s) demonstrate high-quality look and feel in the site design and effectively convey accurate, informative and timely content. Each site is easy to navigate with few or no broken links and page file sizes are minimized to reduce page loading times. The sites display content of unique regional flavor and are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The winning Region receives a hand-engrossed certificate.