London, UK, May 3, 2004 -- The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) is pleased to announce that Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan of India is the winner of the ISPRS Brock Gold Medal. The Medal is donated by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, and is awarded for an outstanding landmark in the evolution of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences.
Dr. Kasturirangan served as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chairman of Space Commission and Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space from March 1994 until August 2003. His efforts have established India as a pre-eminent space faring nation among the handful of countries that have major space programmes. Under his leadership, India's space programme established its capabilities with both Polar and Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicles. He saw the realization of the second generation and initiation of the third generation of the INSAT series of satellites, which include telecommunications and meteorological payloads. In addition, he oversaw the design, development and launch of satellites in the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series beginning with the experimental BHASKARA I and II and the first operational Indian remote sensing satellite, IRS 1A. He subsequently had overall direction of IRS-1B/1C/1D (primarily land remote sensing) and IRS-P3/P4 (for ocean observation).
Professor John Trinder, President of ISPRS, said "We are pleased to honour a colleague whose vision and leadership have contributed so much to the remote sensing community both globally and also to the national priorities of India."
The Brock Gold Medal will be formally presented at the XXth ISPRS Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, 12-23 July 2004. For more information about the XXth ISPRS Congress, visit the Congress web site at www.isprs2004-istanbul.com.
About ISPRS
The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing is a
non-governmental organization devoted to the development of international
cooperation for
the advancement of knowledge, research, development, education and
training in the photogrammetric, remote sensing and spatial information
sciences,
their integration and applications, to contribute to the well-being
of humanity and the sustainability of the environment. The Society operates
without any
discrimination on grounds of race, religion, nationality, or political
philosophy.
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