PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
July 2014
613
Michael:
Jim, I’m excited about your new column. Would
you tell us why you are qualified to write it?
Jim:
I’m a Photogrammetrist, an image analyst. I have
24 years of industry experience working on and managing
geospatial projects. I’m fascinated with the industry
and I like training colleagues and educating clients. My
participation in ASPRS provides another avenue for me
to leverage my passion and experience to educate anyone
who wants to learn more about geospatial technology.
Michael:
Of course you are technically qualified, but
what I meant was, why are you interested in writing this
column? I mean, why would you read your own column?
Jim:
Some people are news junkies – well, I’m a geospa-
tial tech geek. I use apps like LinkedIn and Twitter. I
do follow news and sports, but I also follow geospatial
companies, and up-and-coming companies. For example,
I was following Skybox a year before they launched
SkySat-1, and now, of course, most everyone knows that
Google recently bought them. You see, my Grandfather
used to track stocks, but me, I track geospatial startups.
Back when my Grandfather was doing his research, it
was tough, but today with the internet it is much easier
to learn about a company. This will be a great column for
those interested in learning about geospatial technology
in terms that are easy to understand.
Michael:
That’s good, Jim. I can see why you would be
interested in reading what you write. But tell me, why
would other people want to read your column?
Jim:
ASPRS has never had a column like this before.
Readers will learn about how geospatial tools, services,
and images work – things that are often taken for
granted. Even though we might be an expert at some
things, few are experts in everything, especially given the
rate of change occurring due to advances in technology.
This column provides a mechanism for readers to gain
awareness and understanding about industry advances
in technology and services from a layman’s perspective.
Michael:
I get it -- a behind the scenes look at everything
that I wanted to know about but was afraid to ask. Next
time I’m at a party I can really impress people. Anything
else?
Jim:
Oh yes! Readers should expect a lot of information
about new technology as it becomes available. We will
explore who is using it, how it works, and how readers can
apply it in their day-to-day business. All of this, before
the technology is commonly understood and used. My
column will put you in the geospatial “know”.
Michael:
Well then, I can’t wait to read your next article.
What’s on deck?
Jim:
Next month readers will learn about crowdsourcing
geospatial data. Many readers already know what that
means. For those who don’t, they will learn about it. Plus,
I’ll offer my own unique geeky and geospatial perspective
on it. After that, we have all kinds of things to talk about
ranging fromhow to make infographics to how to calibrate
your monitor, from new thermal sensors to up and coming
microsatellite platforms.
Since the turn of the 21st century, ASPRS members
have developed leading-edge geospatial software, pro-
duced various foundation layers of geospatial data and
transformed this data into actionable knowledge. As the
pace of change quickens, it’s important to stop and really
understand
the technology used across the industry
every day. It is my intention to help our society members
and guest readers of PE&RS deepen their understanding
of geospatial technology.
To bridge our understanding of imaging and geospatial
technology, ASPRS is launching a new column, “Behind
the Scenes”, for the PE&RS Journal. We assert that the
genesis of this column is appropriately timed as we are
now celebrating the 80th anniversary year of ASPRS, the
Imaging and Geospatial Information Society. Throughout
the last 80 years our members have driven and expe-
rienced vast changes in photogrammetric and remote
sensing technology. With that, we want to present the
broad range of technology used for (but not limited to)
acquisition, processing, deployment and use of geospatial
data.
Observations
about new trending technologies will
be put into words that enable better understanding of the
technology from a layman’s
perspective
. Topics covered
by this column will originate from concepts presented at
ASPRS Technical Conferences, Regional Meetings and
monitoring social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) for
geospatial trends.
And now, an interview with the author by one of Jim’s
fans, Michael…
