186
March 2016
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
In Memoriam
C
harles
S
mith
1950-2015
Charles (Chas, Charlie, ‘John’) Smith of Flagler Beach, Florida
departed this world on December 27, 2015, to check things out
on the other side. Chas was born on April 3, 1950 in Shoreham-
By-Sea, England; the second child of his late parents, Albert and
Vera Smith. Chas had a wonderful childhood growing up with
his brother, Roy in Small Dole.
In 1967, Chas met the love of his life, Jane (Banks), and the
two of themwould spend the next 48 years of their lives together
making the world their proverbial oyster. Together, Chas and
Jane raised two wonderful children, Matthew and Alison, and,
through hard work, both were able to elevate themselves to,
among other accomplishments, the status of successful business
owners. In fact, Chas would go on to become an influential
leader in the aerial mapping industry, as well as a member of
ASPRS and MAPPS.
In 1978, Chas and Jane packed up the family and emigrated
from England to Northern Virginia. Although Charles would
leave his native country behind, he never quite got over his
passion for the Chelsea Football Club or the Who. While in
Virginia, Charles obtained one of his proudest accomplishments
when, in 1998, he became a naturalized United States Citizen.
In 2001, with both kids now the recipients of degrees from
Virginia Tech University (whose football team Chas developed
a great passion for), Chas and Jane relocated to Flagler Beach,
where they would often watch the sunset together from their
scenic deck overlooking the intercoastal waterway, all the while
sipping a the latest liquid concoction that Chas had ginned up
in the blender. Chas had a voracious love of life with numerous
hobbies and interests, many of them stemming from a love of
the water. He was an accomplished fisherman and gardener,
a do-it-yourselfer and a renaissance man, he was fiercely loyal
and a fearless leader, he was the life of the party, yet the first
person to stand up and give the shirt off his back to a person
in need. He was endlessly witty and a timely prankster and
he was incredibly bright. His natural charisma and personal
integrity, were like a magnet to friends and family alike who
at all times were simply drawn to him. You just felt good being
in his presence.
Above all, Chas was a great husband, father and friend. His
love for Jane never wavered and it will last through eternity.
Chas leaves behind his wife of 43 years, Jane and two children,
Alison and Matthew Smith; his brother Roy, and five grand-
children, Samantha, Austin, Carly, Brady and Mariah and his
granddog, Felix. He also leaves behind a multitude of friends,
colleagues, and admirers.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Chas’ name
to Flagler County Free Clinic (flaglercounty freeclinic.com)
Condolences may be sent to
&
PE RS
P
HOTOGRAMMETRIC
E
NGINEERING&
R
EMOTE
S
ENSING
Theofficial journal for imagingandgeospatial information scienceand technology
April2015
Volume81,Number4
M
ONOGRAPH
Overview and Current Status
of Remote Sensing
Applications Based
on Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles
(UAVs)
UAV Monograph
Overview and Current Status of Remote Sensing Applications
Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Published in the April 2015 issue of
PE&RS
, this monograph provides an
extensive treatise on available remotely piloted aircraft, in particular, UAS
platforms, associated airborne sensors, their capabilities, and a glimpse at
the variety of applications for them. The author describes the variety of
fixed-winged and rotary-winged UAS, e.g., multi-rotor “copters” and delves
into the variety of sensors like RGB, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral
cameras, lidar, and radar/synthetic-aperture radar. As well as a variety of
applications for these intriguing systems.
A benefit of UAS, is that they are useful for work that is “dull, dirty, or
dangerous.” These benefits are demonstrated in the highlight article
“Testing a Small UAS for Mapping Artisanal Diamond Mining in Africa”
which presents a fascinating look at a particularly unique application for
UAS. The work of aerial image acquisition of so-called “blood diamond”
mines and mining operations is dangerous for the human scientists in
strife-torn West and Central Africa.
$20.00 + shipping
To order, contact
