Thanks to a recent initiative of the ASPRS Lidar Division different segments of the lidar mapping community now have the ability to customize the LAS file format to meet their application-specific needs.  The new mechanism that makes this possible is the LAS Domain Profile which is a derivative of the base LAS v1.4 specification that adds (but does not remove or alter existing) point classes and attributes.

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) is pleased to announce the launch of its first eBook — Manual of Airborne Topographic Lidar — on the Kindle platform.  “Making the Manual available as an eBook gives customers the option to have it available at their fingertips on either a Kindle or on another device with a Kindle app,” said ASPRS Communications Director Kim Tilley.  “This is perfect for students and those working in the field who don’t want to carry around the printed book or for those needing quick delivery with no mailing costs.”  The eBook is available through Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E3FWBO6.

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) announces the Manual of Photogrammetry Sixth Edition is now available for purchase through the ASPRS Bookstore.

Under the leadership of J. Chris McGlone PhD CP as Editor-in-Chief and George Y.G. Lee PhD Technical Editor the Manual covers photogrammetry in depth as well as its constituent technologies providing the student practitioner or researcher with a single valuable reference resource.

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) has initiated development of the fourth edition of the Manual of Remote Sensing (MRS) under the leadership of Stan Morain as Editor-in-Chief Mike Renslow as Associate and Technical Editor and Amelia Budge as Associate and Design Editor. This project planned for completion in 2015 will be designed and executed as an enhanced e-book and will focus on three Parts: Systems Data Management and Applications.

The Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) team will hold the 2014 JACIE Workshop in conjunction with the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Annual Conference in Louisville Kentucky on March 23-27 2014.  The announcement was made by the JACIE team and keynote speaker Roberta Lenczowski (ASPRS Past President) during the Workshop in Saint Louis Missouri in April.

The 2014 JACIE Workshop will be held Wednesday through Friday beginning on March 26 as a separate track at the ASPRS meeting. The program planning for JACIE and ASPRS will integrate some key speakers and highlights into a few ASPRS special and/or hot topics sessions. In addition ASPRS will provide attendees to the JACIE Workshop with the opportunity to register for a combined JACIE/ASPRS experience that will allow JACIE attendees to visit the ASPRS Conference Exhibit Hall as well as ASPRS General and Technical Sessions as time permits during the week of the JACIE Workshop.

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) held their first annual service project Operation Sock Drop at the 2013 Annual Conference in Baltimore Maryland March 26 through 28 …

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) proudly announces the following 2013 Outstanding Service Award Winners:  

Mike Renslow for his service as Editor‐in‐Chief of the Lidar Manual his efforts to achieve accreditation for the ASPRS Certification Program and his service as ISPRS Treasurer 2009 – 2012.

The Guidelines for Procurement of Commercial Geospatial Mapping Products Committee Charles Mondello Chair; and committee members Mark Baker Becky Morton Marvin Miller Brant Howard Kari Craun George Southard Jeff Lovin Mike Ritchie and Paul Harwig for their efforts to develop the draft guidelines.

Chris McGlone for his service as Editor‐in‐Chief of the Manual of Photogrammetry 6th Edition.

George Y. G. Lee for his service as Technical Editor of the Manual of Photogrammetry 6th Edition and his dedicated efforts to fully endow the Francis H. Moffitt Memorial Scholarship.

Christian Heipke Winner of Photogrammetric (Fairchild) Award

The 2013 Photogrammetric Award (Fairchild) was awarded to Prof. Dr. Christian Heipke at the 2013 Annual ASPRS Conference in Baltimore on March 26. Heipke was awarded the Photogrammetric (Fairchild) Award for his contributions including advancing the transition from analytical to digital photogrammetry significant achievements in object extraction from digital imagery and image matching progressing the introduction of softcopy systems and more recently helping to reinforce the essential connection between photogrammetry and computer vision. Heipke has been Professor Habilitation (the highest academic qualification given overseas) since 1994 and has been a Full Professor and the head of the Institute of Photogrammetry and GeoInformation at the Leibniz University Hannover since 1998.

This award the essence of which is practicability is designed to stimulate the development of the art of aerial photogrammetry in the United States.  The selection committee makes its choice based on an outstanding invention or design involving any type of equipment that applies to the art of aerial photogrammetry; any outstanding method developed for the general use of aerial photographs and/or imagery; outstanding research for study along aerial photogrammetric lines and outstanding effort for the general advancement of the art of photogrammetry.  Lockheed Martin donates funding for the award which consists of a silver presentation plaque.

Clive Fraser Winner of Outstanding Technical Achievement Award

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Technical Achievement Award is Dr. Clive Fraser for his development and production of the digital camera calibration program “Australis.”  The Australis automatic camera calibration system was developed to accommodate contemporary calibration requirements and is a software system for digital camera self-calibration that incorporates an innovative workflow for improved efficiency and effectiveness. The significant features of Australis are efficiency flexibility automation and calibration to the highest metric standards. Fraser serves as Honorary Professor of Infrastructure Engineering Program Science Director Cooperative Research Center for Spatial Information and Professional Fellow Department of Infrastructure Engineering University of Melbourne Australia.

This award was introduced for the first time in 2012 and is given to a developer of a specific breakthrough technology which causes quantum advances in the practice of photogrammetry remote sensing or geographic information systems in the United States. Dr. Fraser received the award in March at the ASPRS 2013 Annual Conference in Baltimore.

In 2011 ASPRS and the ASPRS Foundation received a very generous individual donation to endow a new Outstanding Technical Achievement Award.  In accordance with the wishes of the donor a long time ASPRS member this donation was made anonymously. ASPRS has agreed to match the donation in accordance with its current matching policy resulting in and ensuring this annual Award will be fully endowed.