te
The Band of the Helsinki Garrison, conducted by
Captain T. Laine, played the Preludio Festivo com-
posed by Ahti Sonninen.
Dr. h.c. K. G. Lófstróm, Congress Director, called
upon His Excellency the Minister of Defence,
Mr. Ingvar S. Melin, to present the Opening Ad-
dress.
Mr. Ingvar S. Melin:
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and
Gentlemen.
The drawing up and approval of basic plans aim-
ing at developing the human society is nearly al-
ways the duty of administrators and politicians.
For this purpose they need information on the
concerned area, its natural resources, its inhabi-
tants and their way of life. A map, where the basic
information for planning is presented, is an in-
dispensable means for developing the human
environment and for exploring the natural re-
sources.
Only photogrammetry has given mankind the real
possibility of mapping the whole earth in detail.
Thus it has created the possibility for the vast
developing areas to enjoy their rightful share of
the riches of the earth.
The Habitat Conference, which was recently held
in Vancouver, gave us a very worrying, maybe an
even too pessimistic view of the present stage
of human environment: the deterioration of large
areas into slums, the famine and poverty that
prevail in many parts of the world. Quick and
wideranging measures of planning and develop-
ment are needed in order to avoid major catas-
trophes. It is a pleasure to observe that this con-
gress deals extensively with new remote sensing
methods, by means of which the earth can be
mapped and the natural resources explored far
more efficiently than by using classical methods.
But mapping is not only a necessity for develop-
ing human settlements and utilizing natural re-
sources. The pollution of the soil, water and air
has increased to the extent that the necessity of
strict monitoring and limitations is admitted
everywhere. Remote sensing methods have proved
to be excellent, often indispensable tools in
inventorying and controlling the sources of pol-
lution and in monitoring the current situation.
In addition to mapping many other scientific fields
have benefited by the achievements of photo-
grammetry. Modern forestry or geological re-
search can hardly be conceived without the help
of photogrammetry. Nowadays medicine, meteo-
rology, architecture, construction engineering,
to mention just a few fields, all use photogram-
metric methods in very diverse tasks of
measurement and inventory. Many of these prob-
lems would be insolvable without photogrammetry.
And the conquering of other planets started by
this generation has largely been based on ad-
vanced remote sensing studies.
Problems in measuring and mapping are equally
independent of national boarders and political
groupings. Thus it is natural that international co-
operation in the field of photogrammetry is well
developed. However, an international society
28
comprising nearly 60 member countries is an
achievement which only few scientific fields have
reached.
The lack of maps is especially acute in the devel-
oping countries, the governments of which face
an enormous task in developing quickly their in-
dustry and economy. These countries benefit
relatively the most by the work of the I.S.P. One
of the best forms of help we can give is assist-
ance in carrying out surveying and mapping pro-
jects. Thus we give the planners and administra-
tors of the developing countries the necessary
basic information on their own resources. In this
way they can themselves start developing their
economy and utilizing their natural resources,
without becoming too dependent politically or
economically on their helpers.
As a representative of the Finnish government |
am proud and happy that our country has been
chosen host of this congress. | consider this an
excellent appreciation of the Finnish science and
technology. | declare the congress opened and
wish you success in your important work.
. The Congress Director then gave the floor to the
Deputy Mayor of the City of Helsinki, Mr. A. K.
Loimaranta.
Mr. A. K. Loimaranta:
Herr Minister, Verehrte Kongressteilnehmer,
Meine Damen und Herren.
In Namen der Stadt Helsinki habe ich die Ehre,
Sie alle in Helsinki und in der Finlandia-Halle
willkommen zu heissen. Menschliche Wechsel-
wirkung, Touristenreisen, Zusammenkünfte und
Kongresse bilden das Netz der Treffen, auf dem
sich die vertrauensvollen und freundschaftlichen
Beziehungen zwischen den Bewohnern verschie-
dener Länder und Städte gründen. Die Ankunft
in Helsinki Tausender von Wissenschaftlern und
Fachleuten, die bei diesem Kongress alle Mit-
gliedsnationen der Internationalen Gesellschaft
für Photogrammetrie vertreten, ist ein bemer-
kenswertes Treffen des beruflichen Wissens
und Könnens und zugleich eine Begebenheit,
die zur Vertiefung der Verbindungen zwischen
den Völkern der Welt beiträgt und ihre gegen-
seitige Verständigung und friedliche Koexistenz
fördert.
Dieses hohe Ziel verfolgt auch die aktive Frie-
denspolitik Finnlands. Helsinki hatte vorigen
Sommer die Ehre, Gastgeber zu sein bei einer
Gelegenheit, wo sich diese Friedenspolitik ma-
nifestierte, d.h. bei der letzten Phase der Konfe-
renz für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Eu-
ropa. Ich kann Ihnen versichern, dass wir fühlten,
für ein äusserst wichtiges Ziel zu arbeiten, als
wir die führenden Staatsmänner der Welt hier in
der Finlandia-Halle empfingen.
Während der letzten Jahre hat sich Helsinki zu
einer Stadt der Zusammenkünfte und Kongresse
entwickelt. Die Stadt ist ein internationaler Treff-
punkt geworden, ein Boden, wo sich Leute aus
Osten und Westen, aus Norden und Süden ver-
sammeln, um ihre gemeinsamen Probleme zu
erörtern. Gleichzeitig hat die touristische Anzie-
hungskraft Helsinkis zugenommen. Im vorigen
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