NAME CH GE st de
sitive to priorities, but most of all we must see
the big picture and perceive our central role in
the overall pattern of steps toward solutions of
the problems. Many qualities will help us —
reason, courage, creativity, aggressiveness, in-
dustriousness, persistence. But the best tool is
imaginative and thoroughly professional use of
our technology. This, of course, brings us
exactly to the mainstream of this Congress,
namely advances in technology and science.
Technology and science and their judicious ap-
plications are the keys to future advancements
and these are precisely in the focal points of this
Congress. Here we have a chance to translate
the abstract concepts about our duties and re-
sponsibilities into concrete terms; instruments,
techniques, and scientific progress. This is how
it should be, because we as a group, are doers.
We want, and can get things done. To this effect
we will, here in this Congress, learn about new
cameras and other sensors, side-looking radars,
thermal and multispectral scanners, both airborne
and spaceborne, and other emerging sensor de-
vices, both analog and digital. We will study
their geometric characteristics to be able to
better derive metric data from all these data
sources. We will also study extensively and with
great emphasis newer and better techniques,
both analog and digital as well as manual and
automatic, for interpretation of sensor data; for
adding those extra dimensions that can and
must be added to complete the spectrum of out-
put quantities photogrammetry can provide.
The exhibition, and also invited and presented
papers as well as discussions, will bring us in-
formation on new photogrammetric instruments,
again both analog and digital; more digital than
ever before. Similarly, we will see new extensions
of photogrammetry into the neighboring field of
automated cartography in the form of digitally
controlled "smart" plotting tables and digital re-
cording capabilities of photogrammetric plotters
and other data processing instruments and
systems.
All this represents immense technological capa-
bility and promise. It is our duty to bring this to
bear on the world's problems — short term, long
term — local and global — big and small —
large scale and small scale — and all combina-
tions thereof. That is our challenge.
The challenge is enormous, when perceived in
its wider scope, as suggested here. It is prob-
ably the greatest and the most important chal-
lenge ever for our profession. The reason is that
we, the photogrammetrists, have a pivotal role to
play. We, the photogrammetrists, provide the
foundations which must be there before any
solutions can be planned, let alone implement-
ed. Inventories and explorations must be com-
pleted before plans can be drafted. Planning
maps must then be produced. Engineering maps
must be ready before anything can be designed
and realized. Before anything can be monitored,
its past and present status must be known. And
so it goes, from fundamentals like food produc-
tion, availability of water, soil, minerals, energy
to roads, canals, railroads, housing, administra-
tion, and maintenance.
To succeed we must summon all our reason,
courage, creativity, aggressiveness, industrious-
38
ES aa ane te at at nt
ness, imagination, and all the good qualities
mentioned earlier. But above all, we must ana-
lyze our technologies so that we can use them
most effectively, so that investments of time,
efforts, and funds can bring the best returns. In
this analysis we must avoid narrow views and
short perspectives. We must have the insight to
see our technologies and our role in their true
and important relation to human and societal
needs and requirements as discussed before.
A theme that gives us guidance in this analysis
emerges from the previously presented brief
outline of the technical contents of this Con-
gress. Undoubtedly you noticed that the word
digital came up many times. Digital technology
seems to be involved in everything. Not only
that, it’s becoming more and more omni-present.
In so doing it pulls everything together, from
geodesy to cartography and even to the use of
map information. Out of this emerges the theme
of integration by digital technology.
This theme is not unique to photogrammetry or
even to technology and science. It extends through-
out the fabric of modern society. The reason,
of course, is the incredible success and con-
sequent proliferation of computers. Accounting,
administration, management, communications,
and even education, all join in with science and
technology in that they use extensively the same
kind of data processing equipment and the same
general type of data presentation.
This computer revolution, if | may use that tired
expression, continues to be one of the greatest
technical forces in the world. Perhaps even in
historic perspective, the computer and the con-
sequences of its use in technlogy, science, cul-
ture, education, and commerce, is one of the
greatest forces that has impacted on human
activities since a long time. It is nothing new to
photogrammetry. Photogrammetrists have been
using computers and digital technologies to
their advantage for many years. Already today
there are many areas where photogrammetry is
using digital technology and computers. We can
think about analytical triangulation as an ex-
ample. Adjustment of the results, computer con-
trolled plotters, analytical stereoplotters, auto-
mated photogrammetric systems, digitizing, and
automated cartography, cartographic data banks,
digital terrain models, digital remote sensing,
digital image data transmission, and processing
for earth resources exploration, etc. are but a
partial list of other examples. But still today,
the digital technology and computers possess
the power to be an even greater force and even
more significant element in the future of photo-
grammetry.
Obviously, numerous scientific and technical
problems involved in all this are a part of the
challenge to our profession. The number of such
problems is impossible to even estimate. The
technology proceeds from day to day, and every
week new inventions are made and new tech-
niques appear, with potential applications to
the manysided field of photogrammetry.
To solve all these scientific and technical prob-
lems is an important part of our challenge. It is,
however, obvious that we have to accept this
challenge keeping in mind our wider respon-
sibilities. We have to be selective to be effective.
