- 150 = 
The preparation of National Reports involves a considerable amount of work 
and of costs for printing and publishing. These efforts are justified only 
if the Reports are read and used. Nothing is known to the author on this 
question. Therefore, we included in our First Circular of August 1981 the 
sentence: "Any reader of this paper is herewith kindly requested to write 
to Commission VI expressing his view on whether and why National Reports 
should be prepared and included in the ARCHIVES". 
The Circular has been sent to 66 ISPRS Member Countries. Just one single 
response has been received; it was mailed by that Member Country having sub- 
mitted the most comprehensive National Report at the Hamburg Congress; the 
reply states it is believed that National Reports make a positive contribution 
of the international exchange of information and can provide useful summary of 
photogrammetic activities taking place within a country. 
3. Considerations on the Future 
  
Envisaging that just one single country out of 66 is in favor of National Re- 
ports, and that this is merely a statement rather then statistical figures on 
how many times National Reports of other countries are actually read and used, 
the only realistic conclusion can be that National Reports should be abandoned. 
Yet, as this is a decision having quite some bearing, we believe one more 
attempt should be made in favor of National Reports. Ve therefore propose that 
+ the Secretary Commission VI requests, one year prior to the next Congress, 
all 66 Member Countries ISPRS, to prepare and to submit National Reports in 
pursuance with the guidelines as appended; 
- any one Member Country espresses its view on the feasibility of either main- 
taining or abandoning National Reports whilst including datas on how many 
times the Reports of other countries are read and/or consulted; 
+ the General Assembly, at the Congress 1984 Rio de Janeiro, votes on maintain- 
ing or abandoning National Reports. 
  
Jürgen Hothmer is currently professor for photogrammetry, 
remote sensing, cartography and surveying for civil en- 
gineers at Fachhochschule Mainz, FR Germany. Previous 
assignments have been : Lecturer at ITC, Delft, Nether- 
lands; Visiting professor at Asian Institute of Tech- 
nology, Bangkok, Thailand and at University of Santiego, 
Chile; Cadastral surveyor in Germany; Topographer in Mo- 
rocco; Managing director of an aerial survey company; 
Consultant to instrument manufacturers in Germany and 
Italy; Research associate and supervisor for bilateral 
technical assistance within the government ; Technical 
adviser surveying and mapping at United Nations Headquarter, 
New York. For the term 1980-84 he is President, Commission VI, 
International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. 
  
Hothmer 2