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INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE SENSING 
Commission VI 
Symposium held in Mainz, FR Germany, 22-25 September 1982 
S T A':NDARD S 0-F.cCO0OMPETENCE 
Comments on Outline 01.82 and on the Questionnaire (Q1-011) 
I have no charge from anyone to address this problem on behalf of COMPASS, but 
because I am very much interested in it, and because of the ISPRS concerns in 
the same area, I invite your consideration of what should be done. I think edu- 
cators must take the lead in this action. Proposals orginating from educators 
will eventually have to be reviewed and approved by other professionals in 
Government and business. 
I am not in favour of standardized curricula, but I do believe that there are 
certain core topics that any professional in our field needs to know, just as 
all doctors need to know something about anatomy. Added to this would be special- 
ized knowledge in geodesy, photogrammetry, surveying, cartography, remote sens- 
ing which would qualify one as a professional in any one of these disciplines. 
I invite your consideration of either or both the core knowledge or the disci- 
pline requirements. 
As I mentioned above, nobody has asked me to do this on behalf of COMPASS. By 
copy of this letter to Radlinski, I am letting him know what I have started. Per- 
haps he will wish to designate somebody to coordinate the activities. 
  
  
FROM : Denis N. Fernando; Ministry of Mahaweli Development; 500 T.B. Juyah 
Mawatha; Colombo 10, Sri Lanka 
Category: Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 
Yes. It is necessary countrywise and earthwise. As the world has shrunk today 
considerably due to communication and due to the movement of specialists in 
Photogrammetry/Remote Sensing from one country to another as consultants and 
in executing projects. 
Q 3 Level A should be clearly distinguished. It is abvious that a technician or 
an operator of a Photogrammetric instrument cannot get involved in consultancy 
and specialised work. It is necessary therefore to seperate the different 
levels as we find those at lower levels of competence masquerading in develop- 
ing countries as experts in Photogrammetry/Remote Sensing and undermining 
the Profession. 
Q 4 I should say no. There should be one standard of competence for a particular 
level and not that of a category, as it would otherwise lead to a dilution 
of standards for convenience and lead to confusion. There should be distinct 
standards for Photogrammetry as well as Remote Sensing. 
Q 5 There should be one standard set by the International Society. Only those 
sister societies adopting these International Standards should be recognised 
internationally and given a local chapter status. Otherwise they should not 
be recognised internationally and remain only as country societies unrecog- 
nised. 
10 10 
N = 
SoC 10