- 296 - 
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE SENSING 
Commission VI 
Symposium held in Mainz, FR Germany, 22-25 September 1982 
S-T-A-NDAHR,D.S Q.F COM PE TEN C.E F.O.R EDUCATION 
FOR REMOTE SENSING S.PECIALIST.S 
Prof. Dr. Caesar Voüte 
ITC, Enschede, Netherlands 
ABSTRACT 
In contrast with many other professions, where unequivocal standards of competence 
can be formulated, remote sensing specialists have to cover widely different fields 
of application. They also have to apply a whole range of application methodologies 
depending upon disciplines, problems to be solved and working conditions. This is 
reflected by the flexibility required in remote sensing eduation methodology. 
Consequently, it is recommended that no single set of standards of competence 
be formulated, but rather that an attempt be made to develop a range of skills 
commensurate with the requirements of different types of user agencies in post- 
industrialized, industrializing and less developed countries. 
Introduction 
The entire field of remote sensing and remote sensing applications is in rapid 
movement. Aerial photography no longer holds a position of monopoly, but is 
becoming complemented and partly substituted by other airborne non-photographic 
remote sensing techniques in various parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum, 
and especially by (automatic) satellite remote sensing. Thus a vast array of 
remote sensing techniques is becoming available to the user community, each 
sensing system being characterized by its specific properties, advantages and 
limitations. 
Advantages and limitations of any remote sensing system are not only subject - 
discipline - dependent. They are also dictated.by the geographical environment 
in which they have to function, and by the methodology applied for using remotely 
sensed data for problem solving. 
The geographical environment is defined in this context in its broadest sense, 
including all variables of physical and human geography. Important parameters, 
are for instance: climate (including cloudiness), vegetation cover, weathering, 
denudation and sedimentation cycli, landuse and other human occupation patterns, 
dimensions of countries and of areas to be surveyed or monitored, but also 
a periodical reduction of limpidity of the atmosphere through natural (dust 
and haze) or man-induced processes (smoke, smog, etc.). 
Socio-economic and socio-cultural conditions and development objectives are 
of no less importance. They are decisive for the manner in which remotely sensed 
data are utilized, directly and independently, or after manipulation and in 
combination with data from other sources. Moreover they determine whether a 
system or sub-system can be technically or economically operated with success, 
in a sub-optimal or optimal way. 
Bibliographic quotation : 
Voüte, C. : Standards of competence for education for remote sensing specialists. 
In: Int. Archive of Photogrammetry, 24 - VI, pp 296 = 307, Mainz 1982