A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF 
THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF REMOTE SENSING AND ITS ACTIVITIES 
MARWAN KOUDMANI 
Director of the General Director Office 
General Organization of Remote Sensing 
P.O. Box 12586 Damascus, SYRIA. 
Abstract: GORS was constituted in Syria, in February 1986. GORS is located in Damascus 
and its total area is 240 000 m?, including the main building, the student dormitory, 
the guest house, the recreation area (Tennis court and the swimming pool) and the 
orchards and gardens. GORS cooperates with some governmental bodies, all Arab countries, 
Foreign countries and international bodies. GORS organizes one internal course, two 
regional courses and two international symposia per year. GORS carries out several 
studies and projects on remote sensing applications to geology, hydrology, hydro- 
geology, agriculture, environment, urban planning, and meteorology. GORS publishes 
Space Atlas of Syria, Glossary of Remote Bensing Terminology and Journal of Remote 
Sensing. 
INTRODUCTION * The student dormitory: 400 m? (holds 30 
trainees with full accommodations). 
The General Organization of Remote Sens- 
ing was constituted in Syria, in February 
1986 in accordance with the Legislative De- 
cree No. /8/. It has thus replaced the Na- 
tional Remote Sensing Center which establ- 
ished in the Syrian Arab Republic, through 
an ad hoc Steering Committee in 1981. 
The Organization is located in Sabbora 
area (about 17 Km West of Damascus). The 
Organization's total area is 240 000 m?, 
including: 
* The main building: 10 000 m? (for perso- 
nnel offices, training rooms, laboratories 
  
and the library). 
FIG. 2. The student dormitory. 
* The guest house: 300 m? (accommodates up 
to 6 lecturers or visiting experts). 
    
  
FIG. 1. The main building. FIG. 3. The guest house. 
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