Item 7. (15) Further consideration of Remote
Sensing Position in Society
The item concerning Remote Sensing in the
Society was reopened for further consideration.
Due attention was given to the resolution and re-
commendations submitted by the American So-
ciety of Photogrammetry on December 29, 1975.
The General Assembly approved the general de-
finition of photogrammetry as suggested by the
A.S.P. as: ”The science and technology of ob-
taining reliable information about physical ob-
jects and the environment, through the process
of recording, measuring, and interpreting photo-
graphic images and patterns of radiant energy”.
Within this definition, photogrammetry includes
the acquisition of imagery from conventional
photographic systems, as well as sensors util-
izing other portions of the energy spectrum.
Both the quantitative (metric) and qualitative
(interpretative) aspects of image analysis are in-
cluded. Thus modern photogrammetry is consid-
ered to embrace all the elements of image ac-
quisition, mensuration, and interpretation which
have been called Remote Sensing.
The General Assembly decided to amend Section
18 of the Bye-Laws to include the general de-
finition and the major functional areas of photo-
grammetry.
Item 8. Regional Photogrammetric Institutes
The General Assembly approved the following
resolution: "The I.S.P. strongly endorses the es-
tablishment of regional Photogrammetric Re-
search Centers and encourages Member Bodies in
regions where there are not presently such or-
ganizations to make representation to the ap-
propriate authorities."
—
Item 9. Disposition of the Flag of I.S.P.
The General Assembly approved the recom-
mendation of Council that at the closing Plenary
Session of Congresses, in addition to the out-
going President transferring the Chain of Office
to his successor, the Congress Director will hand
over the I.S.P. flag to the person selected to be
Director of the next I.S.P. Congress.
Item 10. Value of Landsat Data
The General Assembly, with the abstention of
the Delegates from the Societies of the U.S.S.R.,
Cuba and Democratic Republic of Germany,
approved the following mention: "The |.S.P. con-
gratulates the United States of America on its
successful design, construction, launch and
operation of Landsats 1 and 2 and expresses its
appreciation for the wide availability of Landsat
data to the international scientific community,
and recommends that satellite programs such as
Landsat be continued and the data or scientific
results in so far as is possible be made avail-
able to the international scientific community.”
The representative from the National Committee
of the U.S.S.R. expressed the opinion that the
resolution should not be accepted in view of the
discussions on satellite data and, in particular,
the resolution of ground information. In con-
sequence that portion of the resolution that re-
ferred to improving the performance of satellite
supported imaging systems was referred back to
Commission VII.
Aa aA or MIB
General Assembly in Hall A.
61