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ties in which the disciplines and their applications have a
constituency. The health and viability of an international soci-
ety depend on its being recognized for the benefits it brings
to the user community. That is, the Society must be an advo-
cate for its membership when it is in and for their common
good and interest. This includes public promotion and edu-
cation of its applications and benefits.
All of these activities have been summarized into seven cat-
egories for Goals toward which the Society must aim to keep
itself viable in the 21st Century. Within this renewed ISPRS
Mission and Activities context, these goals collectively form
the vision for the ISPRS. There could be much discussion on
the priority for each of these goals but they are recognized as
all of major importance. Priorities differ based on Member
perspectives and also may vary with time. The goals for
ISPRS are listed here within their respective categories.
Encourage and Facilitate Research and Development
- Promote scientific and technological excellence
- Encourage and enhance outputs and assess impacts
- Establish priorities
- Foster development and use of proper and appropriate
technologies
Advance Knowledge by Scientific Network Creation
- Stimulate the free flow of information and data
- Promote two-way flows of information with ISPRS
Member organizations
Promote International Co-operation
- Stimulate exchanges between Members and:
- Policy decisionmakers
- User community
- Industry
- Individuals
- Represent the Society and its disciplines with interna-
tional bodies of:
- Intergovernmental agencies
- Related professional and scientific sectors
- Financial sector
- Other stakeholders
- Encourage participation of all segments of society
Pursue Inter-Disciplinary Integration
- Encourage integration of activities between concerned
disciplines
- Develop a common focus between developers and
users groups
- Expand activities at the inter-disciplinary boundaries of
the Society’s sciences
- Develop a strategy for coordination of international
meetings
Facilitate Education & Training
- Promote dissemination and exchange of information
through education and training
- Encourage skills formation
- Facilitate human resource development
- Establish educational networks
Enhance and Promote Applications
- Facilitate uses of the photogrammetry, remote sensing
and spatial information sciences
International Archives of Photogrammerty and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part A. Amsterdam 2000.
T - re) re ti rp
ISPRS
2000
- Explore new application areas
- Promote uses of ISPRS activities for sustainable man-
agement of resources
Develop Recognition of The Photogrammetry and
Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
- Create public awareness
- Develop standards and promote quality assurance
These are ambitious and somewhat lofty, but are achiev-
able goals. Objectives which further specify what is
needed to attain these goals have been set forth during
and since the Strategic Planning Meeting. A complete
summary of the meeting results and current implementa-
tion status is available upon request.
Implementing the Vision
How does all this come together? Clearly, the scientific
and technological merit of the Society depends on the
success of its Commissions and Working Groups. One of
the greatest strengths of the Society is its simple yet flexi-
ble structure. (See Figure 2.) The Commissions provide
long-term stability for addressing major areas of S&T and
applications, whereas through a quadrennial redefinition
of the scope and number of the Working Groups the Soci-
ety maintains the opportunity to continually advance the
state of the S&T. This arrangement has improved with time
and no significant structural change is required.
The S&T activities of the Society require continual review to
maintain relevance in regard to technological advance-
ments. The Internet has, and will continue to have, a pro-
found impact on the Society’s activities. It provides a rapid,
economical means for international co-operation to flourish.
ISPRS must continue to charge ahead strongly to take full
advantage of internet potential. This potential includes
opportunities for distance learning, with free tutorials pre-
pared by Members; list servers for Working Groups and
Commissions and for special interest groups; postings of
opportunities such as scholarships, grants, fellowships and
jobs opportunities; listings of educational facilities and cur-
ricula; virtual meetings; self-posted listings of specialists and
ISPRS-interested individuals; news and announcements;
etc. Contingent on international access and economical
availability, the Internet will enable individuals in developing
countries to fully participate in the S&T activities of ISPRS.
The election of national member organizations to host
ISPRS Commissions and mid-term Symposia is a strength
of the Society. It brings the opportunity for national and
regional perspectives and culture to flavor the management
and S&T activities to the benefit of all. It has been agreed
that Symposia held in developing countries can, within rea-
son, expand the S&T program scope beyond the domain of
the Commission to attract and expose international S&T
advancements from more developed regions. In a similar
fashion, it is imperative that the Society invite more speak-
ers from other groups which function on its interdisciplinary
boundaries, and also invite and work with those involved in
the international policy arena and user community to help
influence the direction of the P&RS&SIS.
The quadrennial direction and conduct of ISPRS S&T is
driven by Resolutions approved by the General Assembly.
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