International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 6. Bandung-lndonesia 1999
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INTERNET AND WEBPAGE GUIDELINES FOR ISPRS
Prof. Tuan-chih CHEN
Chairperson WG VI/4 ISPRS
INTRODUCTION
The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) provide a
superhighway for information access and transfer. As such, they
offer an unprecedented source of information. Their potential
for research purposes (the reason for the original creation of the
Internet) and for education is immense. The use of powerful
Internet search engines offers enormous potential for
information retrieval and sharing.
Nonetheless, because of the sheer size of information available
over the Internet, logical organization and clearly defined
pointers to information sources is needed to greatly reduce
search time.
ISPRS webpages should be established to respond to two
important needs of today's Internet users: the webpages should
allow for the easy and convenient use of the Internet as a global
communication tool; and, the webpages should serve as a
globally networked database to allow for the location, extraction
and sharing of data for research and educational purposes.
Given these important needs, it is imperative that ISPRS-related
webpages be created with a degree of overall coordination and
network design efficiency, as well as creation of guidelines or
parameters to improve their communication and graphical
design. It is in ISPRS's own interest - and that of the hundreds
of thousands of persons interested in the fields of
photogrammetry and remote sensing - to establish a coordinated
and versatile system for ISPRS webpages.
While ISPRS webpages will continue to be important for the
communication, coordination and operations structure of ISPRS
activities, it is also crucial that ISPRS-related webpages
contribute to the goal of orderly and efficient location of
relevant material in the global haystack of Internet information.
This will not be achieved overnight, but can begin with the
systematic development and compilation of useful webpages.
We acknowledge the fact that a number of ISPRS Technical
Commissions and Working Groups have already actively
spearheaded the use of the Internet in the 1990s. We applaud
and encourage this effort, since it is a logical expectation that
the ISPRS as a leading international professional society should
be able to provide the best, most efficient and information-rich
webpages in its related fields.
This is the challenge. Creating a webpage is now not much
more difficult than operating a wordprocessor; what is
important is the grooming of the webpage so that it efficiently
and clearly provides access to needed information, and that it
presents an interesting and absorbing overall design.
Maintaining a webpage can be compared to managing a plant
nursery: it is a place that one visits in order to acquire new
plants. Establishing a healthy and friendly competition between
webpage creators could help to maintain overall webpage
usefulness.
The combined assemblage of the ISPRS Journal, the ISPRS
Highlights, ISPRS webpages and Commission or Working
Group Newsletters should form an integrated whole. This whole
should also preferably include: assemblages of webpage links to
related Journals; links to webpages of National Members; links
to webpages of education and research institutions, national
government institutions, private companies and, last but not
least, personal homepages in related fields.
With this in mind we propose that the Council provide
periodically a Best Webpage Award for ISPRS Webpages.
Given this background, we propose the following guidelines to
the Council:
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF ISPRS WEBPAGES
I. Introduction
The World Wide Web (WWW) will be a major, and
probably vital, data sharing system for humankind in the 21st
Century.
Because of its position as an international nexus for
photogrammetry, remote sensing and GIS technology, it is very
important that the ISPRS maintain a very visible and active
position on the WWW through the creation of colorful, exciting
and informative webpages. However, the primary function of
these webpages will be to convey, share and distribute
information. Therefore, the provision of information should not
be secondary to graphical design. The provision of Dext-only’
optional or duplicate pages should be provided whenever
possible, considering the fact that many users may not have
access to advanced Internet technology. Lengthy download
times should be avoided for crucial information.
Conveyance of important information is paramount,
yet overall success relies on aspects that need to be stressed
repeatedly: that these webpages be informative, creative, and
entertaining, constituting an intelligent, practical and
resourceful promotion of the ISPRS and its activities.
II. General
A. All ISPRS Member Organizations,
Commissions, Working Groups and Technical
Commissions should in the near future use
Internet webpage media to promote their work
related to their area of expertise.
B. ISPRS mandated restrictions placed on the
development of webpages will be few. While
daunting or intimidating technical complexity is
not encouraged, nonetheless the ISPRS is
promoting the creation of advanced webpages,
with the emphasis on both the clarity of the
message conveyed and the innovative creativity
that will go into their creation.
C. ISPRS webpages are not Oi..y for ISPRS
Members, but for the larger world audience that
is interested in the ever-growing fields of
photogrammetry, remote sensing, GIS and