XVII 
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Compte-rendu of the WG VI/3 
Luigi Solaini 10 th Anniversary 
Memorial Meeting in Cotonou 
Luigi Mussio, WG VI/3 Chairperson 
The rescheduling of the ISPRS TC VI Mid Term Symposium 
(Bandung - Indonesia, April 15 - 17, ’99 and April 12 - 14, 
99 for a preliminary Workshop and some Tutorials) imposed 
some modifications to the ISPRS WG VI/3 program of 
activities. 
Unfortunately the ISPRS Council, during an ISPRS Joint 
Meeting of the Council and TCP’s, canceled the already 
approved ISPRS WG VI/3 Meeting (Cape Town - South 
Africa, February 1 - 5, ’99), because in contrast with some 
ISPRS Guidelines. 
Anyway the Council members know each other for a long 
time and are very nice people. Thus they understood very 
well the importance to give a sign in Africa, by means of the 
ISPRS WG VI/3 “International Cooperation and Technology 
Transfer” activities. 
Therefore the ISPRS WG VI/3 attended the 2 nd Regional 
Conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing of 
the Environment (Abidjan - Cote d’Ivoire, October 4 - 10, 
’98), presenting its activities and looking forward to future 
opportunities. 
The topic “Lesson of Experience and the Way Forward” was 
strongly related to the ISPRS TC VI and, in particular, to the 
ISPRS WG VI/3 Terms of Reference: Foster relationship 
with Regional Member organizations. Thus even if the time 
was very short, a symbol was marked. 
At that Conference, a new ISPRS WG VI/3 meeting in Africa 
was planned by the end of 1999. Consequentially a 
Symposium in Cotonou (Benin - Western Equatorial Africa) 
was scheduled, organized and prepared from December 6, 
1999 to December 10, 1999. 
This Symposium, chaired by the AARSE Delegate of the 
Benin, Mr. Vincent Joseph Mama, and the ISPRS Treasurer 
and Delegate for Africa and Middle East, Prof. Heinz Ruther, 
dealt with the topics of Education and Communication 
(Networking). 
Its motto was “Promoting Space Technology Transfer and 
Geomatics Education in Africa” or, in the French language, 
“Promotion du Transfert de Technologies Spatiales et la 
Formation en Geomatique en Afrique”, with the aim to 
overcome the language barriers. 
This Symposium offered to the ISPRS WG VI/3 
“International Cooperation and Technology Transfer”, 
according to its Terms of Reference, the great occasion to 
serve ISPRS, as Cooperating Working Group, by means of an 
international meeting in Africa too. 
Furthermore the OEEPE, by means of its partners, RECTAS, 
ITC, GDTA, EU Delegation in Lagos, and the SELPER, by 
means of the ISPRS WG VI/1 “Education” (chaired by Dr. 
Tania Maria Sausen - Brazil) joined the same Symposium 
positively. 
Indeed they respectively organized a Seminar on 
Development Support Project, in the last day, and an One - 
day Educational Tutorial, on Photogrammetry, Remote 
Sensing, GIS and Geomatics, whose topics were particularly 
devoted to Africa. 
Finally the whole ISPRS is very grateful to the UN-OOSA 
for having provided a large financial support to be devoted in 
the organization of the Symposium, whilst the University of 
Parma (Italy) offered the printing of the Proceedings of the 
Symposium itself. 
The Symposium, held in conjunction with the National 
Centre for Remote Sensing, CENATEL, a well known center 
of advaced and applied studies in the equatorial region of 
Africa, was the first ISPRS event ever held in Benin and one 
of the first in the continent. 
It aimed to advance expertise related to ISPRS and 
Geomatics in Africa by bringing together African and 
international experts in an African context and through the 
discussion of technology transfer and education issues. The 
specific objectives of the symposium were: 
1. Assessment of the situation of education in Africa 
2. Establishment of effective and sustainable education and 
training networks in Africa towards improved education 
3. Remote learning and computer assisted education 
4. Identification of support structures for education and 
networking in Africa 
5. Informing educators and practitioners on latest 
developments in relevant disciplines 
6. Investigation of opportunities for joint projects 
7. Strengthening of links between Francophone and 
anglophone African Geomatics experts and institutions. 
Therefore people were kindly invited to spread out 
information, as much as possible, considering that everybody 
could be the unique one to have got it in his / her country, or 
region. The whole ISPRS was sincerely grateful, for the 
important and essential cooperation. 
Finally the ISPRS WG VI/3 “International Cooperation and 
Technology Transfer” staff sincerely hoped to meet and 
welcome people in Cotonou (Benin), recognizing that 
everybody could play a very, very important role for the 
success of the Symposium. 
The country of Benin is one of the best places to have a 
meeting in Africa, because of its long tradition of peace and 
democracy. Moreover the people of Benin is considered one 
of the most capable to offer real, concrete and sincere 
hospitality in Africa. 
The country of Benin is placed in the Western Equatorial 
Africa, among Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Togo, going 
anticlockwise from east to west. For its position, it present a 
constant weather, relatively warm, with a very long dry 
season, just in occasion of the Symposium. 
Cotonou, placed on the Atlantic Ocean, is the biggest city of 
Benin. It’s the economic and cultural capital of the country, 
where the national and international institutions are located. 
Furthermore it’s a very international city, where many people 
of different origin could be met. 
Cotonou is provided by modem infrastructure, including an 
international and intercontinental airport; it presents every 
kind of shops, African and European restaurants, cinemas and 
some other various and different attractive touristic places, 
often open all night. 
The position of the Benin, its history, culture and tradition 
represent an ideal place to encourage the meeting of people 
of different origin, coming from both Africa and the 
developing countries, where a special attention was paid in 
the overcoming of the language barriers. 
Last but not least, remembering very well that people, in 
developing countries (especially if they lived in some other 
continents or subcontinents), had financial troubles, informal 
and/or indirect contributions by everybody were always 
highly appreciated. 
The program of the Symposium foresaw 8 technical session, 
including the key - note lectures, 2 special session for a panel 
discussion and the business session, the opening session and