XXV
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ive anomaly remained
en verified the excellent
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; to surface lithology,
re the town foundation.
’t be gladdened, as the
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ictive. However he was
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s in his research activity
tolerant with the other
Opening
Dear colleagues and friends,
welcome to this Symposium, organized in Cotonou (Benin)
from December 6, 1999 to December 10, 1999. It’s scheduled
just in the Luigi Solaini 10 th Anniversary and it’s dedicated to
his memory, remembering that he was the ISPRS President in
the period 1968 - 1972.
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,
deals with the topics of Education and Communication
(Networking).
Its motto is “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 offers 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) join the same Symposium
positively.
Indeed they respectively organize 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 are 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, is the first ISPRS event ever held in Benin and one of
the first in the continent.
It aims 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 are:
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.
I sincerely hope that everybody may return home, after the
symposium, better than his departure. Finally let me recall
that the last meeting of the ISPRS WG VI/3 will be held, in
the first week of February of a next year, in Ljubljana
(Slovenia).
Closure
Dear colleagues and friends,
after one week of hard work, interesting discussion and nice
events, now this symposium is finishing.
Firstly let me recall the very strong figure of Prof. Luigi
Solaini, the spirit of his life, on both scientific and human
points of view, and the lesson that he gave us.
Successively let me thank again Mr. Vincent Joseph Mama,
our local host, especially for his warm hospitality and his
engagement in the preparation of this symposium,
recognizing all the difficulties he must overcome.
Finally I’m sure that the symposium has been fruitful and
positive for all of you, recognizing the importance of the
international cooperation and technology transfer.
I hope to meet you again in Ljubljana and in Amsterdam.
Thanks a lot again, ciao.
