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Fall 2000 Newsletter
From The President's Pen
Kamal Ahmed
This is my first newsletter as President, and before I get on with my article, there are a number of people I have to thank for their continuing contribution to the region. Alan Walford, our Past President, is really hard to follow. Alan is the CEO of a small and successful high-tech BC firm specializing in close-range photogrammetric software. Despite his overloaded schedule, his contribution as President is hard to miss. In my opinion, his most unique accomplishment was establishing and hosting a web site for our region. Please take a look at our web site: http://www.photogrammetry.com/ASPRS-PSR. In addition to being our past president, Alan is our webmaster.
Now, a word about my background. I teach surveying, photogrammetry, and GIS at the University of Washington, department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I have a Masters degree in surveying and a Ph. D. in photogrammetry. Currently, my research involves LIDAR and softcopy photogrammetry.
This issue of the PSR Newsletter is compiled and edited by our one time newsletter editor Ward Carson of Carto Instruments (who also is Vice President). On behalf of all PSR members, I want to thank whole-heartedly retiring editor Gord Shields for donating his time over the last few years. In recognition of his efforts, Gord received an award from National. Many thanks to both of you! We are not sure how long Ward will volunteer to compile our newsletter. The newsletter editor spot is currently unfilled so if any member wishes to help out the region, please contact any board member or me and let us know you are interested in the position. I would like to extend a heart-felt thanks from all PSR members to Steve Reutebuch who has been putting a lot of effort into organizing the upcoming information exchange meeting. Steve finished her 4 years as an ASPRS-PSR officer of the Ocean Shores AGM.
Many thanks to Terry Curtis, our anchor and advocate as national director, Hans-Erik Andersen, our treasurer who keeps us all honest, and Joetta Zablotney and George Maalouli, our secretary and President-Elect for their time and contribution to the region.
The annual general meeting (AGM) was held on February 17, 2000, in conjunction with the 2000 Joint LSAW/ASPRS/ACSM Annual at the Shilo Inn and Ocean Shores Convention Center in Ocean Shores! At the AGM, I was sworn in as President, George Maalouli as President-Elect, and Ward Carson as Vice President. Alan Walford moved on to Past President .After the meeting was adjourned, Mike Renslow, then ASPRS President, summarized current and future ASPRS and ISPRS activities. The meeting was attended by few ASPRS members who requested more Information Exchange/Technical Meetings. More details about the AGM are included in this newsletter. Also at the Ocean Shores convention, The 1990 Chittenden Award winner, Derek Stuart of the University of Washington, received his official certificates during the Awards Luncheon.
Past President Alan Walford, to the left, passes the gavel to the current President Kamal Ahmed.
On the national scene, the financial situation of ASPRS continued to improve through the skilled management of Mike Renslow, National President. The 1998 ASPRS National Annual Convention in Washington D.C. was our third without ACSM as a co-sponsor, and it was a great success both technically and financially. Plans for the 2001 ASPRS Annual Convention in St. Louis, Missouri are moving ahead smoothly. So mark your calendars early and plan to attend the "Gateway to the New Millennium" ASPRS annual conference April 23-27.
Once again this year, PSR and CRR are sponsoring a joint one-day Information Exchange Meeting on Thursday, September 21st, in Vancouver, WA (see the related article in this newsletter for registration information). Last year's session was very successful, with several speakers giving 10-minute presentations. So please plan to attend if you want to find out what's going on in the local regions!
Last May I met with representatives of LSAW and ACSM-WA to select the 2000 Chittenden Award winner. The Chittenden Award was established in honor of Professor Hiram M. Chittenden who for 42 years taught surveying, photogrammetry, and highway design at the University of Washington. The award fund provides for one year of full, in-state tuition for an undergraduate civil engineering student at the University of Washington. This year one winner was chosen. Congratulations to Mark Rohrbach!
In closing, please feel free to contact me at (206) 543-7613 or at kamal@u.washington.edu if you wish to discuss anything about the PSR activities.
The National Perspective
By: Terry Curtis, Puget Sound Region Director
Hello to all the Puget Sound Region members and colleagues!
I want to take this opportunity to update you on ASPRS issues at the National Level and on the recent national Annual Meeting held in Washington DC in May of 2000.
First of all, the conference was a huge success with approximately 2500 attendees. The workshops were all sold out, exhibits were well-attended, and many technical sessions were standing room only. There were some complaints about the exhibit hall space, and the overcrowded technical sessions, but overall a positive experience. Lots of good information and networking with other professionals.
ASPRS held several committee meetings, and the fall Board meeting at the conference also. Highlights of the meetings I attended are summarized below.
The Membership Committee looked at the possibility of "Sponsored Memberships" as some companies indicated a willingness and desire to provide corporate sponsorship for new active or student membership. More info as this develops. The "Associate Member" category will be implemented soon This category is established to help students transition from student membership to full active membership at a reduced dues rate for up to 3 years. The intent is to assist the new professionals financially, and hopefully to retain more members for the long term.
The society remains in good shape financially thanks to the continuing efforts of the National staff and Officers. The Denver Land Satellite conference netted about $147K, well over expectations! A conservative estimate for year end 2000 is a $128K surplus of income over expense. The bills are paid and there's money in the bank!
ASPRS's WWW presence is expanding, on-line membership renewals, e-commerce for publications, and member access to ASPRS information is underway and some portions are in "Beta-testing" with the Board members as you read this. This should be open to the general membership SOON! There is great potential for the web to serve the Society in many aspects we probably haven't even thought of yet!
Confirmed future conferences are ASPRS Fall Convention December 1-6, 2000 in Providence RI in partnership with ACSM, 2001 Annual Convention - April 22-27 in St. Louis, and 2002 Annual in conjunction with FIG and ACSM - April in Washington D.C.. Fall meetings in 2001 and beyond, and the 2004 and beyond Annual Meetings are not yet determined.
Yours truly was honored at the Washington DC Board meeting by being nominated and elected to serve on the ASPRS Executive Committee (EXCOM). This is a governing body consisting of the National Officers and Executive Director, and four National Board members selected by the National Board. This group works "behind the scenes" to develop ASPRS policy, plans, and prepare proposals to the Board for discussion and/or vote. I'm told this will be an "exciting and interesting" experience, and I'm looking forward to my first EXCOM meeting this August.
That about sums up the meeting highlights. DC weather was good, although I did buy an umbrella for the 2-block trek through an initial downpour on my way to the first committee meeting (a tough thing to admit for a Washingtonian). The remainder of the week was sunny and warm.... a welcome contrast to the typical soggy Spring in the Northwest.
Other National News
Terry Curtis, Puget Sound Region Director
PUGET SOUND REGION SALUTES IT'S SUSTAINING MEMBERS
The Puget Sound Region extends a resounding "THANK YOU!" to our Region's eight "Sustaining Member" organizations, their proprietors, and staff for providing ongoing support of the National (and Regional) ASPRS, and for their contributions to and/or advancement of the mapping sciences through the products and services they provide. We'd also like to extend a warm WELCOME! To our newest Sustaining Member, The Boeing Company of Seattle, Washington. Maybe we can talk them into putting camera holes in all their new aircraft !!
These organizations pay annual dues at the National level in exchange for several Sustaining Member benefits including reduced advertising rates, 4 copies of the PERS Journal, reduced rate and preferential exhibit space at conferences, company profile in annual "Directory of the Mapping Sciences", and listing in the "Products and Services" section of the ASPRS homepage.
Shouldn't YOUR company name be included here?!
For more information contact ASPRS Membership Dept. at (301)493-0290 or email at members@asprs.org, or the ASPRS website at http://www.asprs.org
In grateful recognition of all the Puget Sound Region's Sustaining Members:
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA
Cymbolic Sciences Int'l., Richmond, B.C.
Eagle Mapping Services, Port Coquitlam, B.C.
ISM International Systemap Corporation, Vancouver, B.C.
LizardTech Incorporated, Seattle, WA
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
Radarsat International, Richmond B.C.
Triathlon, Richmond, B.C.
Walker & Associates, Inc., Seattle, WA
IGIF Announces New ESRI/IGIF Student Scholarship Award By: Terry Curtis
What is the IGIF?
The International Geographic Information Foundation (IGIF) is a Non-Profit Charitable Foundation dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life on Earth through better use of geographic information.
The sponsoring organizations are ASPRS, AAG, and URISA and the group is governed by a Board of Trustees representing the three sponsoring societies.
IGIF is pleased to announce the availability of three (3) to five (5) ESRI/IGIF student scholarship awards in the amount of $1000 each for 2000-2001. This unique scholarship program is made possible through the generous IGIF endowment established by Laura and Jack Dangermond, and the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).
IGIF also offers other student awards either directly or through it's sponsoring societies. For more information and application / deadline information, visit the IGIF website at http://www.igif.org and the ASPRS webpage at http://asprs.org/asprs/membership/scholar.html.
SUSTAINING MEMBERS OF THE PUGET SOUND REGION RECOGNIZED
By: Terry Curtis
The Puget Sound Region extends a resounding "THANK YOU!" to our Region's seven "Sustaining Member" organizations, their proprietors, and staff for providing ongoing support of the National (and Regional) ASPRS, and for their contributions to and/or advancement of the mapping sciences through the products and services they provide. These organizations pay annual dues at the National level in exchange for several Sustaining Member benefits including reduced advertising rates, 4 copies of the PERS Journal, reduced rate and preferential exhibit space at conferences, company profile in annual "Directory of the Mapping Sciences", and listing in the "Products and Services" section of the ASPRS homepage.
For more information contact ASPRS Membership Dept. at (301)493-0290 or email at members@asprs.org, or download an application form from the ASPRS website at http://www.asprs.org/asprs/society/membership/memcorp.html !!
In grateful recognition of the Puget Sound Region's Sustaining Members:
Cymbolic Sciences Int'l., Richmond, B.C.
Eagle Mapping Services, Port Coquitlam, B.C.
ISM International Systemap Corporation, Vancouver, B.C.
LizardTech Incorporated, Seattle, WA
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
Radarsat International, Richmond B.C.
Triathlon Mapping Corporation, Burnaby, B.C.
Walker & Associates, Inc., Seattle, WA
Shouldn't YOUR company name be included here?!
Support your Newsletter!!!
If you have a news item of interest to your fellow readers, please send it (preferably via e-mail) to the Newsletter Editor. We would particularly like to feature short articles which focus on new projects or technologies.
All contributions of professional interest will be considered for publication!!
Send your news to:
Ward Carson, ASPRS-PSR Newsletter Editor
OSU - Forest Resources
Corvallis, OR 97331-5703 USA
Phone (541) 737-4451/Fax (541) 737-3049
e-mail: ward.carson@orst.edu
Deadline for Next Newsletter issue:
January 1, 2001
Upcoming Events
4th Annual PSR/CRR Joint Information Exchange. Vancouver, WA
(details enclosed with this newsletter)
Practical Applications in Geospatial Information Science. December 1-6, 2000. Providence, RI
2001 ASPRS Annual Conference April 23-27, 2001. St. Louis, MO
REGISTRATION FORM
*** REGISTRATION REQUIRED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 17, 2000***
Name:___________________________________________________________
Company:________________________________________________________
Address:________________________________________________________
Zip/Postal Code:________________
Phone:_________________________
Fax:____________________________
Email:__________________________
Registration:
US$ 25.00 Full Registration (includes lunch and notebook)
US$ 10.00 Student (includes notebook, but not lunch)
Make checks payable to "ASPRS Puget Sound Region" and mail together with this form to:
Hans-Erik Andersen
6823 26th Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Phone: (206) 543-0827
FAX: (206) 685-3091 Email: hanserik@u.washington.edu
Joint Puget Sound and Columbia River Regions Information Exchange
Date: Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000
Time: 9:00-4:30
Place: Clark County Public Works Department
Operations Division Conference Center
4700 NE 78th Street
Vancouver, Washington
Cost: $25 (full registration includes lunch and notebook)
Students $10 (includes only notebook)
Website: http://www.photogrammetry.com/ASPRS-PSR/exchangesept00.htm
(Registration forms download site)
The Puget Sound and Columbia River Regions of ASPRS are having their fourth annual joint information exchange this fall. What is an "Information Exchange"? It's an opportunity for people who are interested in the topics of photogrammetry and remote sensing to learn more about what's going on in our own backyard--in business, academia, and government. The information exchange is a day-long session in which local practitioners can present a 10-minute talk on one of their current or recent projects. A slide projector and overhead projector will be available, but presenters must be concise with their presentations and keep it under 10 minutes to allow everyone to have a chance at the mike. Anyone who wants to share information about some interesting or unusual project in the areas of photogrammetry and remote sensing are welcome; however, no commercial presentations or endorsements are allowed.
In addition to the presentations, each speaker will submit a 1-page description of the project and a 1-page profile of their organization (forms can be downloaded from the meeting website). The 1-page write-ups will be submitted before the meeting and compiled into a notebook for distribution at the meeting. Lunch and the notebook will be included in the registration fee.
Speaker slots will be limited to 30 due to the single-day schedule, so get your requests in early to insure your slot. Of course anyone is welcome and encouraged to come and find out more about what's going on around our regions, even if they don't want to make a presentation. We particularly want to encourage non-members to come find out more about ASPRS. As an encouragement, any new members who join ASPRS the day of the session will have the registration fee waived. So please invite your colleagues who work in the areas of photogrammetry and remote sensing. In addition, any person or company can sponsor a student by covering the $10 registration fee, so if you know any students working in the field, please consider sending them to this session to learn more about our industry and society.
Due to the geographic vastness of the PSR, we are planning a second information exchange day in our other Vancouver (BC) later in the year at a yet to be determined date.
You may contact one of the following people for more information or to reserve your speaker slot on the program:
Puget Sound Region Contact:
Steve Reutebuch
College of Forest Resources
University of Washington
Phone: (206) 543-4710
Email: sreutebu@u.washington.edu
Columbia River Region Contact:
Doug Smith
David C. Smith & Associates
Phone: 503-232-5285
Email: dsapdx@easystreet.com
Fees cover costs of meeting rooms, lunch, and publishing and distributing the conference notebooks.
