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The Results of the Second International Conference Remote Sensing – the Synergy of High Technologies. On April 16-18, 2008 the Second International Conference Remote Sensing – the Synergy of High Technologies organized by Sovzond and supported by GIS-Association was held. The primary sponsor of the conference was DigitalGlobe, operator of high-detail ERS data obtained from WorldView-1 and QuickBird satellites. Conference sponsors were suppliers of ERS data from operating Ikonos satellite and advanced GeoEye space vehicle – European Space Imaging and GeoEye companies. Information support of the conference was provided by R&D.CNews (primary information sponsor), Geoprofi magazine, GeoTop electronic catalog, GISinfo newspaper, Astronautics News magazine, Aerospace Courier magazine, GIM International magazines, GEOconnexion, GISDevelopment.
Fig.1. Atlas Park Hotel. Public room for the registration of conference attendees. About 300 participants from 16 countries took part in the conference: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, USA, Canada, Holland, Norway, Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain, Taiwan, Japan, India.(Fig. 2).
Fig. 2. Geography of conference attendees. The Second International Conference Remote Sensing – the Synergy of High Technologies became a meeting point for directors and lead specialists of the Russian and foreign companies specializing in GIS and mapping, land registry, resolution of thematic tasks for oil and gas industry, power industry, town planning, executive and municipal management, ecology and resource management (Fig.3). The conference attendees included the following companies: FGUP RNOO KP, Samara Space center, NPO Mashinostroyeniya, FGUP S.A. Lavochkin NPO, M.V. Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, FGUP NPP VNIIEM, TsPAM Aerokosmos, FGUP Priroda State center, State Enterprise of the Khanty-Mansijsk Autonomous District–Yugra V.I. Shpilman Research and Analytical Center for the Rational Use of the Subsoil, FGUP Uralgeoinform, Zemlya Federal Cadastral Center, MO NIiPi Town Planning, branch of FGUP Goszemkadastrsyomka - VISHAGI, Space Research Institute of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Environmental Issues and Forest Productivity Center of Russian Science Academy, Yugra Research Institute of Information Technologies, VNIIGAZ Ltd., branch of FGUP Roslesinforg (Russia), DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, ITT VIS, Bentley Systems (USA), European Space Imaging, Infoterra GmbH, INPHO GmbH (Germany), SpotImage (France), MDA (Canada), Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (Japan) and others.
Fig.3. Attendees by the type of activity. Mikhaylov Vladimir Iosifovich, the General Director of Sovzond, made an opening speech, congratulated participants on the start the Second International Conference Remote Sensing – the Synergy of High Technologies and expressed his hope that the conference will be useful and fruitful since the branch is dynamically developing, and participation in this event offers an excellent possibility to track new tendencies and to present new technologies. He also wished the participants a constructive dialogue, search for new partners, nonstandard decisions which would become an impetus for branch development. The plenary session included three thematic sections. The first part was devoted to state-of-the-art and development prospects of Russian and foreign Earth remote sensing programs. The world-known suppliers of space data took part in the conference (Fig. 4).
Fig.4. Plenary session. Diamond Alex and Susan Moynihan’s report (DigitalGlobe, USA) "Sourced from the Worlds Most Advanced Commercial Satellite Constellation" attracted the special attention of participants. The report paid special attention to the performance data and advantages of high-resolution WorldView-1 space vehicle and promising WorldView-2 vehicle. The camera crew of the first Russian TV business channel (RBK) worked on the conference. RBK TV had interviews with conference managers and attendees who imparted their opinions on prospects of ERS development both in Russian and foreign markets; on extension and availability of the consumer market of space technologies; on advantages and issues of development of high-technology space vehicles (Fig.5). This event was broadcasted in April 16, 2008 on RBK TV channel in Today’s Intrigue program. Hereyou can watch the program on the conference.
Fig.5. Interview of conference attendees regarding the space activity development. The second day of the conference started from section "Software complexes, systems and solutions for ERS data processing from leading Russian and foreign developers". The session fully demonstrated ample opportunities of software products on ERS data processing and geoinformational technologies to solve various tasks. Subsequent conference reports were devoted to resolution of practical tasks using ERS data for oil and gas complex, mapping, forestry and agriculture, resolution of environmental issues. The following spokesmen can be emphasized:
Specialized seminars were held as part of the conference (Fig.6) Conference participants noted the joint seminar of Sovzond and VNIIGAZ "Satellite Radar Differential Interferometric Monitoring of Earth Surface Displacements on Oil and Gas Fields under Development" where capabilities of monitoring Earth surface deformations on oil and gas fields by means of satellite differential radar interferometry and GPS-surveys were reviewed. Joint seminar of Sovzond and Territorial Information Fund of Ural federal District – "Capabilities of Up-to-Date Optical and Radar ERS Data for Information Support of the Forestry Activity" - was also actively discussed.
Fig. 6. Specialized seminars.
Fig.7. Master class. Apart from the official part, the conference included a diverse entertainment program. A drink reception devoted to WorldView-1 satellite launch was arranged for conference participants, where each guest received a present from DigitalGlobe and had an opportunity to meet colleagues and exchange impressions in warm and friendly atmosphere. (Fig. 8).
Fig.8. Drink reception devoted to the WorldView-1 satellite launch. The second day included an evening party with an interesting show performed by an outstanding and facetious entertainer and Dr. Watson vocal quarter. Based on results of organized competitions Sovzond and conference sponsors – DigitalGlobe, GeoEye (USA), European Space Imaging (Germany) - granted 3 certificates for the archive scene from WorldView-1, QuickBird, Ikonos satellites to most active participants of the evening party. (Fig.9)
Fig.9. Entertainment program attended by conference guests, Igor Skurikhin and Dr. Watson group. All conference participants received the second revised edition of the Sovzond catalogue issued in March 2008, where data on up-to-date and promising ERS space systems has been systemized and data samples are presented. Abstracts and presentations of reporter speeches are currently available on the conference website in the Program section. Conference participants noted that the ever-growing interest in the conference and growing number of participants proved that the demand for Earth space survey leads to active development of ERS data market in Russia. Enormous influence on the development of the ERS branch was brought by appearance and improvement of technologies in allied areas – GIS, global positioning system, telecommunications, communications and data exchange, development of Internet applications, geoportals etc. Summing up, it is noteworthy that the conference became the most important event in the branch, reflecting the start-of-the-art on the ERS market, rendered services and implemented projects in the field of ERS and allied areas of space sciences and technology – it was attended by almost all biggest market players. The organizers thank all attendees for active work at the conference and invite for further constructive dialogue. |
