Educators Form Surveying and Geomatics Educators Society (SaGES)

The North American Surveying and Mapping Educators conferences have been held since the 1930s. The society developed from business meetings held at the conclusion of the last two conferences in Big Rapids, Mich., in 2007, and Johnson City, Tenn., in 2009, where the consensus was to create a formal organization to sustain interest and activities on issues related to geomatics education.

In July 2010, that vision was realized with the official formation of the Surveying and Geomatics Educators Society (SaGES). Dr. Charles Ghilani, Professor of Engineering at Pennsylvania State University-Wilkes-Barre, serves as the president of the new society, which will hold biennial conferences on surveying and geomatics education topics and conduct business that promotes effective teaching and learning of surveying, mapping, geomatics, and other spatially related education.

“Once we get rolling, we hope to be a leading organization for the promotion of best teaching and learning practices in geomatics education,” Ghilani said. “We will work on developing an educational environment that meets the needs of industry and government and cooperates with other professional societies at every level, including international, to support geomatics education.”

At the July 2009 meeting, bylaws were adopted that had been ratified by vote of the 2007 and 2009 attendees. Nominations for officers and voting were conducted in time for officers and board members to take office on January 1, 2010. The elected board members are Tom Seybert, Bill Hazelton, Jim Crossfield and Bob Burtch. Officers elected in addition to Ghilani include Steve Johnson, president-elect; Joe Paiva, secretary; and Rich Vannozzi, treasurer.

“We’re still organizing and would like to invite all who are engaged in full-time or part-time teaching of geomatics subjects as well as those with a strong interest in geomatics education to join us,” Ghilani said.

The XXIII conference on surveying and geomatics education is scheduled to be held June 8-11, 2011 at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. For more information or to view the society bylaws, visit www.sageducators.org. Interested individuals may contact Joe Paiva at jvrpaiva@swbell.net to be placed on the membership roster.

ITT Launches Academic Partnership Program for Imagery and Data Analysis

ITT Visual Information Solutions, a subsidiary of ITT Corp., launched a new academic partnership program designed to help educators foster students’ careers in disciplines involving geospatial imagery and complex data analysis. The program, entitled “ITT Innovation Centers,” is available to any college or university in the United States and Canada offering courses that use image and data analysis software as a core component of the curriculum. Under the program, ITT will provide its partners with a number of educational benefits, including access to the company’s products for image and data analysis, ENVI and IDL software for use in classroom instruction. Other advantages include access to professional training resources, consultations with ITT representatives on course structure and curriculum, and the opportunity to preview and give feedback on future releases of ENVI and IDL.

As partners in the program, participating academic institutions will contribute to advances in data and image analysis within the ENVI and IDL product lines, and provide curriculum, research, papers, and other resources of value to the greater academic community.

“By providing access to leading software technologies and curriculum and giving our academic partners insight into our product development, we are able to contribute in ways that not only support these disciplines but also advance the careers of professionals nationwide,” said Nigel Brown, director of academic programs for ITT Visual Information Solutions.

For more information about ITT Innovation Centers, visit wwww.ittvis.com/academic.

INTERGEO 2010 to Focus on Environmental Protection

Following on the heels of a 2009 conference that “exceeded expectations,” INTERGEO 2010, which will be held at the Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre in Cologne, Germany, Oct. 5-7, is set to draw another large crowd. With the theme, “Knowledge and action for planet Earth,” the conference will focus on stretching the boundaries between disciplines for the sake of environmental protection. More than 400 exhibitors will highlight products ranging from laser scanners and GNSS units to software and consulting services. The three-day conference program will cover topics such as geoinformation and data management, satellite processes, structural and ground movement, and sustainable development in urban areas and regions.

For the latest conference news, visit  www.pobonline.com or bookmark our mobile site at mobileshow.pobonline.com.