Allen Osborne memorial; industry milestones.

Allen W. Osborne passed away on May 6, 2005. Osborne was the founder and president of Allen Osborne Associates Inc., Westlake Village, Calif., a provider of GPS survey, timing and navigation technology now owned by ITT Industries. Osborne founded Allen Osborne Associates in 1978 with his friend Dr. Alfred F. Schmitt. Osborne led Allen Osborne Associates into the GPS arena in 1980 with the production of the TTR-5 Time Transfer Receiver. Under Osborne's leadership, Allen Osborne Associates produced many firsts in GPS for the timing market, focusing on the high-end timing receiver market, which culminated in deliveries of sub-nanosecond SAASM-based Time Transfer Receivers to the USNO as well as commercial receiver versions to timing laboratories around the world. In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Osborne will always be remembered as a gentleman.

On July 5, 2005, Leica Geosystems GIS & Mapping officially changed its name to Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging. This new name better reflects its position as a provider of solutions that power the entire imaging workflow. Also, Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging acquired Terramatics Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a developer of customized GPS Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). In addition, Leica Geosystems expanded its North American headquarters in metropolitan Atlanta. Leica Geosystems occupies a 100,000-sq-ft facility in Norcross, Ga., which functions as the Leica Geosystems regional headquarters for the Americas, with a special focus on its Geospatial Imaging, and Surveying and Engineering divisions.

Topcon, Livermore, Calif., announced two high-level promotions: Joe Brabec serves as Topcon's chief technology officer (CTO), and Jamie Williamson serves as senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Optech Incorporated, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, announced that its Laser Imaging and Industrial Products divisions were combined into the Industrial & 3D Imaging Division. The previously independent divisions now share common administration, engineering and manufacturing resources. The new division is headed by Brent W. Gelhar, previous director of the Laser Imaging Division.

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) established the Robert N. Colwell Memorial Fellowship Award. Friends and colleagues of Dr. Colwell (1918-2005) created this award as a memorial to him from donated funds to be administered by the ASPRS Foundation. The award consists of a $2,000 check, a certificate, and a one-year student or associate membership (new or renewed) in ASPRS. The award will be made to a graduate student currently enrolled or intending to enroll in a college or university in the United States or Canada, or a recently graduated post-doctoral researcher, who is pursuing a program of study aimed at a career in remote sensing or other related geospatial information technologies.

Applied Mapping Inc. (AMI), Jacksonville, Fla., welcomed Steve Long as a GIS specialist. Bringing 20 years of experience in maps and charts applications, and 15 years of GPS experience to his position, Long is primarily responsible for fieldwork, data collection and evaluation.

Leading Edge Land Services, a professional surveying, mapping and GIS firm, opened an office near Atlanta at 5044 B.U. Bowman Drive, Suite 106 in Buford, Ga. The office is led by Ken Brown, PLS.

The Sidwell Company, St. Charles, Ill., a provider of GIS, photogrammetric services and commercial mapping products, named Neal D. Carpenter as president and CEO.

Hollis Engineering Inc., Orlando, Fla., named Michael T. Rudd, PLS, vice president of surveying services. Rudd provides professional experience in all aspects of land surveying services and 3D mapping.

BL Companies, Baltimore, Md., announced that Michael Gates joined the survey department as manager of surveying services. Gates brings more than 20 years of experience in land surveying and 12 years of network administration experience.

Atwell-Hicks, Ann Arbor, Mich., appointed Brian R. Wenzel, PE, as the firm's new president. Wenzel will also continue to serve as CEO. Board Chairman and CEO Robert G. Macomber, PE, PS, relocated to the Tampa Bay area to lead the company's expansion efforts in Florida.

NavCom Technology, Torrance, Calif., and C & C Technologies, Lafayette, La., announced a five-year extension to their agreement for the distribution of C-Nav GPS. This agreement enables C & C Technologies to provide NavCom's StarFire differential GPS receivers and the related correction signals worldwide, under the brand of C-Nav. The agreement continues to be exclusive with respect to offshore operations pertaining to satellite navigation positioning on projects for surveying, mapping, geophysics, mining, cable laying and offshore construction, installation, inspection and maintenance operations.