Charles Mondello, senior vice president of Pictometry International, a past ASPRS Board member, and ASPRS Forecast leader noted, “ASPRS, NASA, NOAA, and the Forecast team have provided the Society and industry with an unbiased projection of its direction. The content of the Forecast, now in its third phase, has received wide exposure. Downloaded 1700 times from the ASPRS website www.asprs.org and briefed to all levels including the United States Senate, the Forecast is being used to define and set industry policy. Over the course of the Forecast, dozens of employers have committed the support of their staff to make it possible. The ASPRS membership itself has participated in all phases of the study through the industry online surveys.”
The Forecast, now in its third phase, has focused on a multitude of key issues. In Phase I the Forecast provided an industry baseline. Phase II highlighted the requirements of geospatial end users. Phase III plans on a continued baseline with the addition of enhanced end user delineation by market segment. Given the tragedy of September 11, 2001 the Forecast also plans to assess the short and long term ramifications of the event and its industry impacts.
Results have been presented at each ASPRS spring and fall conference since the Forecast’s inception. The ASPRS 2003 spring conference in Alaska will also showcase the activities of the Forecast.