I attended the Land Satellite Conference which was organized by the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). Bill French and Joan'Treadwell of ASPRS put together an outstanding event, not in terms of sheer numbers of attendees, although they did get a much larger turnout than they had expected, but in terms of the level and quality of attendees. As it relates to the remote sensing industry, all the "heavy hitters" were there - everybody who is anybody in remote sensing was in attendance.
      One of the main things to come out of this conference, aside from the optimism surrounding commercial remote sensing is the proliferation of organizations that are being setup to represent various factions or interests surrounding this industry. T
      he conference also illustrated that is you want to make money in remote sensing and GIS - put on a conference. You are guaranteed to get 500 to 2,000 people to spend between $300 and $400 to attend. Those who are currently in this business, and the existing user base have an insatiable appetite for anything as it relates to the GeoTechnologies.
      Ted Nance, president of SPOT IMAGE, and I had the opportunity to have lunch together at the Land Satellite Conference and we discussed exactly those issues, that these conferences seem to be "preaching to the choir," and these organizations are talking to the same people over and over again.
      Ted is right! We now have Murray Felsher starting the North American Remote Sensing Industries Association (NARSIA) whose objective is to provide a forum and unified voice for remote sensing users of North America, to lobby government, and to establish a dialogue with the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).
      Recently, EOM has run an informal debate where representations of the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) asked the question "Do we really need another association?" in reference to NARSIA. Representatives of NARSIA responded with their objectives and reasons for their proposed existence.
      Another organization is being started, called Global Earth Observation (GEO). This group is being spearheaded by Roy Gibson, retired from the European Space Agency, Gerard Brachet, chairman of the board of SPOT IMAGE, and Arturo Silvestrini, president of CEO of EOSAT. The purpose of GEO is to expand the private sector role in the planning and coordination of Earth Observation missions; present commercial Earth Observation issues before international agencies and organizations; establish a dialogue with international space agencies and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS); and provide the remote sensing industry with a forum for the exchange of policy and technical information.
      ASPRS, URISA, OGIS, MAPPS, NARSIA, GEO, (sorry for using just the acronyms, I forget what they all stand for) all seem to have their agendas: Ranging from creating a totally open and interoperable world; to lobbying government for more outsourcing of mapping contracts; and, to providing a communication and education forum for their members. Chances are all of these organizations have a niche, or else they would not be generating the interest that they are from their constituents.
      However, none of these endeavors are really addressing the major issue facing this industry - and that is, outside of the tens of thousands of people within this industry, or those who are using this technology - no one knows who the hell we are - and what we do! I hate to break it to you, but those people who could use and benefit from the GeoTechnologies do not know a thing about us.
      This is not a new concern and, it calls my attention to several related coincidences. As I've noted, Ted Nance and I recently had lunch together where we discussed what is needed to develop the markets for remote sensing. Our meeting occurred almost four years to the day that I first met with Ted over dinner to discuss the creation of Earth Observation Magazine. My concern then, too, was the expansion of markets for the industry. Since proposing the idea of starting EOM as a means to address this issue we have found that even with a circulation of 30,000, EOM just scratches the surface of the vertical markets which have applications for the GeoTechnologies.
      Four years later, having made EOM into one of the leading publications dealing with the GeoTechnologies, we are not standing still. We have led the way in the industry with application articles, reaching the vertical markets for the GeoTechnologies and creating editorial format that addresses our readers interests, vis-a-vis our monthly departments and columns. Indeed, we are flattered that GIS World has recognized the importance of what we are doing by starting their own "GPS Consumer Watch" to match our GPS Consumer Series and GPS Q&A columns.
      However, those things are minor compared to the types of changes that will emanate from EOM over the next several months. We plan to implement some drastic remodeling to address the major issues within the industry. The results of which will double, and then triple the distribution of EOM over the next two years. You will see EOM create programs whose effects will go beyond the reach of existing publications and trade shows, providing the industry greater communication, education, and marketing opportunities to the millions of potential customers who've yet to hear about this dynamic industry.
      The bottom line is that EOM is working towards creating an environmental within which the markets for the GeoTechnologies can support hundred million, even billion dollar businesses within this industry. So, when Ted Nance and I get together for lunch or dinner in another four years, we won't be discussing how putting on a conference is one of the best ways to make money in the GeoTechnologies - but, rather, how we helped to create new markets and greater wealth than ever before perceived within this industry.

Cheers!

Roland Mangold
publisher

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