Brussels, 17 December 2019 – Delegates from around the world flocked to the first European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI) Summit. Attracted by a topical conference programme, working group sessions and a variety of networking opportunities the event in Brussels earlier this month welcomed representatives of more than 40 organisations, from 18 countries and 3 continents.
The EAASI Summit conference included keynote speakers Eduardo Garcia Gonzales of CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) and Hugo De Groof, Directorate General for the Environment at the European Commission. Other highlights of the two-day programme were a talk on geo-political advocacy by Brian Raber, Past President of MAPPS, a presentation on the importance of collaborating internationally by Mick Cory, Executive Director of EuroGeographics and a review of aerial surveying in the Asia Pacific region by Brian Nicholls, Director of AAM Pty Ltd.
The summit was also supported with sponsorship from Hexagon Geosystems, CAE Aviation, Riegl, Teledyne Optech and Vexcel Imaging.
“It was hugely exciting and rewarding to welcome such a diverse range of delegates representing all aspects of the aerial survey industry from across Europe,” commented Simon Musäus, President of EAASI. “We were also honoured to have contributions from our sponsor companies, other well respected associations and international commercial organisations.”
“The input and feedback received both during and after the summit will help us further collaborate to create, promote, influence and define opportunities for aerial surveying in the region. We were also able to initiate and cement relationships that will guide the Association’s future goals and activities.” continued Musäus.
Similar in concept to MAPPS (the national association of firms in the surveying, spatial data and geographic information systems fields) in the US, EAASI was incorporated in June 2019. Membership of EAASI is open to aerial survey companies, equipment manufacturers, software developers and service providers from within the aerial surveying industry across Europe.
The Association’s published goals include promoting the benefits of aerial surveying, improving awareness of aerial survey data within fields such as digitalisation, information systems and virtual reality and defining, maintaining and promoting best practice within the aerial surveying industry.
The European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries is an incorporated association without profitable goal registered in Brussels, Belgium. The objectives of the organisations are:
a. Make users and potential users of Geo-Information aware of the benefits of aerial surveying;
b. Achieve a high awareness of the strategic role that aerial survey data play in the framework of digitalisation, information systems and virtual reality;
c. Define, maintain and promote quality, safety, ethical and business requirements for the aerial surveying industry;
d. Promote the use of international professional standards in the field of gathering geospatial data;
e. Facilitate the networking and provide a platform for regular contacts, information exchange and cooperation between the members;
f. Provide members with information about the developments of technological knowledge;
g. Ensure that the common interests of members are represented in national and international committees which exert influence on the members;
h. Advise and assist funding and executing agencies and organisations in matters concerning aerial surveying;
i. Promote the generation of a sustainable market for Geo-Information using aerial surveying;
j. Take all other actions as may be conducive to the attainment of the above objectives, such as concluding agreements, engaging personnel, hiring, leasing, buying and selling property.
The Association is comprised of members and observers. Qualifying members must be:
1. Be based and create employment in any the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom;
2. Be a privately owned commercial company. ‘Privately owned’ means that the majority of the shares (>50%) are in private hands.
3. Operate survey aircraft and equipment for aerial photography, mapping and/or LiDAR purposes in one or more of the countries mentioned under point (1)
4. The member or member organisation shall fully support the goal and the objects of the Association.
Any organisation that does not qualify to become a member of the Association may apply as an observer.