The International Conference “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions” is the traditional biennial and the largest event in remote sensing within the post-Soviet environment. In 2011 the conference was held for the fifth time and gathered 470 people – representatives from 194 organizations from 22 world countries (including 56 participants from far abroad)

Experts in space imagery, specialists in creation and operation of Earth satellites, representatives of governmental authorities, scientific and educational structures, introducing modern technologies of space imaging into their practices took part in the conference.

Over three days – from November 29 until December 1, 2011 – the participants discussed issues related to the application (technical, technological, organizational, legal), as well as problems and perspectives of using space imagery technology and satellite imagery. In addition to traditional issues of satellite data application, the participants discussed problems and perspectives of interaction between military, civil and private sectors of space imagery industry and application of satellite data by the civil society. Moreover, various aspects of satellite data impact on economic development and of the economy on the remote sensing market were reviewed as well. The three-day conference witnessed 103 oral and 32 poster presentations.

Top five industry leaders by the type of participants’ activities (including foreign ones) are as follows:

An absolute majority – participants from Russia (85.5%) – is represented by 42 country regions. By the organization type, the percentage ratio distributed as follows: 58 % — public, 36 % — commercial companies and 6 % non-profit organizations.

More information is available in section «Figures and facts».

Top level of directors of leading world Operators of Earth Observation missions took part in the conference:

• Matthew O'Connell, CEO, President and Director (GeoEye), USA;
• Rani Hellerman, Director Business Development & Customer Support (ImageSat International N.V.), Israel;
• Paulo Bezerra, MDA Director (MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) Monitoring and Surveillance Systems and Geospatial Services, Canada;
• Herve Buchwalter, CEO of Astrium GEO-Information Services/Spot Image, France;
• David Hodgson, DMCii Managing Director, Great Britain.

In addition to thematic sections, discussions and round tables special master-classes and open meetings of associations took place during the conference:

• master-class of GeoEye company “GeoEye’s New Capabilities. From Online Access to Onsite Content Management and Web Dissemination. Advanced Analysis and Imagery Processing”;
• work-shop of Hitachi Solutions “GeoPDF — Easy-to-use GIS solution”;
• master-class of MDA and ScanEx RDC — “Applications for SAR Data in Russia”;
• master-class “Getting grants of “Skolkovo” foundation on the innovation projects development”;
• round table together with the “Earth from Space” Association -“Role of non-governmental organizations in formation of legal frameworks in remote sensing industry”;
• round table together with “Earth from Space” Association and GIS-Association - “Earth observation market studies: international approaches and Russian specifics”;
• master-class of ScanEx RDC - “Modern algorithms of RS data classification using ScanEx Image Processor”;
• master-class of Geo-Alliance” company - “GeoImaging Accelerator (GXL) is advanced technology of accelerated and automated processing of aerial and satellite images";
• master-class of Racurs company — “PHOTOMOD Technologies for processing optical and radar remotely sensed data”;
• workshop “Experience of agrichemical service of Novosibirsk region for monitoring agricultural lands with use of up-to-date technologies and satellite images”;
• Open Meeting of Consortium “Universities geoportals (UNIGEO)“;
• Open meeting of “Earth from Space” Association.

In parallel with plenary and section meetings an exhibition of RS technologies and services took place during the conference. It was represented by 13 world companies:

• GeoEye (USA)
• ImageSat International N.V. (Israel)
• Astrium GEO-Information Services (France)
• MDA (Canada)
• Hitachi Solutions (Japan)
• DMCii (Great Britain)
• Geo-Alliance (Russia)
• “Innoter” GeoInnovation Agency (Russia)
• ZAO “Racurs” (Russia)
• ExactEarth (Canada)
• Easy Trace Group (Russia)
• “Earth from Space” Association (Russia)
• NGO “Transparent World (Russia)

On December 2, the mini-conference called “Web & GIS 2011” took place on the platform of the 5th International Conference “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions”. It was attended by over 100 people – representatives of two information and technology branches: Internet and geoinformatics.

More information about the 5th International Conference “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions” is published in the newsletter on the conference website and on the website of ScanEx RDC. News on the results of each conference day is available by the following links:
November 29: http://www.scanex.ru/ru/news/News_Preview.asp?id=n1972095
November 30:http://www.scanex.ru/ru/news/News_Preview.asp?id=n23711138
December 1:http://www.scanex.ru/ru/news/News_Preview.asp?id=n716488

During the closeout ceremony the right in organization of future conferences “Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions” was passed to the “Earth from Space” Association of space imagery data suppliers and users. Formerly the ideologist and organizer of the event was ScanEx RDC.

REFERENCE:

Conference organizers: ScanEx Research and Development Center, “Earth from Space” Association, NGO “Transparent World”.

Sponsors: GeoEye (USA), ImageSat (Israel), Astrium (France, Germany), MDA (Canada), Hitachi (Japan), GIA Innoter (Russia), Geo-Alliance (Russia).

Internet broadcasting sponsor: “Racurs” company

Section sponsor: ООО “Northern Geographic Company”

Information partners: Institute of Information Society Development, GIS-Association, Gazeta.ru, EARSC Association, Geospatial World, Direction Magazine, “Inzhenernye izyskaniya” (Engineering Surveys) magazine, “Poisk” (Search) newspaper, “Neft Rossii” (Oil of Russia) magazine, “ «Инженерные изыскания», газета «Поиск», журнал «Нефть России», “News of science and technology” portal — STRF.ru, Russian Geographic Society, “Geoprofi” magazine, Mskit.ru, V1Magazine, GeoTop, GeoConnexion, Imaging Notes.

More information about the conference is available by the following web link: www.conference.scanex.ru