(b) coordinate the activities of the Technical Commissions and Working Groups, according to the decisions and intentions of the General Assembly and the Congress;

(c) represent the Society in its dealings with national or international institutions or organizations whose activities are of interest to the Society;

(d) cooperate with other international organizations concerned with photogrammetry, remote sensing, spatial information science, cartography, geodesy, surveying, and other similar disciplines;

(e) communicate to Members:

- not less than twelve months in advance of the Congress, the date and place of the next meeting of Congress;

- not less than three months in advance of the Congress, the Agenda of the General Assembly accompanied by an explanation of the purpose and import of the items of Agenda, especially those relating to the admission or exclusion of an Ordinary Member, Associate Member or Regional Member, changes in value of unit of subscription and modifications to the Statutes;

- not less than one month in advance of the Congress, the names of the Ordinary Members which have proposed to organize the next Congress;

- not less than one month in advance of the Congress, the names of the Ordinary Members which have proposed to be responsible for each of the Technical Commissions for the next four-year period and the names of their proposed Commission Presidents;

(f) inform Members in writing of the decisions taken at extraordinary meetings of the General Assembly.
 

(b) represent the Ordinary Member responsible for the Congress in all matters relating to its organization;

(c) correspond with Ordinary Members, Associate Members, Regional Members, Technical Commissions, Working Groups, Committees and the Sustaining Members Committee concerning the scientific and social programs of the Congress;

(d) report to the Council the measures being taken to prepare the Congress and the progress therein. The previous Congress Director or a representative from the previous Congress Committee shall assure the publication of The International Archives of the Photogrammetry , Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences relating to that Congress and shall be available for consultation on the planning of all matters related to the forthcoming Congress.

(b) act for the President should he/she be prevented by circumstances outside his/her control from fulfilling his/her duties;

(c) serve as the Chairperson of the Resolutions Committee to coordinate Resolutions from the Technical Commissions, Members and Committees for consideration by the General Assembly;

(d) coordinate the proper and timely procedures for the awards.

(b) fulfill the responsibilities of the First Vice-President should he/she be prevented from acting;

(c) review, maintain and update the Statutes, Bylaws and Guidelines.

(b) at the request of the President, represent the Society in its dealings with national or international institutions or organizations whose activities are of interest to the Society;

(c) deal with the correspondence of the Society and ensure the keeping of the records, and distribute to Members relevant information and communication;

(d) collate the reports of the Technical Commissions and distribute information concerning the Commissions;

(e) collaborate with the Congress Committee and the Boards of the Technical Commissions concerning the recording and writing up of all proceedings and concerning the publication of the Archives (contents, presentation, distribution);

(f) ensure timely preparation and dissemination of Society publications;

(g) ensure that the decisions taken at Congresses are speedily carried out;

(h) receive the credentials of Delegates, Advisors and Representatives appointed by Ordinary Members, Associate Members and Regional Members to represent them at the Congress and report in writing to the President on their voting rights.

(i) coordinate the scheduling of all events of the Society.
 

(b) issue annual invoices one month before the upcoming fiscal year in which the fee is due to Ordinary Members, Associate Members, Regional Members, and Sustaining Members and inform them of the proper procedures for remittance of subscription fees. The Treasurer shall send periodic reminders to those in arrears;

(c) collect the funds of the Society and administer them in accordance with the decisions of the General Assembly and the instructions of the Council;

(d) keep account of all financial transactions and submit a statement of accounts at the end of each fiscal year to the Financial Commission for audit;

(e) assemble the complete accounts of the Society for the four-year term at the end of the fiscal year prior to the Congress and submit them to the Financial Commission for audit;

(f) submit to the Secretary General prior to the meeting of the General Assembly a list of Ordinary Members, Associate Members and Regional Members that have not yet paid their annual subscription fee up to and including the year prior to the General Assembly;

(g) submit a financial statement to each Council meeting and a summary financial report to the General Assembly.

Provided that the Statutes and Bylaws of the Society do not run counter to the laws pertaining to associations in the country where the Secretary General is domiciled, the residence of the Secretary General shall be the headquarters of the Society, except when the Council decides for a more convenient alternative.

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BYLAW XIII - Technical Commissions

1. The main tasks of a Technical Commission shall be:
  (a) to follow the technical and scientific progress within its field and report thereon to the Congress;

(b) to provide initiative in technical and scientific progress, especially by establishing Working Groups, arranging International Symposia, and organizing experiments on research;

(c) to identify the results of research and development in order to present them for discussion at the Congress;

(d) to propose actions leading to the promotion and evaluation of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences, and to assist the Council in defending these proposals to the authorities concerned;

(e) to assist in international standardization activities in subject matters related to the photogrammetry , remote sensing and spatial information sciences;

(f) to promote continuing education by organizing tutorials;

(g) to report to Council on the implementation of their program in accordance with Bylaws and Technical Resolutions.

(h) to submit an annual report on its areas of responsibility to the Society. The report should include activities and the state of the science and technology of the Commission and Working Groups.
 

2. Activities in the photogrammetry , remote sensing and spatial information sciences shall be divided into seven areas of major interest and each area shall be entrusted to a Technical Commission. The areas of responsibility for the Technical Commissions shall be as follows:
  Commission I: Sensors, Platforms and Imagery

- Design and realization of aerial and spaceborne missions for earth observation

- Standardization of definitions and measurements of sensor related parameters

- Design, construction, characterization, installation, testing, calibration and evaluation of imaging sensors and scanners

- Integration of imaging and other systems

- Integrated platform guidance, navigation, positioning and orientation

- Design, performance and techniques of data reception and pre-processing

- Geometric and radiometric properties of image data, quality standards, and factors (environmental and others) affecting data quality

- Technical systems for recording sensor data, film scanners and auxiliary data (time, position, attitude, etc.) and media (film, magnetic, optical, etc.)

Commission II: Systems for Data Processing, Analysis and Representation

- Design and development of systems for measurement, processing, analysis, representation and storage of image and geospatial data;

- Study and evaluation of system integration and modeling aspects for data and information processing;

- Analysis of systems and their components for automated and semi-automated digital processing systems;

- Development of systems and technologies for microwave and lidar data processing;

- Design of systems for production and update of geoinformation;

- Interoperability of spatial information systems;

- Study of real-time mapping technologies;

- Standardization of data transfer formats and processes.

Commission III: Theory and Algorithms

- Development of algorithms for the analysis of remotely sensed data;

- Development of automated feature and attribute extraction techniques and methodologies from multi-sensor, multi-resolution, multi-spectral, and multi-temporal imagery;

- Fundamental research into image understanding and object recognition;

- Integrated sensor orientation;

- Image sequence analysis;

- Development of algorithms for including features in the orientation processes;

- Research on the spatial, spectral and temporal properties of natural and human-formed objects and their image signatures;

- Analysis of characteristics of hyperspectral and multi-sensor data;

- Study of the relationship between object models in object recognition and GIS.

Commission IV: Spatial Information Systems and Digital Mapping

- Fundamentals of spatial modeling and spatial data structures;

- Integration of image analysis and spatial information systems;

- Spatial database design and spatial data access;

- Metadata and clearinghouses;

- Dynamic spatial information systems and spatial data revision processes;

- Digital landscape modeling and visualization, orthoimages, digital terrain models and 3D city models;

- Interfacing 3D city models and Computer Aided Facility Management;

- Spatial data base generation from SAR, interferometric SAR, lidar, laser, and other aerial and satellite sensor systems;

- Digital topographic, thematic and global mapping;

- Extraterrestrial mapping.

Commission V: Close-Range Vision Techniques

- Investigation of systems and algorithms for real-time imaging;

- Development, evaluation and promotion of vision metrology technology with special consideration of CAD/CAAD and spatial information systems;

- Integration of three-dimensional modeling concepts into image analysis processes;

- Integration of multiple sensors and data fusion for advanced object extraction;

- Design and development of image sequence analysis procedures;

- Development of vision-based techniques for visualization, virtual environments and animation;

- Support and promotion of a variety of existing and potential applications, e.g. industrial, heritage, mobile mapping, medical, biomechanics and robotics.

Commission VI: Education and Communications

- Promotion of education and training at fundamental, advanced and professional levels;

- Promotion of technology transfer, taking into account regional needs and resources;

- Development of computer-assisted teaching and training, and distance learning;

- Development and promotion of communications with and between members and other international organizations through the Internet and other appropriate electronic means

Commission VII: Resource and Environmental Monitoring

- Spectral, spatial, and temporal radiation properties of objects;

- Methodology of computer-aided interpretation and analysis of sensor data;

- Environmental studies, resource inventories, and interpretative aspects of thematic mapping as applied in studies of vegetation, forestry, agriculture, soils, land and water use, geology, geomorphology, hydrology, oceanography, coastal zones, snow and ice, atmospheric sciences, archaeology, human settlements and engineering;

- Integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques for spectral, spatial, temporal, and process modeling, and monitoring of resources and the environment

- Applications of remotely sensed data for disaster monitoring, mitigation and assessment;

- Use of remotely sensed data and global databases to support sustainable development and application in determination of indices of change to support global modeling and monitoring.
 

3. An Ordinary Member (or Ordinary Members) seeking responsibility for a Technical Commission shall submit to the Secretary General an application which includes the activities and the name of the proposed Commission President.

4. In choosing the Ordinary Member or group of Ordinary Members to be entrusted with the responsibility for the work of a Commission, the General Assembly shall take into consideration all relevant factors, including in particular:

- the various Ordinary Members willing to undertake the responsibility;

- the scientific and technical ability available to each candidate;

- the professional standing and ability of the person proposed as Commission President;

- the ability and willingness of each Ordinary Member and other organizations in its country to support a Commission;

- the program of Commission activities proposed by the Ordinary Members and in particular the Working Groups, their chairpersons and the events contemplated.
 

5. The Ordinary Member (or Ordinary Members) entrusted with a Technical Commission shall assume responsibility for the technical and financial management of the Commission. It shall prepare the Commission and Working Group reports and be responsible for production of the Proceedings of its Symposium for publication in the Archives.

6. A Technical Commission shall be autonomous in scientific matters but the Commission President shall keep the President of the Society and the Council fully and promptly informed of all its activities and the progress of its work. The Presidents of Commissions shall meet with the Council as and when necessary to coordinate the work of the Commissions.

7. Each Commission is expected to organize an International Symposium in the period between two Congresses. Before arranging an International Symposium the Commission shall obtain the consent of the Council. Ordinary Members organizing an International Symposium shall sign a contract with the Society and be responsible for ensuring that adequate provisions are made for the Symposium. Such Symposia shall be devoted to the field of the Commission and preparation for the ensuing Congress.

8. The Commission President shall have the right to invite a limited but sufficient number of persons to join the Commission Board as Commission Rapporteurs for a particular field of interest to the Commission. Such Rapporteurs shall be chosen entirely at the President's own discretion, for the special knowledge or facilities they may possess which will enable them to give the assistance desired. They may be invited from any country and international representation shall be encouraged. They need not be Ordinary Member or Associate Member Correspondents but may perform that duty in addition.

 
9. Each Ordinary Member and Associate Member shall be entitled to appoint one Correspondent to each Commission. It may change its Correspondent or appoint a substitute at any time.

10. The Commission Board shall review the Resolutions approved by the Congress and identify subjects or problems requiring detailed study, trials or experimental research. It shall establish Working Groups to undertake these investigations and it shall ensure that all measures outlined in the Resolutions are covered by Working Group activities. If, in this connection, important divergences of opinion should arise within or between Commissions, the Council shall determine the course of action. The terms of reference and duration of the Working Groups shall be strictly limited and clearly defined by the Commission Board and approved by Council. A subdivision of the field of a Commission into Working Groups acting virtually as independent Commissions shall not be permissible.

11. The Working Group shall consist of:

- the Chairperson of the Working Group;

- optionally a Co-Chairperson;

- a group of specialists chosen by the Chairperson, not in consideration of country but of qualification and commitment;

- other interested, competent specialists who have indicated a commitment to contribute and participate.
 

12. A Working Group may be appointed to study a problem pertinent to the fields of more than one Commission. It shall then be called an Inter-Commission Working Group. The President of the initiating Commission shall notify the Council of the intention and reach agreement with the Presidents of other Commissions concerned. The Council shall pronounce on the advisability of setting up such an Inter-Commission Working Group, determine if need be the terms of reference and duration of its mission and designate the Commission which it most concerns and within which it shall make its report. Such a Working Group shall not be permitted to develop gradually into any kind of independent Commission.

13. Each Working Group shall report annually to the Commission President concerned, in addition to reporting through the appropriate Commission at the Congress. When a Working Group has treated its subject sufficiently for the time being, or has been found to be inactive, the Council shall dissolve the Working Group, normally on the initiative of the Chairperson of the Group or the President of the Commission concerned.

14. At least six months in advance of a Congress, the President of each Technical Commission shall form a committee to prepare Resolutions for the Commission. This Committee shall identify the more important problems requiring solution and submit to Council Resolutions on the work needed to solve them, no later than three months in advance of the Congress.

15. Prior to the Congress, the First Vice-President shall form the Resolutions Committee, which shall coordinate the Resolutions of all Technical Commissions, Members and Committees with regard to practicality, shall ensure that they are set down in suitable standard form and are presented in at least one of the official languages of the Society.

16. During a Congress or Symposium all photogrammetric, remote sensing and spatial information specialists rightfully present shall be free to participate in all activities of a Technical Commission.

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BYLAW XIV - Financial Commission

1. Each member of the Financial Commission shall be of a different nationality. No member of the Financial Commission shall be of the same nationality as any member of Council. Delegates to the General Assembly shall not be excluded from serving as members of the Financial Commission.

2. The Financial Commission shall advise the Council on all financial matters at any time upon the request of the Council.

3. The outgoing Financial Commission shall continue to serve after the Congress to ensure that the outgoing Treasurer hands over the accounts and funds of the Society to the new Treasurer within two months of the Congress. The new Financial Commission shall replace the outgoing Financial Commission at the same time as the changeover of Treasurers, and report to the Council that the changeover has been satisfactorily accomplished.

4. The Financial Commission shall examine and audit accounts of the Treasurer once every year, and submit its recommendations to the Council.

5. In the event that a member of the Financial Commission becomes unable to continue in office, on the advice of the remaining members of the Commission, the Council may approve a replacement.

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BYLAW XV - Finances

1. The fiscal year of the Society shall be 1st April to 31st March. All annual subscription fees of Ordinary Members, Associate Members, Regional Members and Sustaining Members shall be paid before the end of the fiscal year.

2. The annual subscription fee paid by an Ordinary or Associate Member shall be defined through the number of units of subscription assigned to its category of Membership in accordance with the following table:
 

Category	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
				Subscription Units
Ordinary Member	1	2	6	10	16	24	32	48
Associate Member	1	6	12	24

3. The value of the subscription unit shall be fixed by the General Assembly.

4. The subscription fees of Sustaining Members and Regional Members, established by the Council, shall be ratified by the General Assembly.

5. Bank accounts of the Society shall be held in the names of two persons, namely the President and the Treasurer.

6. Gifts and legacies offered to the Society may be accepted by Council and shall be ratified by the General Assembly.

7. Finances of the Society shall be controlled as follows:

(a) An annual budget for revenues and expenditures for each fiscal year shall be prepared by the Treasurer, examined in detail by the Financial Commission, and passed on to the Council for approval, one month prior to the end of the fiscal year.

(b) Additional expenditures for routine operations can be approved by the Treasurer. Expenditures for extraordinary items must receive Council's approval.