Michael Gruber becomes TIF Trustee
TIF is pleased to report that we have a new trustee, Dr. Michael Gruber, Chief Photogrammetry Scientist, Vexcel Imaging Austria GmbH, Graz, Austria. Michael’s term began on 6 May 2019. He is well known throughout the mapping world for his many presentations on behalf of the Vexcel UltraCam series of airborne sensors.
Michael Gruber studied surveying and photogrammetry at Graz University of Technology (Technische Universität Graz). From 1990-1992 he was on the staff of the Department of Remote Sensing, Image Processing and Cartography of the University. After a short period in a private mapping company he joined the University’s Institute for Computer Graphics to lead the working group for 3D Object Reconstruction and in 1997 received his PhD from the University. Since October 1999 he has been a full-time staff member of Vexcel Imaging Austria GmbH and is now Chief Scientist Photogrammetry. From May 2006 until March 2016 Vexcel Imaging Austria operated under the ownership of Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, USA. Michael Gruber holds several US patents for developments in digital photogrammetry, among them the basic concept of the digital aerial camera family UltraCam.
During the recent 57th Photogrammetric Week, in Stuttgart, Germany, Michael agreed to accept the role of chair of TIF’s Fund-Raising Committee, which will try to approach the raising of donations in a more systematic way. In particular, we will try to attract firms willing to provide quite modest donations, because an exciting characteristic of TIF awards is that even moderate increases in TIF’s income result in many more awards. We welcome Michael. If you would like to contact him about donating, or about serving on the Fund-Raising Committee, please e-mail him on michael.gruber@vexcel-imaging.com.