Welcome
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you, on behalf of the
Organizing Committee, to the 31st International Symposium on
Remote Sensing of Environment. Focused this time on Global
Monitoring for Sustainability and Security, the Symposium will
be held from 20-24 May, 2005. This is the first time that Russia
hosts the ISRSE with a venue of Saint Petersburg, one of the
most beautiful cities of this country.
On behalf of the organizers of the Symposium, namely, the
International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing,
International Centre for Remote Sensing of Environment,
Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing
Centre, Russian Federal Space Agency and St. Petersburg
University I would like to emphasize the great support which we
have received from the members of the Program and Organizing
Committees as well as from ESA, ROSCOSMOS, Norwegian
Space Centre, INTAS and some other organizations.
The Program Committee has developed an impressive technical
program accommodating both the traditional for the ISRSE
symposia themes and such new issues having great importance
for Russia as Northern Eurasia terrestrial ecosystems,
environmental processes and climate change in the Arctic Ocean
and the Baltic Sea and some others. In general, the Symposium
Program is focused on the implementation of the Global Earth
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and its societal
benefits. We hope that the participants of the 31st ISRSE will
enjoy both the oral and poster presentations as well as the pre-
symposium workshops. The attendees will also have a
opportunity of getting acquainted with the GEOSS 10-year
Implementation Plan.
We are happy that St. Petersburg has been chosen to host the
31st ISRSE. Our city was founded by Peter the Great and
intended as a “Window to Europe”. Many people of different
nationalities contributed to the development of St. Petersburg. It
is believed by many to be a most “European” city of Russia, and
stunningly delightful for its unique architectural ensembles and
unparalleled treasures of its numerous museums. Two years
ago our city celebrated its 300 anniversary.
Saint Petersburg is one of the largest Russian scientific and
industrial centers. Holding of the 31st ISRSE in St. Petersburg
provides a good opportunity for Russian scientists to take part in
the Symposium, as well as to showcase the achievements of
Russian specialists in remote sensing of environment.
We hope that the 31st convocation of the ISRSE, which is
turning to its fourth decade, will be successful. We are trying
our best to arrange interesting scientific and cultural programs
for you, your relatives and friends accompanying you in this
journey, to make this week in St. Petersburg pleasant and also in
order to inspire you to come back to Saint Petersburg and to
Russia again. Please enjoy social events arranged for the guests
and participants of the Symposium.
Welcome to Saint Petersburg!
Dr. Leonid P. Bobylev
Chairman of the Organizing Committee, 31st ISRSE
Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre
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