EORSA 2012 - 2012 Second International Workshop on Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Applications (EORSA)

Qihao Weng, Ph.D.,
Program Committee Chair, EORSA 2012

Dear Colleagues:
First, let me wish you have a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year!
In November 2007, I was invited with honor by the Center for Earth Observation and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences for its launch ceremony. During the visit, I had great pleasure to meet with some colleagues from Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping (CASM) and National Satellite Meteorological Center. In the hospitality and encouraging atmosphere, the idea to organize an international workshop on Earth observation and remote sensing applications emerged, with the main purpose of building a platform for academic exchanges among researchers from within- and outside-China with interests in Earth observation technologies and remote sensing applications. This discussion led to the first workshop in June 2008, which was sponsored by Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society. The success of the EORSA 2008 was due largely to the efforts of a dozen of colleagues from CASM, who spent numerous hours for preparing and organizing the event, and to the help of program / review committee members, who were willing to devote some precious time often under many pressures. I am especially grateful of Prof. Deren Li, Wuhan University, and Prof. Jixian Zhang, CASM, for their active participation in the event.
After the workshop, I received much appreciation for such an effort, and many colleagues encouraged me to organize another EORSA workshop. Shanghai is an ideal locality for it, since strong need and many applications in Earth observation and remote sensing technologies exist around the Yangtze Delta region. However, an EORSA 2010 had never taken place owing largely to the Shanghai Expo. The positive side is that this delay allows us, otherwise impossible, to think deeper about how to present a better workshop.
In the EORSA 2012, there will be a lot more technical sessions, and great possibility to meet with fellow researchers from all over the world and to connect with new people / research teams. So, be prepared to come to present your latest research as either oral or poster presentation, to learn from internationally renowned researchers regarding the most important aspects of Earth observation and remote sensing technologies, to network with scientists in academia, business and government worldwide, and to meet with tomorrow’s leaders in Earth observation and remote sensing. It is worthy to note that we have prepared two special symposia for the workshop, a special plenary session on publishing international peer-refereed journal articles with several editors of major remote sensing journals as panelists, and another special session to be focused on GEO Global Urban Observation and Information 2012-15 work task.
I am looking forward to meeting you all in Shanghai in June.