The Eleventh Asian Conference on Remote Sensing
GuangZhou, China 15-21 November, 1990

A full house opening session at the 11th ACRS at the San Yat Sen Memorial Hall, Guangzhou, China.

Introduction

The 11th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing was held at Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, China from November 15 to 21, 1990, It was organized by the Asian Association on Remote Sensing (AARS) and sponsored by State Science and Technology Commission of China (SSTCC) and China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).

Objectives

The objectives of the 11th ACRS were:

1. To discuss the Asian problems in development of remote sensing
   
2. To exchange academic, application and technical information and
   
3. To promote regional cooperation among the member countries of AARS

Entertaining duo: Ms. Chiwako Fujino, Secretary to the General Secretary of AARS rendering a song, while the General Secretary supporting her by playing the tune in the cultural spirit of ACRS

Opening Session

The 11th ACRS was formally opened by Mr. Ye Xuanping, the Governor of Guangdong Province and Mrs. Zhu Lilan Vice-Minister of the State Science and Technology Comminision of China and Prof. Lu Zhonghe, Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province and Prof. Ma Junru, Director, National Remote Sensing Center of China.

The Opening Session was attended by large gathering of over 550 people, including scientists, senior administrators, and planners of the Country, as well as all the participants of the ACRS. The Session was addressed among others by Prof. Shunji Murai, General Secretary of AARS.

The welcome address was made by the Vice-Minister Mrs. Zhu lilan on behalf of the Chinese Government as well as the State Science and Technology Commission of China. She also congratulated the organizers for the great success of the conference.

A total number of 513 delegates form 17 Asian and Pacific Countries, Regions and some European Countries and International Organisations participated in the 11th ACRS. The Countries or Regions present were Australia, China , Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Sri Lanka , Thailand, Vanuatu, Canada, France, Sweden, Netherlands and U.S.A. the representatives of UN/ESCAP, UNEP and ADB also participated in the conference

Scientific Deliberations

A total number of 194 papers were presented. Among them, 4 were keynote papers of some Asian Countries and 99 were technical papers and 91 were poster papers. The keynote papers described the overall activities in those countries in the field of remote sensing technology and its applications. The technical papers were distributed in the areas of Agriculture, Soil, Forestry, Water, Resources, Mapping from Space, Oceanography etc.

Asian Association on Remote Sensing (AARS)

Two General Conference sessions of the AARS were held during the 11th ACRS. Representatives from 16 ordinary members, 5 associate members and 10 sustaining members were present. The General Conference decided to modify the statutes by which the near Asian Countries may apply for Ordinary Membership. As a result, Australia was admitted as Ordinary Member. France, in the name of CNES, was admitted as Associate Member. Prof. Ma Junru, who was Chairman of the organizing committee and Prof. Shunji Murai, General Secretary of AARS supported the Proceedings.

Other Activities

Commercial Exhibits from Bercha International Corp., Boustead Services PTE LTD., CSIRO, International Image System Inc., JAPEX Geoscience Institute Inc., KODAK (EXPORT SALES) LTD., MPA Communications PTY LTD., SCOT CONSEIL, SPOT IMAGE, Swedish Space Corporation, Terr-Mar Resource Information Service Inc., were the added attractions.

All the participants of the ACRS visited Zhao Qing and a boat cruise along the Zhujiang (Pearl) River was held in evening.

Contributors

Professor Wang Yupu