An American Vendor's View of AARS

Sally E. Goldin and Kurt T. Rudahl, Global Software Institute (USA)

We are honored that Goldin-Rudahl Systems, having participated in six AARS conferences over the last ten years, was invited to contribute some comments to this volume.

At the 1998 Asian Conference on Remote Sensing in Manila, a long-time Asian friend and colleague referred to us as an ACRS "fixture". We were pleased and flattered. During the period since our initial contact with AARS, we have been warmly received by the Asian geomatics community, where we have established numerous friendships. Along the way, we have had memorable visits to several intriguing and varied countries (and unfortunately missed several others), together with many memorable experiences.


Our first ACRS was in 1988, in Bangkok. Two years before, we had finished a two-year tenure at the Asian Regional Remote Sensing Centre at the Asian Institute of Technology, funded by the United States Agency for International Development. After our return from AIT to the United States, we had begun developing our DRAGON software: the first commercial remote sensing image processing system for off-the-shelf personal computers, targeted for education and training. We were eager to return to the Asia-Pacific region and show our former students and colleagues what we had accomplished.

The 1988 conference was exceptional for many reasons, one being the participation of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. We had met Her Royal Highness while we were teaching at AIT. We were pleased and honored when she visited our booth at the commercial exhibition and expressed an interest in the value of our software for education.

Our next ACRS was in Singapore, in 1991. Then in 1994, we were the only American company to participate in the ACRS exhibits in Bangalore, India, after an outbreak of plague had discouraged many overseas participants from joining the conference. We debated whether to attend and finally decided that the benefits outweighed the risks. We made the right decision: the conference was excellent from a professional and business perspective, and we found India fascinating.

Goldin-Rudahl Systems first joined AARS as a Supporting Member during the Bangalore meeting. We had been impressed by the quality of remote sensing and GIS projects presented during the technical sessions, and by the high level of communication and cooper-ation among participants from different countries. We were moved to contribute what little a small company could to keep this lively and enjoyable exchange alive.


Since Bangalore, we have joined our AARS colleagues in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand (1995); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1997); and most recently in 1998 in Manila, Philippines. We have watched the conference grow, prosper, become more sophisticated and more professional. We have done what we can to foster that growth, continuing as a Supporting Member, partici-pating in the commercial exhibitions, and sometimes presenting technical papers. In 1998 we were pleased to represent the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, the foremost U.S. professional association for geospatial sciences, in its application to become an Associate Member of AARS.

ACRS is unlike any conference or convention we have attended in North America. Two things set it apart: the generosity of spirit that pervades it, and the enthusiasm and energy of its participants. At every ACRS, the host country has provided a warm welcome to attendees, sharing its culture and its cuisine, encouraging exploration and new friendships. The no-show rate for paper presentations is significantly lower than for other conferences we attend. Considering the fact that the conference has no established budget and is organized entirely by volunteers, the results are amazing. Yes, there have been glitches and problems over the years, but these cannot detract from the overall history of progress and success.

As we look forward to the coming conferences in 1999 and 2000, we feel pride for AARS and for Asia. The region faces problems and challenges, as does the world as a whole, but in the Asian remote sensing/GIS community, at least, there is a spirit of cooperation and of optimism. We are grateful for the welcome we have received at ACRS, and we hope to continue to work with our colleague towards peace, prosperity, and stability in Asia in the twenty-first century.