The Spatial Sciences Institute’s Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (RS & P) Commission and the 14ARSPC Organising Committee, look forward to welcoming all delegates to the 14ARSPC in Darwin, Northern Territory, held from 29 September-3 October 2008.

The first of the ARSPC biennial series was held in 1979. It is exciting that for the first time in the conference’s 29 year history, it will be held in Australia’s most northern tropical city, Darwin . The ARSPC is the RS&P Commission’s premier conference showcasing the best of Australasia’s technical and application driven remote sensing and photogrammetry research. The conference also plays an important role in presenting research and future directions from around the globe to RS&P Commission members and the wider Australasian spatial community.

Not only is it the first ARSPC held in Darwin, it is the first time a regional forum is incorporated. We are proud to be incorporating the North Australian Remote Sensing and GIS (NARGIS) forum. The conference, held biennially in the Northern Territory and Queensland since 1993, will build on the success of NARGIS 05. It will bring together people from disciplines that are using spatial technologies for many different applications across Northern Australia and other tropical regions around the world.

The Conference Organising Committee is putting together an innovative and exciting program that will include interactive pre-conference workshops, field trips, diverse application based sessions and networking events. Our commitment is to provide 14ARSPC delegates with a unique experience. We will focus on communication with delegates and sponsors over the next 18 months so expect to hear from us regularly.

Darwin is a superb destination. To the east lies the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park, to the south is the spectacular Litchfield National Park and further south still, Katherine Gorge. Darwin provides a multitude of activities and sightseeing opportunities for accompanying people. The conference venue is the new Darwin Convention Centre located on the water in the Stokes Hill Precinct.

We would especially like to welcome our Asian neighbours to the 14ARSPC and hope to see everyone in sunny Darwin, 29 September-3 October 2008.

Andrew Edwards and Renee Bartolo
Conference Convenors