European Aerial Survey Industry Association Launches at Intergeo 2019

Brussels, 18 September 2019 – Intergeo will see the official introduction of the European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI).  Aerial survey companies, equipment manufacturers, software developers and service providers from within the aerial surveying industry in Europe are being invited to join the newly established association at a reception event being held at Intergeo in Stuttgart, Germany.

 The reception event takes place at 1600, Wednesday 18th September, on the COWI stand Hall 1, Stand D1.007.  With Craft beer and snacks on offer, visitors to will be able to meet with members of the EAASI Board, network with other players and interested parties from the industry and learn more about the Association’s vision and ambitions.

 “Representing the European aerial surveying industry in all its facets we want to promote the use of aerial survey data through education, ensure the highest possible standards within the sector, increase the influence of the industry and serve as a platform for communication and cooperation to enact positive change,” commented Simon Musäus, President of EAASI. “We can only achieve these goals if we come together as an industry with unified objectives and a single voice.”

 Visitors to Intergeo are encouraged to attend the launch event which will also see the presentation of the initial working groups being established by the Association. These include European Projects, Education, Standards and Certification and Air Traffic Control.

 Rachel Tidmarsh, Treasurer of EAASI, added, “We will also be using this introduction at Intergeo to announce the European Aerial Summit which will take place in Brussels on the 3^rd – 5th December 2019. Incorporating a member and observer conference, working group sessions as well as the Association’s AGM, we expect this event to fill up fast so interested parties are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.”

 Similar in concept to MAPPS (the national association of firms in the surveying, spatial data and geographic information systems fields) in the US, EAASI was incorporated in June, followed by the first Association Board meeting. In attendance were Simon Musäus, Senior Vice President, COWI and EAASI President, André Jadot, CEO of Eurosense and Vice President and Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky International and Treasurer together with Giovanni Banchini, President and CEO of CGR SPA, Aicke Damrau, Managing Director of GeoFly, Klaus Legat, Area Manager for Vermessung AVT and Florian Romanowski, President of OPEGIEKA. 

 The European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries is an incorporated association without profitable goal registered in Brussels, Belgium. The objectives of the organisations are:

1.  Make users and potential users of Geo-Information aware of the benefits of aerial surveying;
2. Achieve a high awareness of the strategic role that aerial survey data play in the framework of digitalization, information systems and virtual reality;
3. Define, maintain and promote quality, safety, ethical and business requirements for the aerial surveying industry;
4. Promote the use of international professional standards in the field of gathering geospatial data;
5. Facilitate the networking and provide a platform for regular contacts, information exchange and cooperation between the members;
6. Provide members with information about the developments of technological knowledge;
7. Ensure that the common interests of members are represented in national and international committees which exert influence on the members;
8. Advise and assist funding and executing agencies and organisations in matters concerning aerial surveying;
9. Promote the generation of a sustainable market for Geo-Information using aerial surveying;
10. Take all other actions as may be conducive to the attainment of the above objectives, such as concluding agreements, engaging personnel, hiring, leasing, buying and selling property.

 The Association is comprised of members and observers. Qualifying members must be:

 1.       Be based and create employment in any the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom;

2.       Be a privately owned commercial company. ‘Privately owned’ means that the majority of the shares (>50%) are in private hands.

3.       Operate survey aircraft and equipment for aerial photography, mapping and/or Lidar purposes in one or more of the countries mentioned under point (1)

4.       The member or member organisation shall fully support the goal and the objects of the Association.

Any organisation that does not qualify to become a member of the Association may apply as an observer.