Series on capacity building 1

International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (IRPRS) has developed a new capacity building initiative through global involvement in research and technology and service development. Capacity development programs should help organizations understand developments, formulate strategies and create awareness of the changing business environment resulting from new government roles, economic and market conditions. Providers of Geo-information (GI) technology and users must thus continually adjust their Geo-ICT architectures, and this has important technological, organizational and institutional consequences. ISPRS is working to address fundamental problems of education, training and awareness-raising so that geospatial information can be more optimally employed to benefit society. Capacity-building strategies involved in a new strategic plan to be announced in July 2010 include use of core disciplines in applications such as disaster management, health, cultural heritage and maintaining a sustainable environment.