This section contains articles from the ACRS Memorial Book released in 1999 to commemrate the 20th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing.
My Memories on Asian Conference on Remote Sensing
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
I attended the Asian Regional Remote Sensing Training Course in 1984 at the Asian Institute of Technology. After the course I continued conducting a research on the land use and land cover in Narathiwat, the southernmost of the country. The study areas have complex land use and land cover types and most of the satellite images of the areas are cloud covered.
This research entitled “Land Use/ Land Cover Map Accuracy Assessment of Landsat Thematic Mapper Data Using the DIMAPS Image Processing System for Narathiwat Province” was presented at the Ninth Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, Ambassador Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand on November 23, 1998. On that occasion, I had the opportunity to learn more about different applications of Remote Sensing which partly enabled me to continue my research, integrating Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System to study the crop suitability in Lopburi Province
In 1992 I went to the 13th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing held in Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia. I had already presented a research paper entitled “Environmental and Agricultural Development Studies by Remote Sensing Techniques in Phattana Nikhom District, Lopburi Province, Thailand” in another symposium so I did not have enough materials to write another technical paper. Dr. Shunji Murai suggested a special talk about my country so I talked on the topic “A Glimpse of Thailand”.
In the evening, I attended a social function hosted by the conference organizer. Participants were asked to present a cultural show from their countries. We Thais did Ramwong Dance with the popular folk song “Loy Kratong”. Others including a Mongolian Minister joined in. I had the opportunity both to increase my knowledge in Remote Sensing by viewing the exhibition and the knowledge about the host country. On this visit I wrote a book called “What is Airak?” describing my experiences at the conference and my tour to various places.
My third experience was the 16th ACRS held at Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima in 1995 in conjunction with the World Tech Exposition. As a Thai, I was very proud that Thailand initiated the Dr. Boon Indrambarya Gold Medals awarded for the first time to two senior Remote Sensing specialists, Professor Dr. Shunji Murai and Dr. Kaew Nualchawee.
Though I am not highly experienced, I can feel that the ACRS have been well organized to support Asian scientists in the field of Remote Sensing and GIS, enabling them to apply their knowledge to develop the further understanding of the world which leads to the happiness and prosperity of the community as a whole.
Finally I wish to congratulate the 20th anniversary of the Asian Conference on Remote Sensing. It is an important step to create the success of the approaching 21st Century.
Message from Professor Shunji Murai
It is my great pleasure to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (ACRS), here in Hong Kong, China in 1999. On behalf of the Asian Association on Remote Sensing as well as one of the founders of the first ACRS held in Bangkok, Thailand in 1980, I would like to share the gratitude to be able to continue our own conference by Asian, for Asian and with Asian. Now we have become an adult, from a teenager, who should have a duty to be independent truly with our own discipline and spirit.
Very fortunately the sprit of the ACRS came from “Asian friendship” from the start. Our duty at the 20th anniversary is not to forget the origin of the ACRS and to continue and promote the spirit. In this sense, I feel very happy to be able to publish the memorial book on the ACRSs.
It was not easy for the ACRS to survive for these twenty years. Firstly, we did not and do not have any subsidy nor fund to support the ACRSs except the fund of the host, the income from inexpensive registration fee and commercial exhibitions and the special support of Japan Association of Remote Sensing (JARS) for the publication of the proceedings every year.
Secondly, I received many criticisms, say, the poor quality of presented papers, the poor English presentations, the poor information etc. at the beginning, but now I am not receiving many criticisms. I am sure that the ACRS has progressed remarkably in these twenty years in the quality of presentation as well as in the management.
Thirdly, the secretariat was and is just a small volunteer team, that is only Ms. Chiwako Fujino and myself plus some students of Murai Laboratory, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo. Fortunately we have now special knowhows to manage the organization of the ACRS every year with this minimum team of supporters.
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the ACRS hosts, the AARS members, the Japan Association of Remote Sensing, the United Nations ESCAP, and many other colleagues and friends not only from Asia but also from Europe and North America for their kind support to the ACRSs and to the General Secretary.
On this special occasion, I would like to wish all the best and the long life of the Asian Conference on Remote Sensing.