IPA is one of the oldest International Scientific Committees of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). CIPA was founded jointly in 1968 with the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) to facilitate transfer of technology from the measurement sciences to heritage documentation and recording disciplines. The acronym originally stood for Comité International de Photogrammétrie Architecturale, but this old and well-known title no longer describes the full scope of CIPA activities, so that the CIPA Heritage Documentation was established.

The organisation endeavours to transfer technology from the measurement and visualisation sciences to the disciplines of cultural heritage recording, conservation and documentation. CIPA acts as a bridge between the producers of heritage documentation and its users.
CIPA's mission is to encourage the development of principles and practices for recording, documenting and managing information on all aspects of cultural heritage, and to support and encourage the development of specialised tools and techniques in support of them.

CIPA Specialisations
Working and Task Group activities are only part of the CIPA contribution to ICOMOS and ISPRS. Many national delegates are active researchers with specialisations covering respectively: field surveying, laser scanning, building surveying, site documentation, monument conservation, landscape modelling, archaeological exploration, database systems, underwater recording, information systems, D modelling, close-range photogrammetry, analysis of old photographs, multimedia and virtual reality displays, petroglyph and pictograph documentation.

CIPA membership expertise is ever-expanding and not limited to the above. Examples of CIPA projects and applications are found on the website, where proceedings may be purchased of CIPA Symposia.

International Activities
CIPA holds a biennial International Symposium, either in conjunction with a major conference of the two parent organisations or as an autonomous event. Often accompanying these symposia are specialist workshops dealing with specific topics. The proceedings are published either as a journal or on CD-ROM, and some papers are available from the CIPA website. There is also a discussion list where experts provide advice and information.

The next CIPA symposium will be held in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2011.

Membership and Participation
Membership of CIPA is open to everyone with an interest in the documentation and preservation of cultural heritage. CIPA maintains a list of national delegates; however, in keeping with the principles of ICOMOS, anybody with expertise in ICPA activities is eligible for membership.

Further information about the activities of CIPA, the Symposia and becoming a member can be found at the CIPA website.