The quadrennial ISPRS Congress will take place in Melbourne, Australia from 25th August to 1st September 2012. This is shaping up to be an exciting, informative and rewarding event, and as congress director I would like to invite the international photogrammetric and remote-sensing community to come and enjoy what Melbourne and Australia has to offer.

The Congress programme runs for eight days only, including social and technical events. The programme has been designed to allow participants to maximise their time ‘down under', as this time of year is the very best for discovering Australia's other attractions.

6-Star Rating
The venue is a new convention and exhibition centre on the Yarra River, adjacent to the central business district of Melbourne. The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, also features very flexible room and auditorium configuration. The centre boasts 6-star environmental rating and has been built to maximise the use of recycled resources and natural sunlight whenever possible.

The Technical Exhibition space is adjacent to the main Centre and offers exhibitors very creative options for displaying their services. Pre-booked lunches will also be available in the exhibition area, so that participants can make use of every opportunity to view the exhibition stands.

The Congress will also offer an electronic Poster programme; posters will be presented on large screens instead of in hard copy, thus both minimising the resources used by the congress and easing international travel for presenters.

City Centre

The Centre is within walking distance of many hotels, as well as being serviced by public transport, so that participants may choose from a wide range of accommodation options. Students who are interested in coming to Melbourne will also be able to take advantage of a home-stay programme; this offers the choice to be billeted with local students. As Melbourne has a vibrant night life and social scene, this will give students and the young-at-heart the chance to discover the ‘party' side of Melbourne.

Spring
Melbourne consistently ranks amongst the top five best cities in the world, and it is one I know and love. The city is wonderful in early spring. The mornings are fresh, the days are warming. Flowers are in bloom, the birds are singing and there are many events being held in and around the city at this time of year. Melbourne is at much the same latitude as Athens (but south), so our seasons are similar.

To keep current with developments as preparations for Melbourne progress, please register online 1 for regular email updates.

And start planning now for your Australian ISPRS experience!