Weblog owner: Durk Haarsma Function: Publishing Director, Geomares Publishing Profile:

Dormant for almost 200 year, the eruption of the remote Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull is having its influence all over the world. I am very aware of the fact myself, because I find myself still on the other side of the world, seen from Europe, down under, in Sydney where I was supposed to be back in the Netherlands already for more than a day. Australia. Because of an ashcloud over the north of Europe the flight traffic over Europe has come to a complete stand still already for a few days, and while most conference goers at the fouryearly FIG Congres probably were fine with the conference being over after a long week, are still here. 

Last week lively discussions on the role of geomatics in creating a more sustainable and ecological responsible world,  better decision-making in planning on infrastructure, in forestry, habitat mapping and preservation and new techniques in imagery, surveying and what have you, was discussed in over 800 paper presentations and plenary sessions in the Convention Center at Darling Harbour in Sydney. It's almost ironic that in the weekend after that a volcanic erupture makes it impossible to plan and that the same volcano not only destroys infrastructure, in this case, the airways of the world, but also schedules, plans and appoints of a large representation of the surveying community from Europe. 

It makes one thing quite clear, how far we might go with planning the world around us, the forces of nature are still able to trap us. And how inconvenient this may be, a lot of the professionals present in Sydney last week and, I am sorry, this week, should in fact be glad about this. Its just them who are working to make it possible for trees to grow again in places where they were already gone, to make return of extinct animals possible by planning ' green corridors' or to preserve nature in those areas where it is in danger. It shows just that nature hasn't been won over yet. This week it looks like surveying for better planning is not the case, its more surveying the unplannable. 

I would like to invite you to share your stories on the impact of the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull on your professional life this week or your views on the longer term. What can geomatic professionals learn from these events? We'll be happy to publish all of your reactions on www.gim-international.com.

Durk Haarsma, publishing director

Related:

- News article on surveying ash clouds

- Photo Album with spatial imagery following the ash cloud