[Source: ASPRS] The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) presented a number of prestigious awards during the Pecora 19 Symposium in conjunction with the Joint Symposium of ISPRS Technical Commission I and IAG Commission 4 in Denver, Colorado, November 17 – 20, 2014.
On Tuesday, November 18th, Dr. Frank Kelly, Director, USGS EROS presented the 2014 William T. Pecora Awards. The William T. Pecora Award is presented annually to individuals or groups that make outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth by means of remote sensing. The award is sponsored jointly by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The 2014 Group Award went to the Landsat 8 Team for outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth’s land surface and surrounding coastal regions. The Landsat Data Continuity Mission was successfully launched on February 11, 2013. Renamed Landsat 8 on May 30, 2013, this mission continues the goals established by William Pecora and other visionaries 50 years ago. The Landsat 8 Team consisting of NASA, USGS, and industry partners, has performed at the highest levels from the beginning of mission development to the present.

The 2014 Individual Award went to Christopher Owen Justice, Ph. D for outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth by means of remote sensing. Dr. Justice, Professor and Chair of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, has dedicated his career to remote-sensing education, research, and service. Dr. Justice has advanced remote sensing science, contributed to a better understanding of the changing Earth, and enriched the lives of many of today’s leading remote-sensing scientists as an advisor, educator, and research director.
The ISPRS Foundation awards travel grants to support student and young professional travel to various ISPRS conferences throughout the year. The Foundation has presented a total of $29,000 to 29 students and young professionals who attended eight symposia throughout the Midterm year in 2014. The ISPRS Technical Commission I awarded three individuals on Wednesday, November 19th in Denver, Colorado. Their awards totaled over $4,000.
Dr. Marguerite Madden, ISPRS Second Vice President, University of Georgia, presented ISPRS Technical Commission I travel grant awards to:
+ Mr. James (Kenny) Ogunmola, Ph.D. student in the Department of Geosciences, University of Lagos and Principal Scientific Officer with the National Centre from Remote Sensing in Jos, Nigeria
+ Mr. Jin Tang, Ph.D., Student Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
+ Mr. Rizwan Ahmed Ansari, Ph.D. student at the Center of Studies in Resources Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
Further Information:
+ ASPRS Press Release
+ 2014 William T. Pecora Award Winners