Working groups within the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) recently held a joint group workshop in Hong Kong to discuss spatial decision support systems, spatial analysis, and visualization systems.

The objective of the workshop was to provide a platform for scholars and professionals in these areas to exchange ideas and information regarding current research as well as discuss the latest technology and promote international collaboration within these disciplines.

Esri President Jack Dangermond presented the keynote address entitled "GIS as a Decision Support Tool," which expanded on the many uses of GIS in decision making for applications ranging from agriculture to risk management.

According to Qiming Zhou, chairman of the organizing committee of the ISPRS Workshop on Spatial Analysis and Decision Making, "The ultimate goal of acquiring spatial data is to develop value-added applications. Today decision making based on the spatial analysis of image-based and vector data is considered vital in many disciplines. In addition, there is increased interest in expanding the capabilities of spatial analysis by combining standard GIS functionality with novel approaches taken from fuzzy logic and artificial neural network technology."

CEO of Esri China (Hong Kong) Limited, Dr. Winnie Tang, presented a paper on "GIS Web Services in Spatial Analysis and Decision Making."

The conference was followed by an optional three-day study tour of the Pearl River Delta, the area where China started her economic and social reforms two decades ago. The rapid change from a rural to an industrial economic base required significant land use changes, which, in turn, stimulated changes in the urbanized social structure of the area.

For more information, contact Winnie Tang, Esri China (Hong Kong) (e-mail: wtang@esrichina-hk.com).