47th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing
47e Symposium canadien de télédétection
Special Sessions
ISPRS 2026
Special Sessions
Connecting Communities for Collaboration
Special Sessions emphasize the connection between ISPRS disciplines and related scientific fields, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, expanding application opportunities, and increasing the visibility of ISPRS advancements among allied communities.
Special Session Information:
Session Chairs:
Mario Santana Quintero
Veronica Heras
Roundtable Digital Twins for Conservation of World Heritage Sites
This special session features a roundtable of heritage documentation experts from ISPRS and ICOMOS, focused on exploring the ecosystem necessary to develop effective digital twins for the conservation of World Heritage Sites. Organized by the UNESCO Chair on Digital Twins for the Conservation of World Heritage, in collaboration with ISPRS Working Group IV/11 on Cultural Heritage Visualization and Virtual Restoration and the CIPA Heritage Documentation Committee, the session will include detailed presentations of case studies. These will highlight both the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing digital twin technologies in heritage conservation.
Session Chairs:
Ivana Ivanova
ISO Data Quality Measures Register and the ISPRS Community
Geographic data are increasingly being used for purposes other than their producers’ intended ones, and, given the current technological development, this exchange often happens in an automated fashion. Information about the quality of available geographic data is vital to the process of selecting a dataset in that the value of data are directly related to its quality. To facilitate decision on datasets’ fitness for use, it is essential that the results of the quality evaluation are expressed in a comparable way and that there is a common understanding of the data quality measures that have been used. Data quality measures provide descriptors of the quality of geographic data through comparison with the universe of discourse. ISO 19157 multipart standard defines the components and structures of data quality measures and defines commonly used data quality measures. ISO data quality measures are established in the web-actionable register and this enables the consistent (and automated) use of data quality measures throughout various geographic applications adopting standard quality evaluation procedures.In this session we introduce the ISO Data quality measures register, show how to use, and what are the benefits of its use to the ISPRS community. Moreover, we explore the avenues of how ISPRS community can contribute to the register.
Session Chairs:
John Dehls
Drew Rotheram-Clarke
Cooperation on Ground Motion Monitoring for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience
Ground motion caused by landslides, glacier-related hazards, and slope instability in permafrost terrains is increasing in frequency and impact due to both natural and anthropogenic drivers. These processes threaten infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities across continents. Advances in satellite remote sensing—particularly open SAR data from missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-1 and the NASA/ISRO NISAR satellite—now make it possible to detect and monitor ground deformation over vast areas with high precision. This enables a shift from local case studies toward operational, wide-area monitoring services supporting early warning and disaster risk reduction (DRR). This Special Session brings together experts and institutions working to develop, operate, and expand national and continental-scale InSAR ground motion services. It aims to foster cooperation between the ISPRS community and organizations focused on civil protection, geohazard monitoring, and resilience planning. By showcasing examples from Europe, North America, and other regions, the session will highlight how satellite-based geospatial infrastructure can directly support DRR in both high-risk and currently underserved regions of the world. Topics include: · Integration of InSAR ground motion data into DRR strategies · Development of open, public ground motion services · Multi-stakeholder cooperation across scientific, civil, and institutional domains · Barriers and opportunities in extending these services to underserved regions The session offers a platform to explore how ground motion monitoring intersects with related disciplines and application areas, including hazard mitigation, infrastructure protection, and sustainable development. By engaging participants from both the ISPRS community and allied scientific and operational domains, it aims to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and broaden the visibility of recent advancements in remote sensing technologies.
Session Chairs:
Kai Qin
Zhengqiang Li
Charles Man Sing Wong
Simone Lolli
Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Components for Climate Change and Air Quality: Bridging ISPRS and AERSS
This session addresses critical gaps in operationalizing satellite-based methods for carbon accounting (CO₂/CH₄) and air quality monitoring (aerosols, polluted gases). It leverages a unique partnership between the Atmospheric Environmental Remote Sensing Society (AERSS) and International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Working Groups (notably WG III/6, III/5, III/9, I/3). AERSS, founded in 2022 and based in Hong Kong, rapidly fosters global, interdisciplinary collaboration, linking remote sensing with atmospheric modeling and in-situ observations. This joint session synergizes AERSS's expertise in atmospheric remote sensing (e.g., aerosol microphysics inversion) with ISPRS's leadership in geospatial innovation (e.g., hyperspectral data fusion, AI-driven correction). Key objectives include: 1. Bridging Methodological Gaps: Integrating atmospheric science and geospatial technology to advance monitoring for climate, air quality, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in developing regions. 2. Catalyzing Innovation: Promoting interdisciplinary solutions via AI/ML-enhanced data fusion, satellite-ground observation synergy, and integrated geostatistical tools. 3. Establishing Foundational Partnership: Piloting collaborative frameworks (e.g., joint meetings, working groups) between ISPRS and AERSS for future initiatives. The session will feature Keynote Presentations and Lightning Talks (showcasing early-career researchers), fostering dialogue to advance operational atmospheric environmental monitoring.