September 3rd, 2021
EAASI Elects Executive Committee to Promote Aerial Surveying in Europe

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Brussels  – The European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI) has extended the mandate of the Executive Committee to continue to promote the benefits of aerial surveying to the wider commercial and government sectors. At the 16^th Board Meeting, which took place in Belgium and online, the Members of the Board confirmed Simon Musäus, Vice President, Hexagon GCS, as President, André Jadot, CEO of Eurosense, as Vice President and Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky International, as Treasurer for the period 2021-2023.

Present were Cedric Anciaux, Deputy General Manager at CAE-Aviation, Florian Romanowski, President of Opegieka, Pedro Llorens, Business Development Manager, Spasa, and Marcos Martinez, Secretary General of EAASI and Chair of the meeting. Apologies for absence were noted from Giovanni Banchini, President and CEO of CGR SPA, and Aicke Damrau, Managing Director of GeoFly.

The Board defined EAASI’s strategy going forward to 2023 with a strong emphasis on member engagement, lobbying and marketing, and the furthering of industry standards. The Board of Directors expressed its confidence in the work of the outgoing and future Executive committee and renewed its strong commitment to achieving the mission of making the European aerial surveying business sustainable.

“We have already achieved many goals and milestones in the process of building EAASI, but there is still a lot to do to consolidate the association and achieve the required level of maturity which is why the Board unanimously supported the re-election of all standing officers to maintain continuity,” commented Martínez.

“Following challenging times for everyone associated with aerial surveying and geographic data it was also important for us to review our goals and the activities required to achieve them. Therefore, a greater emphasis will be placed on creating and maintaining a community both within the European aerial imaging sector and with other organisations and businesses around the world.”

Simon Musäus, newly elected President of EAASI, added, “With support from the Board, the Executive Committee is excited to continue its efforts to influence and raise the visibility and reputation of the industry whilst achieving high levels of awareness of the role of aerial survey data in areas such as digital twins, climate change mitigation, emergency response and artificial intelligence.”

EAASI, with 32 active member firms and 14 observers, represents the most relevant players in the European Aerial Surveying market. EAASI was incorporated in 2019, inspired by and with strong ties to the US-based MAPPS, which equally represents the firms of the geospatial industry in the U.S.A. With the global aerial imaging market predicted to reach more than 4 billion dollars by 2025, EAASI aims to promote the benefits of aerial surveying, improve awareness of aerial survey data and maintain and promote best practice within the industry.

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 The European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries is an incorporated association without profitable goal registered in Brussels, Belgium. The objectives of the organisations are:

1. Make users and potential users of Geo-Information aware of the benefits of aerial surveying;
2. Achieve a high awareness of the strategic role that aerial survey data play in the framework of digitalization, information systems and virtual reality;
3. Define, maintain and promote quality, safety, ethical and business requirements for the aerial surveying industry;
4. Promote the use of international professional standards in the field of gathering geospatial data;
5. Facilitate the networking and provide a platform for regular contacts, information exchange and cooperation between the members;
6. Provide members with information about the developments of technological knowledge;
7. Ensure that the common interests of members are represented in national and international committees which exert influence on the members;
8. Advise and assist funding and executing agencies and organisations in matters concerning aerial surveying;
9. Promote the generation of a sustainable market for Geo-Information using aerial surveying;
10. Take all other actions as may be conducive to the attainment of the above objectives, such as concluding agreements, engaging personnel, hiring, leasing, buying and selling property.

The Association is comprised of members and observers. Qualifying members must be:

1.     Be based and create employment in any the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom;

2.     Be a privately owned commercial company. ‘Privately owned’ means that the majority of the shares (>50%) are in private hands.

3.     Operate survey aircraft and equipment for aerial photography, mapping and/or Lidar purposes in one or more of the countries mentioned under point (1)

4.     The member or member organisation shall fully support the goal and the objects of the Association.

Any organisation that does not qualify to become a member of the Association may apply as an observer.