Also in attendance were EAASI founding members Giovanni Banchini, President and CEO of CGR SPA, Aicke Damrau, Managing Director of GeoFly, Klaus Legat, Area Manager for Vermessung AVT and Florian Romanowski, President of OPEGIEKA.

“I am very excited to be part of this important chapter in the history of aerial surveying in Europe,” commented Simon Musäus, President of the European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries. “By working together across geographical boundaries, political divides and commercial opportunities we can create a platform from which our industry can develop the strong future it deserves.”

Following the inaugural meeting, EAASI published its articles of incorporation including a public manifesto, administrative documents and an action plan to achieve its goals. These include promoting the benefits of aerial surveying, improving awareness of aerial survey data within fields such as digitalisation, information systems and virtual reality and defining, maintaining and promoting best practice within the aerial surveying industry.

The newly elected EAASI Board also announced the next Annual General Meeting which will take place on 4th and 5th December 2019 and an eagerly anticipated Aerial Survey Summit, both taking place in Brussels, Belgium. These events will enforce the Association’s objective to facilitate networking, provide information and promote the generation of a sustainable market for geo-information using aerial surveying.

The Association Founders encourage industry stakeholders from across Europe to join and become part of the future of aerial surveying in the region.

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

• Make users and potential users of Geo-Information aware of the benefits of aerial surveying;
• Achieve a high awareness of the strategic role that aerial survey data play in the framework of digitalization, information systems and virtual reality;
• Define, maintain and promote quality, safety, ethical and business requirements for the aerial surveying industry;
• Promote the use of international professional standards in the field of gathering geospatial data;
• Facilitate the networking and provide a platform for regular contacts, information exchange and cooperation between the members;
• Provide members with information about the developments of technological knowledge;
• Ensure that the common interests of members are represented in national and international committees which exert influence on the members;
• Advise and assist funding and executing agencies and organisations in matters concerning aerial surveying;
• Promote the generation of a sustainable market for Geo-Information using aerial surveying;
• 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.