Newsletter February 2025

RSPSoc News
Written By Mark Froud

February 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to our new monthly Newsletter.

A New Start

Welcome to the first of our new monthly newsletters. You told us that you wanted current news, events and information: All at your fingertips and in only 2 mouse clicks.

 We have added in a bit of sparkle in the form of profiles, a new awards programme, tender opportunities and events you can go to. You can also win a prize in our prediction competition.

This launch edition is longer than future ones as we have lots of exciting news about our new services. Some are up and running now and some will be with you soon. They can all be found on the website: www.rspsoc.org.uk 

Predictions for 2025

While 2025 started 8 weeks ago, there is no harm in looking forwards. Let us know what you think will happen in the World this year? Click here and pick your top three.You could win a £50 Amazon voucher.

Message from the RSPSoc Chair

In the last year the Society has overcome some significant challenges and undertaken fundamental reform to ensure a sustainable future.
This has culminated in an improved more personalised membership model and this new website. We are building our events programme and rebooting our Thematic Research Groups (which will be thought leaders) and have a number of new and exciting offers.

Find out more here

Join Us

Have a look at how we can offer: knowledge, help, networking and save you both time and money as your career develops.

Become a member of the RSPSoc community.

 Click here to find out more and join.

Upcoming Events

Wavelength 2025 10/11 April 2025:

For students by students. Come and learn over 2 days from professionals, Professors and peers. Click here to book.

ISRSE-40:

Discounted Day Passes

17th-21st March 2025: Farnborough

This landmark event brings together global experts in Earth Observation and Remote Sensing to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet today.

Click here to register.

EARSeL 2025:

26th-29th May 2025: Prague

The focus is on advancements in Earth observation, environmental monitoring, and data analysis. EARSeL 2025 aims to address global challenges through cutting-edge remote sensing solutions, promoting sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

Click here to register.

RSPSoc Awards

Our awards programme is being launched in March 2025. There are 4 awards for students and new professionals and 3 awards for professionals/academics.

Click here to find out more.

Thematic Research Groups (TRGs)

Our TRGs drive forward thinking and innovation in key themes. We are in the process of setting up our Thematic Research Groups. We are using the information our members provided to do this.

Click here if you want to find out more.

Tender Opportunities

Provision of Cloud GIS Software & Services, Scotland: This is a call to provide information to inform tender opportunities. Closing date 28.03.2025.

Click here for more information and more tenders.

Mentoring

We will be launching a mentoring scheme in the Spring of 2025. If you are interested in becoming a mentor then let us know. If you would like to be mentored then also let us know.

Click here to find out more.

Corporate Membership

Each month we will profile one of our Corporate Members.

At RSPSoc, we believe in building strong partnerships that drive success for your organisation. Our Corporate Membership offers exclusive benefits designed to promote your brand, expand your network, and enhance your business opportunities within the geospatial community.

 Click here if you want to know more.

Research Opportunity

Postdoctoral Research Associate positions (Imago) - 3 Posts

£39-£45k

University of Liverpool and Newcastle University

Closing date: 7th March 2025

 Click here if you want to know more.

Prize winner

Clive Boardman - a member for 49 years - won our first prize draw for completing our member update details. Clive said, "I joined the Photogrammetric Society after encouragement (!) from our lecturer Keith Atkinson while studying for the MSc in Photogrammetry at UCL in 1976. I have served on council and was a member of the committee that oversaw the merger (in 2001) with the Remote Sensing Society. I became a Fellow of the Society in 2002. The Society has proved to be very valuable professionally with reference, particularly, to the past programme of lectures at Burlington House and to the Photogrammetric Record. The Record remains a very high quality publication and continues to thrive due to the succession of brilliant editors since the Society was founded. 

 

So, by next year I will have been a member for fifty years and I will continue my membership while I still remain active in photogrammetry – now just part time. "

More to come!

Over the next few months we will be adding opportunities for you: Training, Jobs, Work Experience and a Resource Bank.

 To find out more click here.

Featured
UK Space Consultation: Your Views are Important
UK Space Consultation: Your Views are Important

UK SPACE CONSULTATION: YOUR VIEWS ARE IMPORTANT

The House of Lords Committee on UK Engagement with Space published a call for written evidence for its inquiry to consider UK policies relating to space, and both the opportunities and challenges related to the UK’s engagement with space. It is inviting interested individuals and organisations to submit their views on these issues. 

RSPSoc will be responding to this, but wanted that response to be informed by your views. If you are able, can you get back to me by 13th April 2025.

Could you have a quick look at the inquiry questions below and let us know your views (on some or all). You can respond directly to me at membership@rspsoc.org.uk  and to the inquiry by clicking here. If you do respond to the inquiry can you also copy your response to me please.

The Committee has the following questions
•    The opportunities and challenges relating to the UK space sector, including the comparative strengths of the UK, how the sector’s growth can be supported, and the potential of new space technologies.
•    The opportunities and challenges facing space-related businesses operating in the UK, including access to capital, ability to ‘scale-up’, and international competition.
•    The existing international partnerships that the UK is involved in, and the potential for future partnerships with both state and commercial actors.
•    The importance of the provision of a safe operating environment in space, and how the UK can contribute to this, in particular regarding space weather and space debris.
•    The development of international space law and regulation.
•    The collaboration between academic institutions, government, and commercial space firms in the UK, including but not limited to space research and development and space spin-out and start-up firms.
•    Education and skills; in particular the skills gap in the UK space sector.
•    The future of UK space science and civil exploration.
•    The impact of space on national security and resilience.

Read More →
Step change for PML’s remote sensing capabilities with new, cutting-edge drone technology
Step change for PML’s remote sensing capabilities with new, cutting-edge drone technology

A new PML-led project, funded through the NERC: Natural Environment Research Council Net Zero Aerial Capability (NZArC) programme, aims to revolutionise how underwater environments are mapped, particularly shallow waters like river sections and coastal areas with low turbidity.

Titled ‘A remotely piloted aerial Green LiDAR for mapping bathymetry of shallow waters and elevation of boundary land (Green LiDAR)’, the project involves collaborations with British Geological Survey, National Oceanography Centre, Scottish Association For Marine Science and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), using state-of-the-art aerial equipment to provide underwater mapping (bathymetry) data where other sensors struggle or simply fail to provide solutions.

Aser Mata Torollo, Project Leader and Earth Observation Scientist at PML, commented:

“Mapping of shallow waters is especially vital for studying blue carbon habitats such as mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes as these are some of the most efficient natural carbon sinks on Earth. These habitats store and sequester carbon at rates far exceeding tropical forests but mapping their underwater terrain and estimating carbon storage has been a major challenge”.

While bathymetry of the seabed or rivers can be obtained using other boat and instruments such as multibeam echosounders, these sensors cannot be deployed in very shallow waters. To help deliver mapping of ecologically and economically-important underwater environments that are hard-to-reach, the project has allowed for an innovative RIEGL UK Ltd VQ-840-GL Topo-Bathymetric LiDAR sensor to be obtained along with a dedicated third-party drone platform.

Read More →
RSPSoc Strategy
RSPSoc Strategy

STRATEGY

We have a strategy to help guide us. It is our 75th anniversary in 2027. So, our current strategy will take us to there. You can read it here.

Each year we produce an annual report and impact statement, you can read this here

Read More →
Mark Froud
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