Activities
At general meetings of BARSC, usually in London, the membership meets with key personalities from the field of remote sensing. Speakers have included the DG of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, the DG of BNSC, ESA's Director of Earth Observation, representatives from SPOT Image and EOSAT and distinguished academics in the field. The networking context of our meetings is an important aspect and provides a chance for members to exchange news and views on matters of common concern.
Occasional whole day conferences on topical themes have proved popular in recent years. These have included: commercialisation of EO data; export opportunities; and future EO data policy for the next century. The conferences also include lively chaired debates.
Regular Executive Committee meetings are held throughout the year to formulate policy, prepare and present communications to government and undertake routine administration. These functions are supported by standing Sub-committees. Topic-specific Working Groups are set up as required to handle particular issues as well as to provide liaison with key government departments. BARSC provides two industrial members to the all-party Parliamentary Space Committee established in 1989
Industrial Space Activities
BARSC Member Companies remote sensing activities include: application system studies; the design and development of satellite payloads; sensor technology; data acquisition, reception, processing and handling; development of data transmitting and receiving stations; Earth observation data network development; manufacture of data collection platforms; software development; image processing and interpretation; design, management and support of application programmes; training; data supply; value-added data services; analytical services; natural resource and topographic mapping; digital map production; development of Geographic Information Systems and data integration within GIS; marketing; and commercialisation studies and support.
The focus for BARSC activities is the development of applications of remote sensing data, for example in agriculture and forestry, environmental monitoring, exploitation of natural resources such as mineral exploration, weather forecasting, mapping, climatology, fisheries and marine transport.
