Mission Statement

The mission of the Mid-South Region is to advance the mapping sciences of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and other technologies and applications primarily within the Mid-South Region. Our position is one of technical and scientific endeavor initiated within the region but having application at many levels. We expect our achievements to advance the field at national and international levels as well.

Vision Statement

The Mid-South Region of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing envisions itself as the leader in a seven-state region and the representative that shares the national vision of spatial information.

Description of Constituency

The Mid-South Region is comprised of seven states including Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and eastern Louisiana. In 1991, the Mid-South expanded with the addition of the South Carolina - Georgia Region. The region has chapters conducting ASPRS activities at the local level. Our membership currently stands over 500 members in diverse areas, in various public or private sectors, and in many age or experience groups. A sample of the centers of expertise in the mapping sciences includes: the U.S.G.S. Biological Resources Division's National Wetlands Research Center, NASA's Stennis Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, ERDAS Inc., Intergraph Corporation, and over thirty-eight colleges and universities.

Niche Statement

Environmental Applications: The Mid-South Region is well qualified to carry out environmental applications in the mapping sciences. We are especially qualified to conduct research, mapping, and analysis in wetlands, forestry, hydrology, waste management, and in other areas of environmental concern. An applications niche is sufficiently focused to allow the region to identify itself with specific activities yet broad enough to include all willing participants. MSASPRS activities allow similar and dissimilar professionals to interact at many activities and events through the year, and various training events allow opportunities to add or refine skills in a diversity of professional subjects.

Goals and Tactical Actions

• Goal 1: To coordinate Region activities on natural disaster risk assessment in order to organize a special paper session at a regional or national ASPRS meeting.

Tactical Action: The Mid-South Region will work to organize comprehensive plans for preparing and responding to disaster situations. Implementation plans will be examined through the coordination of resources from federal and state agencies, universities, and private industry. The Region will serve as a clearing house and point-of-contact John Render will coordinate the participants into a special paper session at one of our regional or national ASPRS meetings. At a later time, papers will be submitted for publication as a special or as a group of papers on the theme in a future PE&RS issue. Additional benefits associated with the project will include: building a regional team, national recognition of the region's capabilities, recognition for ASPRS, and increased membership.

• Goal 2: Increase Membership

Tactical Action: Contact sponsors, contact inactive members, contact student chapters, form two new chapters - Northern Alabama Chapter and Southeastern Louisiana.

• Goal 3: Increase student participation via awards.

Tactical Action: Contact colleges and universities to encourage student papers, draft a policy on student awards, draft a policy and form for evaluation of papers.

• Goal 4: Increase private industry participation in sponsorship.

Tactical Action: Finance Committee will draft a policy and contact private industry sponsors in the Mid- South Region.