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Special Interest Group
The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) act as focal points for members of the Society within particular specialist or application areas to meet and share ideas. There are two categories of SIGs: those existing as an autonomous group in their own right and/or jointly affiliated to an organisation other than RSPSoc, called Affiliated Special Interest Groups and those wholly owned by RSPSoc. Both types aim to:
- Convene one technical meeting a year with not less than one meeting every two years.
- Appoint a Convenor who will liaise with members of Council.
- Supply an annual report and, from time to time, report to RSPSoc Council through the SIG committee.
- Respond to enquiries from established and joining RSPSoc members about the SIG.
Below are listed the current SIGs, please feel free to contact the convenors if you would like to become actively involved in a SIG and the Society if you are interested in setting up a new SIG.
Richard Teeuw (Chairman of the SIG Committee)
Archaeology SIG
The Archaeology SIG aims to encourage the exchange of research and methodology between remote sensing scientists and archaeologists, especially those concerned with methods of site prospection and novel applications. Meetings concentrate on a mixture of case studies and developing methodology and include ground-based methods, photogrammetry, LIDAR, laser scanning, and geophysical prospection, as well as aerial photography and thermal imaging.
Geological Remote Sensing Group SIG
GRSG is an association of enthusiasts keen on the geological aspects of remote sensing, which is jointly affiliated to RSPSoc and the Geological Society. GRSG hold an annual conference and at least one other meeting each year: recent topics have focused on the remote sensing of geohazards and hazardous terrain, mineral and petroleum exploration, environmental geology and geoscience applications of new technologies, such as ASTER, InSAR, LIDAR and hyperspectral sensors. The current membership includes geologists employed within industry, academia and government agencies, as well as graduate students. 
Laser Scanning and Lidar SIG
The aim of the RSPSoc Laser Scanning & Lidar SIG is to provide a focus for space-borne, airborne & terrestrial laser scanning activity, both within the UK and internationally. Meetings bring together those from academia, commercial and government organisations to present research and discuss progress in the field. There are currently four principal themes of research within the group: 3D modelling, data integration, mapping, and applications.
Modelling & Advanced Techniques SIG
MAT-SIG support the application of advanced mathematical techniques, including modelling, to remote sensing data.
National Association of Aerial Photographic Libraries SIG
NAPLIB is an independent organisation whose aim is to promote the use and preservation of aerial photography. Aerial photographs of the landscape are an important part of the record of our heritage. The photographs contain a wealth of precisely datable information that is of value to a wide range of users, including engineers, archaeologists, foresters, agriculturalists and lawyers.
Note: From 2008, NAPLIB is no longer an active SIG of RSPSoc.
Visit the National Association of Aerial Photographic Libraries SIG homepage
Ocean Colour SIG
The Ocean Colour SIG is jointly affiliated to RSPSoc and the Challenger Society for Marine Science, and aims to provide a UK focus for ocean colour research users that enables them to easily exchange relevant information. This is undertaken through research meetings, a moderated mail list to distribute information of interest to the community and www pages with links to ocean colour users own sites, the international data providers and UK processing centres.
Synthetic Aperture Radar SIG
The purpose of the Group is to promote the development and use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and to encourage research in all aspects of SAR acquisition processing and interpretation. The areas of interest are wide ranging, including new sensor technology, processing techniques, GNSS-R and the complete range of applications, including data fusion with other sensors.
Vegetation SIG
VEG-SIG aims to bring together experts in different remote sensing methods to advance multi sensor approaches to improve the characterisation of vegetation structure and dynamics. This will include the characterisation of the vegetation phenological cycle through time series analysis of biophysical variables, vegetation structure e.g. from In SAR and LIDAR, vegetation chemical composition (chlorophyll, water, lignin etc.) and vegetation disturbance processes such as fire, logging, and insect damage.
Land Cover & Land Use SIG
This new Special Interest Group will address a significant area of activity within the Society related to the mapping and assessment of land cover and land use. Land cover and land use mapping has been around from the earliest days of remote sensing, but is constantly evolving with changing technology and user requirements.
