As I write this in early May 2015, two geo-related events are in full swing. There’s the Imaging & Geospatial Technology Forum and what next year will be known as Xponential. The former is also known as the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) 2015 Annual Conference. The latter is currently known as Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Unmanned Systems.
The new event names are part of a rebranding of the geotechnology marketplace that has been going on for some time. Most of us in the industry can make sense of “Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing” but surely “Imaging & Geospatial Technology” is easier to say. And, perhaps more importantly, those terms may be more decipherable to our family and friends, students and potential clients.
AUVSI may be a new acronym to some in the geospatial arena, but the precurser to the current organization launched in 1972. Today, the unmanned technology is part of our quiver of platforms for what ASPRS’ and others call imaging technology. Why the change from acronym to made up term for the conference and trade show? I suspect the various acronyms related to small remotely controlled devices (UAV and UAS among others) are not as warm and fuzzy as the event organizers, who serve device vendors and supporting companies, would like. Thus, the branding team chose a name that had nothing to do with flying or remote sensing or geospatial, but rather with math. The not so subtle implication for sponsors and attendees of Xponential 2016: exponential growth in the event, the market and profit margins!